Sherriff Tate Vs. The Law “There’s a black boy dead for no reason, and the man responsible for it’s dead. Let the dead bury the dead this time, Mr. Finch.”(276). This quote came from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee and it wraps around the idea that Sherriff Tate did the only right and responsible thing he could’ve done. He is able to save Boo Radley from being crowded by the whole town, he made sure that Jem and Scout were not blamed for anything that went on that night and he definitely saved the whole town from becoming a chaotic mess over another possible homicide. There are many reasons as to why you would possibly think that Mr. Heck Tate did the wrong thing. Probably because he broke the law and most likely …show more content…
Yes you may think from Atticus’ perspective, “‘If this things hushed up it’ll be a simple denial to Jem, of the way I’ve tried to raise him.’”(366). But this isn’t completely true. If they were to tell the town what really happened, it would put so much stress on Atticus because it would pretty much be like the Tom Robinson case all over again. He would be putting his career and the way people think about him on the line. On the night of Halloween, Atticus thought that Jem killed Bob Ewell, which means that Jem would be accused of murder and possibly taken to jail.
Along with the effects that were stated before, Mr. Heck Tate did the right thing because if he were to tell everyone, than everyone from other towns and cities would come into Maycomb to watch another Tom Robinson Trial just more intense. Atticus said, “‘Let the county come and bring sandwiches. I don’t want him growing up with a whisper about him…’” (366). This would end up going on for weeks and the only result of that is possible jail time and huge amounts of stress on the Finch family and what their future would be like. All of this would only go on if Mr. Heck Tate were to tell the county what really happened. The explanation as to why Sherriff Tate was right is very simple. He has more logical reasons that actually make more sense when compared to the truth. Mainly because he is saving the
The purpose of this essay is to compare three very similar cases, the Scottsboro Trials, Brown v. Mississippi, and the fictional trial of Tom Robinson in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird; and to prove why the defendant of the third trial never had a chance. Each took place in the rural South in the 1920’s and 30’s and involved the unfair conviction of young black males by all-white juries pressured by the threat of mob violence. Each lacked the evidence sufficient for conviction, most especially for the death penalty. Last, heroes emerged from each trial and made small but solid steps towards equal justice for all.
Thirdly, if Harrison laid down $600 to get a black person out of jail, which was not accepted at this time in society, it could have led to the closing stages that Harrison would have spent money at any cost to see the African Americans dead. Although Harrison is deceased, the evidence that has been proven thus far concludes that he was the sole perpetrator and if he was still alive, he could answer questions that remain unanswered.
When Atticus discovered what Jem had done, he was furious and punished him by making him go read to Mrs. Dubose everyday. He knew, though, in his heart that she had it coming. Atticus had told Scout that "when summer comes you'll have to keep your head about far worse things it's not fair for you and Jem, but
"Let the dead bury the dead." This quote from the Classic American novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, sums up what we will be talking about today. My understanding of this quote is that what's done is done, one man is dead for no good reason, but the one who killed him is with him in death. No harm, no foul. But is this really right? The first thing we need to look at is the actual problem, then the question posed. So without further ado, I present my essay:
The members of the mob then simply get up and leave with nothing left to say to Atticus. My second question is why did Jem stand up to Atticus? One answer is that he wanted to make sure his dad was safe. He felt weary of leaving his dad there to defend himself against a bunch of wild men who smell of whiskey. I can relate, since I do not think anyone would leave someone the love in a potentially troublous situation. I believe Jem also wanted to help defend his dad. He was willing to help defend his dad against the malicious men that had come. Another answer to why he stood up is because he thought that somehow he and the other two children could help in some way. I anticipate that Jem knew that Scout could help in someway. Jem knew that Scout and him could help even though they are children. I believe that Jem thought that Scout could help if she started talking. And help is indeed what the kids did. Without Jem standing up to Atticus how he did, the whole book could have turned out to be a different story. In conclusion, the two most important questions that I have, can be answered in my own personal perspective/point of
