In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird many themes are identifiable. Among those themes is Truth vs. Reality. Within this novel, what is considered "true" is constantly shifting to bring forth a new "reality". During Tom Robinson's trial, Truth vs. Reality is exemplified through Tom’s guilt, the relationship between Tom and Mayella, and Mayella’s relationship with her father.
First, Tom’s guilt appears to exist even before the trial began. In truth, many find Tom to be guilty since he fits into the stereotypical black man persona of the time. Since Tom is a black man, there was no need for actual proof that he did anything. In Atticus’s closing speech, “‘..The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the
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In truth, Mayella tells the court that her father is “tollable,” (245) except when he is drunk. She also states that he has never beaten or touched her. In reality, Tom’s testimony proves that Mayella and her father have an incestuous and abusive relationship. In fact, Mayella turns to Tom because in that situation she retains control, unlike the situation with her father. Atticus hints at the incestuous relationship, “‘...What did her father do? We don’t know, but there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led most exclusively with his left. We do know what Mr.Ewell did in part:.. he swore out a warrant no doubt signing it with his left hand, and Tom Robinson… having taken oaths with the one good hand he possesses- his right hand,” (272-273). Atticus shifts the blame towards Bob Ewell, who dominates with his left hand. Again, this circumstantial evidence does not point towards Tom Robinson. As a boy, Tom’s left arm had gotten caught in a machine and it caused it to be unworkable. Since Tom needed both of his arms to commit the alleged rape, there is no possible way he could have done
Atticus had enough evidence to prove to the Jury that Tom’s right arm did not work and that would mean that Tom could not have pulled Mayella to the ground and bruised her as the policeman described. The crowd was surprised but the Jury and the Judge did not believe Atticus’s evidence. They were prejudiced and if Atticus came up with the best possible explanation the Judge still believed the Ewell family and they did not come up with a reasonable explanation about Tom. “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Atticus) chapter 23. Prejudice hurts people who are black and people who were different and young
To Kill a Mockingbird novel is a warm and humorous piece of writing though it deals with critical issues such as racial inequality and rape. The novel was published in 1960 by Harper Lee and it gained immediate popularity and success becoming a modern literature in American. The plot of the novel and characters are based on Harper’s perception of her neighbors and her immediate family. Also, it is based on her observation of events that took place near her home area in 1936 at the age of ten years. To Kill a Mockingbird symbolizes killing harmless and innocent people. Tom Robinson is an example of an innocent man falsely accused of raping a White girl known as Mayella Ewell (Lee 169). Another example is Boo who is misunderstood by the society
In Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" shows and teaches many lessons throughout the passage. Some characters that learn lessons in this passage are Scout, Jem, and Dill. Scout and Jems father Atticus, is taking a case that affects their lives in so many ways. They all learn new things throughout the story and it impacts their lives greatly. There are lots of things including the trial mostly that change the perspective of the world they live in. The kids are living in the Great Depression and it shows just how bad things really where. Scout, Jem, and Dill have experiences that force them to mature and gain new insight.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, this theme of deluding oneself rather than admitting a painful truth is shown through the town of Maycomb itself, Mayella Ewell’s internal and external struggles in dealing with her feelings for Tom Robinson, and how Jem refuses to believe that the world he grew up in turns out to not be what he had imagined.
In Celia, A Slave, a slave named Celia was sent to court because she committed homicide. However, the murder was justified, because she was trying to defend herself from her slave owner, Robert Newsom, who was attempting to rape her once again. This time around, Celia attempted to protect herself by striking Newsom, just in order to daze him for a bit. She did not intend to kill the man, but simply keep him away from her. Unfortunately, in Missouri in 1850, the only person that would be protected by law would be the slave owner, when it came to the rape of a slave. The slave owner would be allowed to immediately punish a rapist for trespassing on their property, which in this case, would be the slave. Celia, A Slave is a story that
To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee. To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in Alabama, and is narrator by the main character, a little girl named Jean Louise ‘’Scout Finch’’. Her father Atticus Finch is a Lawyer with high moral standards. Scout her brother Jem, and their friend Dill are intrigued by the local rumors about a man named Boo Radley, who lives in their neighborhood but never leaves his house.
Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” takes place during the 1930’s in the fictional and quiet town of Maycomb, located in Maycomb County, Alabama. The town of Maycomb is described as a tired old town that moves very slowly and its residents have nothing to fear but fear itself. Being in set in the South during the 1930’s the story does tackle racism and inequality for African Americans as racism was becoming more and more prominent in the 1930’s. The fact that the story takes place in a backwater county in Alabama makes the the injustice even more prevalent. The story goes through the early years of the main characters Jem and Scout so the exact time is always changing, however, the more important and intense parts of the story takes place
Dubose. Tom is a black man who was 25 years old, married and has three children. He was accused of rape, and sent to jail. Tom had supposedly raped a girl by the name of “Mayella Ewell”. Little did everyone know that Mayella was making up the whole story, to cover up the fact that she kissed a black man, which was not tolerated at the time. Tom appeared in the county court, and was clearly not guilty, judging by the things that he said, and the very little and irrelevant evidence that Mayella gave. Mayella’s father claims that Tom had beaten her, and specifically said that she had injuries around her neck and on her right eye, basically the right side of her body. This, however, doesn’t tie in with Tom Robinson’s characteristics. Tom has a crippled left arm, due to a childhood accident, and that arm in nearly useless to him. Therefore, if Tom had beaten Mayella, her left side would have been injured, not her right. The following proves that Tom’s left arm is indeed of no use. “His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side. It ended in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony I could see that it was no use to him.” (188). Here, Scout is confirming that Tom is in fact innocent in the case, because of his left arm deformity. Tom would be unable to cause damage to the right side of Mayella’s body, proving that he is in fact innocent, and not the “violent” person that the people of Maycomb see him as. In reality, Tom was actually a very nice and helpful person. He would actually help Mayella complete her chores on a daily basis until the incident, and the following quotation proves this. “You did all this chopping and work from sheer goodness, boy?” “Tried to help her, I says.” Mr. Gilmer smiled grimly at the jury. “You’re a mighty good fellow, it seems— did all this for not one
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is an emblem of racial jurisdiction. All throughout the book it shows how the law applies to blacks as opposed to whites. Lee shows how unjust the treatment of blacks is and the disregard for their human rights. Though through the actions of the characters in the book; it can be said that their actions show a glimmer of hope for this very prejudiced society.
The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, takes place during a racially intense time in history. Harper Lee’s novel was intended to bring a harsh sense of reality to the real world, and demonstrate how it really was during this time in history. This novel is set in Maycomb, Alabama, somewhere during the time period of 1925-1935. Times were hard for the citizens of Maycomb during this period, because of the depression. There are many fictional events in this novel related to non-fictional racial events in history.
The evidence clearly exhibits that Tom is innocent, but because of his race and color, he was still pleaded guilty with no exception. The decision of the jury was solely out of racism because at that time period, it was very uncommon for a black person to be considered right, especially in this situation. On page 220, it says,” In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins.” Even according to Atticus, Tom’s Lawyer, he knows that the chances are very slim for them to win the case, even if Tom was being completely honest. In the song, it states,” Yes, your skin is white… does that make you right? ; Tell me: how can a color determine whether you’re wrong or right?” This quote relates to when Tom was telling the full truth during the case, but the jury believed Mayella over him just because of the difference in complexion. His situation is symbolic of the hypocrisy of racism in
This man is unfortunately victimized since his society does not believe he is innocent due to the color of his skin. Being the black man that Tom is, it is clear that “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed” (241). There is no way that a black man’s words would override the voice of a white person. No testimony, evidence or speech can help Tom prove he is not guilty. Atticus understands that Tom is victimized by racism, so he explains: “When it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (220).
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee shows a misunderstanding in society by demonstrating to us how society isn’t perfect. From a child’s point of view children incorporate misunderstanding by learning from their personal experience. I wasn’t aware of how bad our Earth was being destroyed. A similar event happened when Napoleon helped France and everyone thought that Napoleon was France’s savior but what France didn’t expect was that Napoleon had other ideas and was ambitious and planned on destroying cities and killing people in order to obtain power. Nowadays racism isn’t seen as much but people still discriminate and judge people by how they act, look or how economically stable people are.
People from all over Maycomb filled the courthouse to see a negro fight against a white man's word. During the trial Lee has Atticus insinuate that Tom Robinson did not touch Mayella and it was her father who took advantage of her. During Mr. Ewell’s testimony Atticus asks him to write his name, when Mr. Ewell did so Atticus pointed out he was left handed. Earlier in Mr. Tate’s testimony it was proven Mayella’s injuries were on the right side of her body, “Oh yes, that’d make it her right. It was her right eye, she was bunged up on that side of her face” (Lee 170). Atticus, simply proving that “If her right eye was blacked and she was beaten mostly on the right side of the face, it would tend to show that a left - handed person did it” (Lee 180). It was confirmed that when Bob Ewell wrote his name he used his left hand, but there was still Tom who could till easily be left handed. When Tom Robinson was getting sworn in he had trouble getting his left hand on the bible and keeping it there “he guided his arm to the Bible and his rubber-like left hand sought contact with the black binding”, “as he raised his right hand, the useless one slipped off the Bible and hit the clerk’s table” (Lee 193). The validation in this section of the novel is that Tom Robinson was not left - handed, his left hand could not even function, he was crippled
Tom Robinson is a black man accused of raping a young white girl named Mayella Ewell, yet he is innocent. Atticus Finch is his lawyer. Dare writes: “At trial he [Atticus] proves that Robinson could not have raped Mayella, showing that her attacker was left-handed with two good arms, whereas Robinson had lost the use of his left arm in a cotton-gin accident. Bob is actually guilty, but no one ever tries to point that out. It never even says it straight forward in the book, but there is clearly enough evidence to show Mr. Ewell was the guilty one.