He was obviously (due to the evidence) innocent, but racist southerners of the jury ruled him guilty anyways. ii. Due to the support of Tom Robinson, the common person hated the finch family. 1. Both examples show how prejudiced the city in the South actually was.
Perhaps the most relatable event to the symbolism, the Tom Robinson case depicts the destruction of innocence first hand. Robinson, a respectful black man, is wrongly accused of raping and beating Mayella Ewell. Atticus clearly shows the whole courtroom that Tom is incapable of this crime, and even brings light to the person who actually beat Mayella. Instead of recognizing Tom Robinson's innocence, the jury was blinded by racism and found him guilty. This directly relates to the symbolism Harper Lee implemented previously in the book, showing how wrong it is to harm something, or someone, that did nothing but sing, and in Tom’s case, help Mayella.
Yet a wise man such as Atticus does not fully understand how the citizens of Maycomb can be so irrational and unjust in their prejudiced views of others. This is shown in Part one of Harper Lee’s novel as Atticus tells his brother Jack, ‘Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I will never truly understand.’ Atticus is a great influence on Scout through his actions and words, however he does not force her to act in this way. Atticus has the highest respect for everyone in Maycomb, regardless of gender, age or race. This is shown in his defence for Tom Robinson and his employment and loyalty to Calpurnia. He also demonstrates this when he explains Boo-Radley’s situation and reprimands Scout for treating a boy at her school badly because he was of lower class.
The lack of knowledge in Maycomb about the outside world and their opinions about black people ingrains ‘Maycomb’s usual disease’ into their minds as they have no other opinions about black people. This is shown by the crowd’s outrage as they gather to lynch Tom, not knowing that he was innocent, but blinded by ... ... middle of paper ... ...sirable traits to have as they can motivate you through the toughest tasks and drive you to do what should be done instead of abandon your duties. In conclusion, Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird highlights the horrible prejudice and ignorance towards black people in the southern town of Maycomb, but also shows wisdom and compassion as not only desirable but necessary traits to have to withstand the bombardment of pre-conceived ideas from the people surrounding you, and also portrays these qualities as a shield to people around
Atticus tries to persuade the jury in changing their ways and look past race and stereotype: "They were confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption- the evil assumption- that all Negro's lie, and that all Negros are basically immoral beings. I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty". Tom Robinson was convicted despite Atticus’s efforts, the more plausible explanation was more due to the fact that he was a black man and his word wasn’t considered truthful or as important as a white man’s word. Also in the book ‘To Kill a Mocking bird there is racism shown towards Atticus and his family.
It is hard to state in particular to why Maycomb holds such ideas towards Black people, but Lee blames this to the conditions of the country and how it influenced each and every citizen present at the time. Lee gives her opinions through Atticus as he states on Page 98, chapter 9, ‘’Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a negro comes up is something I don’t pretend to understand’’. It is quite plain what Atticus means when he says the he doesn’t ‘’pretend to understand’, this shows how Atticus responds away from the norm of the society towards the racism and is actively against it, and is also one of the reasons to why he defends Tom Robinson in the first place, other than ‘it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’ the metaphorical term for the innocent Tom. It is further evident in chapter 16, page 176, what was meant by ‘’people go stark raving mad when anything
The Montgomery Advertiser is also trying to mock how Atticus is toiling away to represent a defendant, Tom Robinson, who has little to no hope in being freed from the accusations of rape made on him. This is not only an extremely rude gesture, but it is also a sign of prejudice, because they are basing their inferences of the future of the case simply on the fact that Tom Robinson is a Negro, and Negroes are always “the bad guys.” Another case where unjustness is shown is when Lula is spiteful towards Calpurnia for bringing Scout and Jem along to the Negro church. Lula says, “‘I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to nigger church’” (Lee 119). Prejudice does not occur only when a white person looks down upon a black person; it happens vice versa as well. Black people may not be allowed to attend the same churches as white people, but that does not mean white people prohibited from black people’s churches simply cancels out the act of prejudice.
Another example of racial prejudice in Tom Robinson’s trial is the verdict. All of the evidence produced by Atticus should make it clear that Tom is innocent, but underlying prejudices and biases cause the jury to vote against him. In Atticus’s
She shows it through Atticus, Tom Robinson and the Negro community and Arthur “Boo” Radley. Social inequality can happen to someone because of a choice they made like Atticus or because of his or her color like the Negroes in the book or even because you are antisocial like Arthur. The era of the story had a big affect on all the examples because in the thirties it was wrong for a white man to actually try to defend a black man and, it was expected that Negroes were bad people when they were not. With Arthur’s case it is different, his was because of the fact they lived in a small town where everyone was in each others’ business
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