Tom Robinson exemplifies how racism prohibits justice and fairness in the town of Maycomb. Tom Robinson is a black man that is not treated fairly because of his race. In the town maycomb no one is ever going to believe a black man over a white man. The people in the town are prepared to accept the word of the ignorant Bob Ewell over a decent black man. How the town perceives Tom has a lot to do with how he is treated.
But this did not matter to Atticus; he went against everyone, and what everyone said just to prove that Tom was innocent. We are shown Tom Robinson’s humanity and point of view through Atticus’s actions, while the majority of the white population see Tom as just as inferior with no rights. Atticus was scorned by many of his fellow citizens because of his attitude that a black man should have the same rights as a white man. Atticus’s rejection of authority was felt by everyone in his town. His determination to defend Tom causes his own family grief from others in town.
This creatively written novel by Harper Lee shows the children’s reaction to the Radley Place which effectively foreshadows the depth of prejudice and intolerance present in the wider community of Maycomb. Scout and Jem are both bred and born in Maycomb, living off a diet of gossip. The prejudice and intolerance in the community is shown from the very beginning of the novel, when Scout tells us about the mysterious myths and town gossip surrounding Boo Radley. For example, Boo never seen outside for years, getting into trouble with the law and stabbing his father with a pair of scissors in the thigh. “..people still looked at the Radley Place, unwilling to discard their initial suspicions.” (Page 9) This shows how small and connected the
Tom Robinson is a black man who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. In Maycomb County, there is still serious racism going on and Blacks have not been treated right. However, Atticus still decides to take the case and defend Tom Robinson even though he knows that town’s people would insult him and his children. Although Atticus tried his best to prove Tom is innocent and he actually proves it, he still loses the trial. Despite the truth that he lost, Maycomb makes a “baby-step”( p.289).
Alex Rounds Swafford Pre-AP English 10 April 23, 2012 Tom Robinson’s Struggle with his Alienation Societal alienation is perhaps the cruelest way an individual or group can be treated by a community. When alienated, or alone and without any support, it is human nature for person a person to break down. In the American classic Too Kill a Mockinbird by Harper Lee, the character Tom Robinson struggles with this societal behavior ultimately leading to his downfall. He is an example of seclusion and shunning by society for the pure fact of being black. This alienation stems from untrue stereotypes and the disturbing moral values exhibited by the inhabitants of Maycomb.
Judge Taylor ends up being very helpful towards Tom; no other white person besides Atticus would take the time to think about a black man. It’s hard to give Tom a fair chance when the whole jury’s skin color is white, and the whole town is against you, but Judge Taylor encourages Atticus to try his best. When the case ends its fair to say Judge wasn’t exactly happy with the outcome, partially because Tom has to go to jail to pay his time. Beyond his feelings, Judge Taylor continues to try his best to make people realize how innocent Tom really
However, he doesn’t spare black people and forces them to see that their submission to the status quo only perpetuates racism. Violence doesn’t achieve anything either. Bigger is not a hero imbued with every good virtue. Sadly, Wright notes, “In all of [Bigger’s] life these two murders were the most meaningful things that had ever happened to him,” (239). He is a man who reacts with violence and confirms racist whites’ fears about black men.
Cousin Francis yelled, “He`s nothing` but a nigger-lover!” (Lee pg83). Just because Atticus was doing the right and noble thing, Cousin Francis thought that he loved black people but he did not know Tom. Although, Jem stated that, “Atticus says cheatin` a coloured man is ten times worse than cheatin` a white man.” (Lee pg201) It is worse because it is like killing a mockingbird, which is a sin, coloured men do not really bother anybody. And then Atticus explained that, “...You’ll see white men cheat black men everyday of your life, ...whenever a white man does that to a black man, ... that white man is trash.” (Lee pg220). He explained that white men always win and cheat, so the white men are the victors but the white man is always a bad man.
From the racial prejudice used against Tom Robinson, to the economical prejudice against the Cunningham family, To Kill a Mockingbird has shown how people in Maycomb look at people. This book truly shows how the people in Maycomb Alabama are prejudice towards each other. It is very devastating that people would ever treat people like this and be prejudice like they are in this
Atticus was his lawyer and it was a completely scandal because he is a white man defending a black man, no one would do that because the black people did not had rights in that time. But we can see that there were descent people like Atticus, that have clear that everyone is equal and he had to make justice in Maycomb; He would fight until the end, and he did, he showed enough evidence to expose Ewell….”Did you Called a doctor, Sheriff? Did anybody call a doctor? Asked Atticus, No sir, repeated Mr. Tate, Why not? Asked Atticus, Well I can tell you why I didn’t.