In this essay I will be stating my reasons for Tom Robinson’s innocence in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The evidence I will be giving will put Mr. Robinson in the right and will question Bob Ewell’s actions towards Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson is a good man and would never rape another human being. When we first hear of the case Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell after coming home from work. It was said that Robinson took advantage of Mayella, when in fact through this case the Ewell’s took advantage of Mr. Robinson.
The "dark" causes Scout to "see" the way things truly are. This book was set in May comb, Alabama with the conflict about a black man being falsely accused of raping a white woman. The characters in this novel are Scout, Jem, Atticus Finch and Boo Radley Bob Ewell, Dill Harris, Calpurnia, and Tom Robinson. In the book a very important theme presents itself and the theme being the coexistence of Good and Evil, the importance of moral education, and the existence of social inequality. This is demonstrated through the authors use of the setting of May Comb, Alabama where
Antonio and Atticus do anything for their loved ones even if it may affect them negatively in some way. They put others before themselves. When Link Deas tells Atticus that he’s got everything to lose from the trial, Atticus disagrees with him and keeps his mind set on defending Tom, since he knows that it’s the best to do both for Tom and Maycomb. “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till’ the truth’s told” (Lee 146) Even though Atticus knows that he is putting his children at risk of Bob Ewell, he defends Tom because he wants to show Maycomb the truth about racism. The same implies when Bassanio tells Antonio that he would do anything for him.
In many instances, he decides to do the right thing instead of following the status quo. For example, despite the disapproval of the Maycomb community, Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson, an African American convicted of sexually assaulting Mayella Ewell, a Caucasian woman. Atticus defends Tom because he views it as the morally correct thing to do. When asked why he is defending Tom, Atticus says “For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 75).
He tried to clearly make the point that being silent would only make the matter of racism worse. Silence and lack of any action by society only allows those who use hate to deprive others of their basic human rights to continue doing so. The fact that when Barack Obama gave his speech 45 years later, this country is still struggling with the issues of racism and prejudice is a sad reality that we haven’t come as far in this struggle as we might believe we have. I like the fact that both of these men address the need to bring the problem into the open and encourage using a non-violent approach to break through people’s denial. In Obama’s speech he says that blacks still hold a resentment towards the white man.
In the 2th century, dichotomies have been created that lead to one group having more power over another group. However, through history we see the individuals who stand up against these more powerful groups as heroic. This can be seen through the youngest Nobel Peace Prizewinner, Martin Luther King Jr’s actions to achieve equality for the African-Americans. King was fed up with being treated unfairly because he was black and stood up to protect himself, his family and his people. Such a strong proclamation cost King his life but we still recognise his actions today as a main factor for the equality of African-Americans, and many other races.
When Mr Ewell takes the stand we see that he is not a soft hearted person because he is blaming Tom Robinson for something that he has not done, ?I seen that nigger yonder ruttin? on my Mayella? This shows a man?s racism and inhumanity towards another man. Tom Robinson hasn?t done the community any wrong but is a social outcast for being black which is not his fault. We also learn a bit about Mr Ewell.
What is an unjust law? An unjust law according to Dr. King Jr. is one that “degrades human personality.” The clergy men, in their letter, urge the “Negro citizenry to observe the principles of law and order and common sense.” Addressing their argument Dr. Martin Luther King expresses his thoughts on the laws. He agrees with the clergymen, that laws are meant to be followed, but then goes on to say that just because something is a law does not mean that it is just. “For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade.
(Lee 116) Of all, the greatest demonstration of courage is Atticus’ fight for Tom Robinson’s life. He is wise enough to know that the prejudices of people will never allow justice to be done, at the same time, he is determined that the truth be told so that people who convict Tom Robinson will be aware that they are convicting an innocent man. Just like Mrs. Dubose, Atticus knew that he could never win the case, but he tried anyway. Again, Atticus shows his courage to his children. “ I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.
Lee enables readers to identify with the black community in a way that makes the townspeople’s unwillingness to do so seem stubborn. Simply because of their racial prejudice, the townspeople accept the word of the cruel, for example, letting the ignorant Bob Ewell over that of a decent black man. This indicates prejudice weights over justice in Maycomb. Moreover, according to Jam, who divides Maycomb into four layers of social class and while the Ewells are at the lower part of the social ladder, their accusation is still agreed by the court judges since they are white. This further proves that the prejudice in being a racist towards black do exist harshly, even the poor can accuse the black successfully without any evidence, just because they are white.