Though often hard to attain, it has the power to change the face of the world. To Kill a Mockingbird deals with justice in many different ways. The most obvious one is, of course, the trial of Tom Robinson. It is clear to everyone involved in the case that justice is not served; however, fear to break from social standards prevent justice from being done. Another example would be the death of Mr. Ewell, for obvious reasons, as the man is pure evil. Still, a far more moving moment that deals with justice is rarely spoken of as such, and yet still compels the reader to think deeply on the subject. “According to Miss Stephanie, Boo was sitting in the livingroom cutting some items from The Maycomb Tribune to paste in his scrapbook. His father entered the room. As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities.” (To Kill A Mockingbird). While it may not seem like justice at that point in the novel, with further reading it begins to be understood that Arthur’s father is not a kind man, and most likely beats Boo often. Hence, justice is served in wounding him, as he has wounded
After a long fought case, Tom Robinson was found guilty and was sent to the local jail. Tom knew he wasn't supposed to be their and tried to escape. He was shot and killed as he seeked freedom. Mr. Underwood, a newspaper writer, compared,"...Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds..." (Lee 241). There was no reason to kill Tome, he didn't harm anyone or caused any trouble. Tom was guilty because of race and the fact that whites rule this era. In this time period, the 1930's, segregation was a huge problem for colored people. It was obvious he didn't rape or do any harm to Mayella Ewell. Tom was just judge on the beliefs of all colored people being criminals and cowards. After Mayella won the court case, her father, Bob Ewell was after Jem and Scout to punish their father for defending Tom Robinson. As Scout and Jem make their way home one night, they were attacked by Bob. Lucky, Boo Radley protected the child and murdered Bob. After Scout realized Boo saved their lives, she stated, "...our neighbors image blurred with my sudden tears" (Lee 270). At that moment Scout knew she had mistaken Boo Radley her entire life. The children aren't to blame though, Maycomb judged Boo as an evil and crazy person based on uncertain stories. Boo Radley accepted the fact that many believed he was psycho, forcing to keep his life on
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is centered on the moral values and ideas of the people in Maycomb and how they react to things that go against their normal beliefs. All of the characters have their own senses of what is right or wrong, good or bad, etc. Aunt Alexandra's moral values are expressed throughout the book, especially in her feelings through her brother's case, but in public are confined to the indifferent and self-aware values of the county. While Aunt Alexandra has her set of displayed ideas and values shaped by the people in Maycomb, there are some hints to a hidden sense of justice in her throughout the story that gives her a sense of compassion for those discriminated in her world.
First, the trial of Tom Robinson is an eye-opening experience for Jem and Scout; there they discover hatred, child abuse, and lying. Seeing pure hate is new and strange for Jem and Scout. They know that prejudice does exist, but listening to and watching Bob Ewell during the trial is astounding to them because Bob Ewell abhors all blacks, especially Tom Robinson. Bob’s daughter, Mayella, makes an advance on Tom, which is absolutely unspeakable and shameful at that time. In addition, Bob Ewell’s hate grows (especially for Atticus) because after the trial his reputation and respect is ruined, even though he does not have a high degree of integrity to begin with. Also, through the
Near the end of the book, Bob Ewell was trying to kill Jem and Scout because he wanted to get his revenge against Atticus. Mr. Tate, Atticus, and Scout had figured out Boo Radley was the one who was protecting the children and killed Bob Ewell. They figured it would not be right to bring Boo and his shy ways into a courtroom to plead not guilty. Especially since he did it out of good, protecting Jem and Scout, giving them life. At the end of chapter 30, Atticus tells Scout, “‘Scout. Mr. Ewell fell on his knife. Can you possibly understand?’ . . . . ‘Yes sir, I understand. Mr. Tate was right.’ Atticus disengaged himself and looked at me. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?’” (Lee 370). This quote represents how everyone felt it would be immoral to punish Boo for protecting the children and what is left of their innocence from the evils of the world. It is like saying, these children do not need their innocence anymore, which is untrue because that is what needs to be defended the most. Boo did nothing but a great service to Atticus and Maycomb County, so punishing him would be like destroying the shield of these children. In conclusion, it is sinful to harm those who only
