Defend Tom Robinson Quotes

Have you ever read the book To KIll a Mockingbird by Harper Lee? The book took place in the 1930’s. It’s about a family from Maycomb County and the dad (Atticus) is defending a black man (Tom Robinson). It is important for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson even though it puts himself and his family in danger.

Atticus should defend Tom Robinson because Atticus is the best lawyer in Macomb County. For example, Scout says Atticus was related by blood or marriage to nearly every family in the town.(5)”For his first five years in Maycomb, Atticus practiced economy more than anything.” This quote supports my claim because it shows that Atticus puts a lot of time and effort in his work. Another example is when Miss Maudie says that Atticus has never

drank except for one time but he didn’t like it. “Atticus Finch is the same in the house as he is on the public streets.(61)” This quote supports my claim because it shows that Atticus doesn’t change his image as a good lawyer.

Another reason Atticus should defend Tom Robinson is because it’s the right thing to do. For example, when Scout asks Atticus if they are going to win. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.(101)” This quote supports my claim because you have to judge yourself before you can judge anyone else. Another example is Atticus in the courtroom. “You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire.” This quote supports my claim because it says that there is no particular race of men.

The last reason Atticus should defend Tom Robinson is because of Atticus’s pride.

For example, when Scout told Atticus not to defend Tom Robinson. “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience- Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.(139)” This supports my claim because is shows that Atticus will try defend Tom Robinson. Another example is when Atticus is talking to Scout. "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. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what." This quote supports my claim because Atticus wants to see what real courage is.

It is true that Atticus is putting his family in danger when he is defending Tom Robinson because Atticus is white defending a black man. Some people might argue that when Jem and Scout were walking home from the play, Bob Ewell attacked them. Scout says “He slowly squeezed the breath out of me, I could not move.(351)” However, Atticus is teaching his kids to do the right thing. It teaches them life lessons like racism is bad. “The main reason is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.(100)” This evidence supports my refute because Atticus says he couldn’t tell Jem or Scout not to do something

again.
It is important for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson even though it puts his life and his family’s lives at risk.