Tom Robinson Life Was First Ruined, Then Ended, by a Process of Racism, Lies and Fear.

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Racism is one of the worst kinds of prejudice in any society, and it can and does ruin people’s lives. It was racism that led to the death of Tom’s Robinson’s. He was a victim of racism by being falsely accused and then found guilty of raping Mayella Ewall, a white woman. This statement is true, because the events of what happened as told by Mayella and her father, Bob Ewell, were accepted as proof by a prejudiced, all-white jury at the trial. Tom’s lawyer, Atticus Finch, does his very best to represent Tom and provide the facts and evidence of Tom’s innocence. Despite his efforts, the racism of the jury wins out. They deliver a verdict of guilty, sentencing Tom Robinson to death. Atticus tries to convince Tom that they may have a chance to win an appeal for a new trial. However, Tom believes he will once again be judged by the color of his skin, and no evidence of any kind could prove his innocence. So, Tom makes an attempt to escape from jail. He is brutally shot seventeen times. The prison guards, filled with racial contempt for the Negro rapist of a white woman, not only kill Tom, but they also brutally mutilate his body by firing so many times. Mayella’s false accusations and lies caused Tom’s death. Mayella was alone and had no one. She wanted Tom badly. Tom knew the risks of having relations with a white woman in the Old South, and when Mayella tried tohug and kiss him, he pushed her away. Mayella became embarrassed and humiliated when Tom spurned her. So when her father saw her trying to kiss a black man, he becomes outraged and beats Mayella while Tom flees for safety. In their anger, Mayella and her father then both accuse Tom of beating and raping Mayella. They lied to protect each other for breaking a racial taboo of the times. Her father called and lied to the police in reporting a black man had raped a white woman, causing fear and anger within the

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