However during the trial, the Reverend Sykes expressed concern that Scout’s innocence needs to be preserved watching and Jem replies. “Aw hush. She doesn’t understand it, Reverend, she ain’t nine yet” (197). This evidence shows that before the trial, Scout was at least partially innocent, and Jem knows that. Harper Lee uses Jem and Scout's involvement with the trial to demonstrate how they lose their innocence. Jem and Scout lose some of their innocence when they are involved in the lynch mob. Scout says the following quote when she, Jem and Dill stumble upon the lynch mob that is trying to lynch Atticus and Tom because they are racist. “Hey, Mr. Cunningham. How’s your entailment gettin’ along… Don’t you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? I’m Jean Louise Finch” (174). In a massively racist day and age, Jem and Scout are exposed to racism in the most obvious way: through a lynch mob targeting their father. This quote shows how Scout is still innocent as she comes into the situation. Scout narrates this next quote when she springs into the middle of a lynch mob and realizes how stupid she was. “There a smell of stale whiskey and pigpen about, and when I glanced around I discovered that these men were strangers” (172). This evidence shows that Scout was innocent and didn't know that the group was a lynch mob. Bob Ewell’s death had a very large impact on Jem and Scout's innocence. The sheriff, Mr. Heck Tate says the following quote after he finds Bob Ewell dead under a tree, in the woods after he attempts to kill Jem and Scout. Bob Ewell’s lyin’ on the ground under that tree down yonder...He’s dead Mr. Finch” (p305). This quote is the moment the children are first really confronted with death. This causes them to lose their innocence because they realize that people want to kill each other sometimes and thats messed up. Scout says this when she contemplates about what happened to Bob Ewell. “I could think of nothing but Mr. Bob
... adequate support for the controversy that all killing is morally wrong and that valuing the innocent over the guilty is devaluing human dignity and humanity itself. Moreover, if not all killing is morally wrong, and some quite acceptable, then it stands that death penalty may also be acceptable. In this way, the abolitionist contradicts himself or herself by asserting equal human dignity and worth between the innocent and the convicted that ultimately led to devaluing one human being (the innocent) to another (the guilty). As such, it would only be rational and just to offer aid to the innocent than “to those who are guilty of squandering aid” (Mappes, Zembaty, and DeGrazia 141).
For a class structure to be preserved, dissenters have to be eliminated. Perhaps this is why Tom suffered such a dramatic death in his attempt to break free of a white dominated society. As Atticus recounts, “Seventeen bullet holes in him. They didn 't have to shoot him that much” (315). For a disabled man who was doomed from the time Mayella had feelings for him, the novel 's mockingbird is effectively killed by hate he did nothing to incur. Much like how the Pharisees attempted to take Jesus down before moving onto His followers, after Tom was eliminated, those who defended Tom had to be unable to disrupt class structure again. Unfortunately, the Finch family could not escape the town 's hatred of outsiders. Bob Ewell, Tom 's indirect killer, had “his last shred of credibility” destroyed by Atticus at the trial (292). After spitting in Atticus 's face, Bob vowed to “get him if it took the rest of his life” (290). In a dark twist of events, Bob 's vow ended up taking his life when he tried to silence the outsiders. As a result of his plot to get back at Atticus, Bob targeted Jem and Scout. As Deputy Heck Tate correctly summed up, Bob was, “Low down skunk enough with enough liquor in him to make him brave enough to kill children. He 'd never have met you [Atticus] face to face” (360). Fortunately, the reclusive outsider of the story, Arthur “Boo” Radley, saves the
Think back the world where evil and unjust actions are based on the color of skin. To Kill a Mockingbird is all about that world. It is about a real world and a real-time period where this injustice would happen. All of these quotes together show how evil, hypocrisy, and injustice are prevalent in society; they show us how normal people can be prejudiced, how they can cheat out others for their own personal gain, or even just because they don’t like that person. On top of it all, these quotes are through an innocent child’s perspective.
Tom Robinson’s trial, and in fact his entire life, was badly affected by racism. It is truly a testament to the corruption of society when a person who has earned a bad reputation is held in higher esteem than a person who was born with it, as is the case with Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson. Even though Tom was obviously honest in his testament, the jury sided with Bob Ewell because he was white. They made this decision despite the fact that the Ewell family was widely known to be a worthless part of society. Jem, not being racially prejudiced, could not understand this mentality. As Atticus pointed out, “If you (Jem) had been on the jury, son, and eleven other boys like you, Tom would be a free man.”