Both examples show how prejudiced the city in the South actually was. b. Depression happening at the time as well. j. In a court case, a black man named Tom Robinson was ruled guilty by an extremely racist jury. He was obviously (due to the evidence) innocent, but racist southerners of the jury ruled him guilty anyways.
He defends Tom Robinson despite the fact that he knows that the odds of him winning the case are extremely slim because he is trying to defend a black man against a white woman. Atticus continues to remain optimistic although, he hopes that the jury will change and look past the racial difference. Atticus sees how the town of Maycomb has changed due to the great depression saying “Cunninghams are country folks, farmers, and the crash hit them the hardest”. (Lee 33) Having a character such as Mr. Finch is important to the plot, someone who can see the town of Maycomb for how it truly is. When Boo Radley saves Jem and Scout from Mr. Ewell it begins a new relationship between Atticus and another outcast, Boo Radley.
Jem and Scout stats to become aware that all this is caused by segregation. Since Atticus is defending Tom Robinson in court Mrs. Dubose starts to insult Atticus for ‘lawing for *******’ which infuriates both of his children. [Theme: The injustice of racism and segregation] 2. “There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads- they couldn’t be fair if they treid. In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s word, the white always wins.
By appointing Atticus, it is known that he will do everything he can to ensure Tom has a fair trial. Unfortunately, many people are against Atticus’ decision to defend Tom. Coincidentally, this is seen when the angry mob arrives at the jail in an attempt to intimidate Atticus. Despite this conflict with the town, Atticus is still motivated to defend Tom because he knows it is the moral thing to do. Furthermore, Atticus believes that nothing should deny a man from a fair trial; he understands that it is his moral obligation to defend his clients to the best of his ability.
In a racist society like Maycomb, the verdict of this trial is a foregone conclusion the moment Mayella opened her mouth to scream rape, as the cowardly white jury of the court would never admit a black man’s testimony is true. Atticus is an intelligent man and recognizes this fact, yet he still decides to carry out his duties as appointed. He knew right from the start that there was nothing he can do to prevent Tom from getting convicted. Thus though all his effort will be in vain, he still works very hard to fight for Tom. In other words, he is very courageous as he ‘know(s) you are (he is) licked before you (he) begin (s) but you (he) begin(s) anyway’.
The racist views of the town are against Atticus defending Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, and Atticus is often discriminated against for not agreeing with them. His children, Scout and Jem, also feel the hatred of others against them because of what their father's beliefs are. "But Mrs. Dubose held us: "'Not only a Finch waiting tables, but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers' ... 'Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for.'" Although Atticus is criticized for what he decides is right, he bravely ignores the disapprobation. Mrs. Dubose is courageous because she recognizes she has a flaw and that she has to help fix it to make it go away.
He shows a lot of courage by defending a Black man in the Maycomb society even though, he knows just how discriminating Maycomb is and that he would lose the case. My research on the context of the novel, (Sparknotes 2015) tells me,’ In 1931, when Lee was five, nine young black men were accused of raping two white women near Scottsboro, Alabama’. Atticus; knew that many of the white people living in
To Kill a Mockingbird Essay In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee gives the reader an inside look on the racial complexities of Maycomb County. Although not every character got justice in the end the reader can learn the important moral on how just because one is a minority does not mean they should be harassed. An example of discrimination is how Tom Robinson was accused of something he didn’t do just because he was a minority. Also in the court house how the whites and blacks are segregated. An example of an acceptance of a minority is Calpurnia because Atticus respects her for who she is no matter if she is white Atticus is a man of justice.
The Finch family faces harsh criticism because of Atticus's decision to defend Tom. But, Atticus insists on going through with the case because his conscience could not let him do otherwise. He knows Tom is innocent, and also that he has almost no chance at being a free man again, because the white jury will never believe a black man over a white woman. Despite this, Atticus wants to reveal the truth to his fellow townspeople and encourage them to imagine the possibility of racial equality. But in the end, Atticus did not win his case.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, in a court trial. The town of Maycomb turns against him due to this. Atticus, furious about the reaction from his town, explains, “…why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a negro comes up, is something I don’t pretend to understand” (Lee 88). Atticus does not have any racial biases, and he does not agree with the views of the majority of the people of Maycomb. Atticus, describing his beliefs to Jem, “…The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be