Essay On Tom Robinson Trial

In these chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the trial of Tom Robinson begins and the whole town is attending. Jem, Scout and Dill are eager to watch Atticus defend Tom. The trial is important to many people, especially the black community, they are grateful for Atticus, whether he was given the case or he took it, he did it with all of his ability. In this journal, I will be evaluating the reasons why the people on the balcony stood for Atticus when he passed.

To illustrate the black community’s admiration of Atticus, Reverend Sykes and the others in the balcony of the courthouse stand when Atticus passes. To begin, they show respect towards him then and in the next days in the following ways. The fact that Atticus is defending Tom Robinson is a sizable reason why they respect him

greatly. In past reading, Atticus shows that he took this case straight to the heart. Though it does not seem true, it deeply impacts Atticus to his core. An example being, “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience...” (Lee 139). Atticus tells this to Scout because he knows that if he acts as if the case will ruin his career and reputation, she will see that she does not have to try either. Although, this is not the case, Atticus feels it is crucial for Scout especially to understand that all men are equal, even though at this time it may not seem true. In Addition, Atticus shows no signs of yearning to cast aside the case file to somebody of lesser experience. Not to mention, he takes the case without outwardly pleading it is a hopeless cause. To show, Atticus defends Tom Robinson as he would defend any white man, and makes it his civil duty to do this man right. Coupled with Atticus’s personal beliefs, he never shows regret in his obligation to Tom Robinson and his family. In another instance, Atticus respected these citizens even before the case. Though the residents of Maycomb did not agree with him, Atticus stuck to his belief all men are created equal. Equally important, he never frowned upon them, or disgraced their ways. While speaking to his children, Atticus conveys this, “Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man” (Lee 139). As a result, he displays to his children that he is not a coward and will not back away from a challenge, even if it means his reputation may taper as the trial advances. Correspondingly, the African American populous makes known that they are appreciative of Atticus’s intentions to free Tom of his accusation. During the trial, the members of the African American public watched Atticus vividly defend their friend as if color was no boundary. Though the case was lost, Tom’s peers nevertheless stood for Atticus because of how bravely and dauntlessly he displayed the disheartening Tom Robinson rape case. Although Tom’s peers knew there was no chance to win the jury, they came to acknowledge Atticus and his effort to clear their friend and neighbor. This point can be illustrated with what Reverend Sykes said to Jem while the jury was still debating, “Now don’t you be so confident, Mr. Jem, I ain’t never seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man...” (Lee 279). In this case, Rev. Sykes advises Jem to be wary of the confidence of how the jury will plea. As well as how he feels the jury will decide Tom to be, guilty.

Even as the jury comes back, they do not look at Tom, that evidence alone tells the whole courtroom the verdict. Overall, the outcome was what everyone suspected would happen, but the solid effort of Atticus Finch will be remembered and gratified by every person in that balcony. After the commotion of court, Calpurnia finds baskets of various goods from people who are appreciative of what Atticus had done the night before. Although These people are not wealthy, but they felt it necessary to deliver gifts to the Finch’s doorstep thanking them with meat, bread and other assorted spoils for the family. Ever grateful, Atticus tries to maintain his appreciation but sheds a tear and says, “Tell them I’m very grateful...tell them they must never do this again. Times are too hard...” (Lee 286). That is, For Atticus a tremendous act of appreciation, and understands what it means to give even a small token of thanks, let alone a full chicken and other valuable goods. As a result of the guilty verdict, Atticus is meeting with the judge again to file an appeal. If he does not, Atticus feels as if he has failed Tom Robinson,

his fellow neighbors, Scout, Jem, and himself especially. As a consequence, Tom may go straight to the chair to execution for a crime he did not commit. Thus making the weight on the shoulders of Atticus Finch much heavier knowing what he could have done about an innocent man’s life. Ultimately, Atticus did his best to show people he was not afraid to do what he thought was right, and the people that did benefit from his involvement respected him and showed him immense gratitude.

Continuing the story, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayella and Bob Ewell are called to the stand. They tell almost the same story, as well as the sheriff, Heck Tate. They all say that Mr. Tom Robinson was on top of Mayella hitting her and such, when Bob comes to the window and runs him off, there are a couple of holes in their stories. In this journal, I will be assessing the reasons why Mayella would lie about Tom robinson raping her.

