Changes In The Tom Robinson Trial In To Kill A Mockingbird

Someone once said, “Morality is defined as doing what is right, regardless of what everybody else is doing.” In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the citizens of Maycomb are followers. This often leads to disgraceful and harmful behavior towards people, including uncalled for judgment. The citizens of Maycomb follow their peers and are participating in many sinful acts, instead of being individual people. This is very evident in the treatment of Boo Radley and how people are defined by their skin color. While the people of Maycomb follow one another in their corrupt behaviors, Jem Finch lets these events change his perspective on life and his morality. Jem’s morality changes when he discovers the reason as to why Boo Radley shuts himself

out from the world elucidates, leading to the conclusion that the judgment of others without understanding their reasons is dishonorable, and when he learns that injustice and discrimination are unethical after the racist verdict in the Tom Robinson trial.
Jem Finch realizes that judging people is unscrupulous when he discovers the reason that Boo Radley is staying inside his house and removing himself from the outside world. Jem is very impacted by the guilty verdict in the Tom Robinson trial. He does not understand why he iswas found guilty, because of his skin color, for a crime he did not commit. This incorrect verdict, along with Walter Cunningham's threats to Atticus, leads Jem to the conclusion as to why Boo Radley disconnects from the outside world. Jem is discussing the issue with Scout and says, “Scout, I think I’m beginning to understand something. I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stays shut in the house all this time...it’s because he wants to stay inside” (Lee 227). Jem discovers that Boo Radley is being judged for staying inside his house, along with being seen as deranged, but he has a logical reason for it. Boo Radley does not want to expose himself to the hate filled world, yet people were judging him for it. Jem has finally seen that this judgment is unreasonable and uncalled for. He sees that judging people is unethical after he sees Maycomb's impertinence towards Boo Radley for his actions when they do not understand his reasons. The people of Maycomb do not attempt to learn the reasoning behind it, yet they judge him anyway. Jem sees how judgment is criminal like and does not want to be apart of it. These events play a tremendous part in shaping the man Jem is and his morality. These help him see the right and wrong in the world and change his sense of morality. In the end, Boo Radley and his disconnection from the hateful and disappointing outside world is a huge factor in developing Jem’s character and distinguishing the difference between right and wrong.
In addition to Boo Radley’s reasonable argument for staying inside his house, the verdict in the Tom Robinson trial significantly shapes Jem’s morality.

During the Tom Robinson trial, the readers distinctly see the evidence showing that Tom Robinson is not guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. At one point during the trial, Judge Taylor says, “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for” (Lee 174). This is proven when Tom Robinson is found guilty by the jury. The people saw a black man and automatically declaredsaid him guiltye was guilty because of his skin color. They only saw the inefficient evidence pointing to Tom Robinson, and only heard the false testimonies committing Tom of this hateful crime. The verdict greatly impacts Jem in multiple ways. When he hears of the unfair decision by the jury, he indignantly states to Atticus, “It ain’t right” (Lee 212). Later on, while trying to make sense of the racist verdict, he cries, “How could they do it, how could they?” (Lee 213). Jem now clearly sees the racism in the people of Maycomb firsthand and how horrible it can be. This particular event even cost a man his life. Jem realizes how villainous racism and discrimination can be, and he does not want to live like that. Jem became very adamant towards racism and prejudice after the trial. He is so hurt by this unfair decision, to the point of even crying, and wants it to stop. His morality changes because of this and is now very different from the people of Maycomb. The citizens can be defined as racist and not being able to see past someone’s skin color. But for Jem, he is passionate and disappointed towards the racism because of the Tom Robinson trial and the guilty verdict. When all is said and done, the Tom Robinson trial and the guilty and racist verdict associated with it exceedingly shapes Jem’s

morality.
Someone once said, “Morality is defined as doing what is right, regardless of what everybody else is doing.” Jem does what is honorable, despite the others disgraceful behavior, and his morality changes because of multiple events in To Kill a Mockingbird. Jem Finch’s sense morality is shaken when he uncovers the truth behind the Boo Radley house, which made it clear to Jem that judging others for their actions without understanding their reasons is shameful, and when he clearly saw the racism and prejudice inside the citizens of Maycomb after the Tom Robinson trial and the discriminating jury. This shameful behavior of Maycomb is ultimately responsible for Jem’s morality changing. Jem has great temerity to do what is right, regardless of the dishonorable acts of others, and his morality is better because of it.