To begin, Mayella lied about the rape to cover up matters of her life that she keeps secret, such as her father's beatings and her seclusion from the outside world. Until now, nobody had any idea what Mayella’s home life was like, her father beats her up when he gets drunk. Even if no one knows exactly what happened, the evidence shows Mayella had bruises on the left side of her face. In spite of what Officer Heck states, Atticus proves Mr. Ewell is, in fact left handed, he proves this by having Bob Ewell write his name in an envelope. On the contrary, Thomas Robinson cannot have possibly hit Mayella on the left side of her face. This is not possible because he got his arm caught in a cotton gin when he was young, and he has no use of his left arm, so being solely right handed, Tom could not have hit Mayella in the left eye. Another point Atticus makes is the documentation that even with Mayella’s injuries, Mr. Ewell nor Officer Heck recall they should call the doctor to make sure she is alright. To illustrate, “‘Didn’t you think she should have had a doctor, immediately?’ The witness (Bob Ewell) said he never thought of it...and if he had it would have cost him five dollars” (Lee 235). This can show that, Mr. Ewell ‘did not think of’ calling a doctor for his daughter who may be badly injured and probably needing medical attention. As well as, not understanding why Atticus was pushing the questions he was, Bob regained confidence and began his cocky banter once again before he was issued off of the witness stand. The first witness, Mr. Tate was testifying what happened when he reversed his story and may have turned the tables in Tom Robinson’s whole trial. He said Mayella had bruises on her right side and then recanted and said it was all on her left. In this moment, Atticus realizes what has just happened and pillaged Mr. Tate’s mistake. As this happens, The jury is putting the pieces together. This story, exiting, twisting, confusing, will be difficult because of the race and the evidence stacking against Mr. Ewell. Afterward, when Mayella is testifying, she says Tom came at her from behind, choking her and pushing her down, keeping her there, helpless. The contrary being, Mayella is quite a strong young woman and could have easily pushed a man with one usable arm off of her and run, she then changed her story to he was in front of her and jumped on top of her, beating her on his right, her left. Another probable explanation for her to lie, would be her extreme seclusion from society. Truly, a sorrowful story about a girl who has grown up 18 years alone, with no friends, suddenly in front of the whole town, feeling mocked. For example, “Won’t answer another word you say long as you keep on mockin’ me,’... ‘long’s he keeps callin’ me ma’am an sayin’ Miss Mayella. I don’t hafta take his sass, I ain’t called upon to take it” (Lee 243). This illustrates Mayella is feeling threatened, never being called “ma’am” and “Miss” is making her feel mocked and made fun of. Instead, Mayella is confused and angry about not actually knowing friendship, even in the slightest, aside from Tom Robinson. Granted her family’s history, Mayella is already labeled for being “an Ewell” because of her father and other ancestors, she never goes fully into town for this reason. Thus, keeping her evermore secluded and alone. Her whole life, Mayella was kept in her house on the other side of the dump, growing her gardenias and left to herself. During these times, at home, she had a man named Tom doing her heavier chores, developing a longing for attention. After all of Gilmer’s witnesses exited the stand, Tom Robinson swore as best he could on the bible and began telling his story. One line in particular states clearly, “ ‘Mr. Finch, I got down offa that chair an’ turned around an’ she sorta jumped on me’ ‘...violently?’ Atticus asked. “no suh, she--she hugged me. She hugged me round the waist” (Lee 259). This evidence reveals that Tom was innocently helping a young girl on a chiffarobe, when she ‘attacks’ him. He later describes, “She reached up an’ kissed me ‘side of th’ face...I say Miss Mayella lemme outa here an’ tried to run but she got her back to the door an’ I’da push her. I didn’t wanta harm her, Mr. Finch...” (Lee 260). This evidence given to Atticus from Tom is crucial because he is saying himself that he did not lay a hand on her that night. In that moment, when he says he did not mean to harm her, he is genuine and deeply feels regret towards running away. Thus making Mr. Ewell even more angry at Mayella. To conclude, Mayella Ewell was not taken advantage of; she was beaten by her father, Mr. Ewell, and he made up the story to Officer Heck and her father told her if she told the truth, he would hurt her again. She was beaten because her father saw her kissing Tom and was not happy with her.