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Maycomb’s Racism
Jem’s Character Development in To Kill a Mockingbird
According to the Oxford dictionary, racism is the “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.” Racism is something that many deal with from any age, any place, at any time, but a child has difficulty noticing racism and its repercussions. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Lee tells a story of three characters: Jem, Scout, and Dill. They live a quiet life in Maycomb, Alabama until Atticus Finch, Jem and Scout’s father, is appointed to defend Tom Robinson, an innocent African American man. The effects of the town’s racism in the trial is apparent in Jem’s actions
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and words. Before Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem is unaware of how racism affects Maycomb county, but as a result of Tom’s wrongful conviction, he realizes the negative impact of racism. Prior to Tom Robinson’s wrongful conviction, Jem is ignorant to the effects of skin color in Maycomb.
During the trial, Jem has confidence in the fact that Tom Robinson would be innocent as a result of the court case. After Scout and Dill come back into the courtroom, Jem says to Scout, “and we’re gonna win, Scout. I don’t see how we can’t. He’s been at it ’bout five minutes. He made it as plain and easy as—well, as I’da explained it to you” (Lee 270). Jem fails to perceive how Tom’s skin color makes a great impact on the results of his trial. Jem believes that the jury will only be looking at the evidence provided by both sides to decide whether Tom is innocent or guilty. This is expressed through Jem’s confidence in the evidence provided from Tom Robinson’s case. To his understanding, the results of the trial were obvious and it was that Tom is innocent. Before the verdict of Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem is incognizant to how skin color has a major negative influence in Maycomb and in the trial as he is has yet to …show more content…
witness. Following the outcome of Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem recognizes the negative impact of racism in Maycomb county.
This is apparent when the jury comes back with the conclusion to the trial. Scout watches Jem’s reaction: “his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as it each “guilty” was a separate stab between them” (282). Jem’s reaction depicts his surprise as well as his views on Maycomb’s people shattering. He is completely blown back when the jury concludes that Tom is guilty. He had thought with all the evidence provided that Tom was going to be innocent, but when that did not happen he is in a state of shock and disillusionment. The morning after Tom’s trial, Jem, Scout, and Dill head over to Miss Stephanie’s house, where Miss Maudie is staying. Miss Maudie cuts a slice of cake and gives it to Jem. As he stares at his half eaten slice, Jem explains his thoughts: “I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, at least that’s what they seemed like” (288). The verdict of Tom Robinson’s trial causes Jem to realize the extent of the racism in Maycomb. He notices the bigotry and prejudices that causes Tom, an innocent black man, to be sentenced to jail. Jem becomes disappointed with the folks in Maycomb because they treat others differently based on their skin tone. The miscarriage of justice in Tom Robinson’s trial makes Jem aware of racism and its harmful effects in Maycomb as well as makes him reevaluate his views on the
people around him which leaves him in a state of disillusionment. Subsequently, Tom Robinson’s unjust conviction, due to racism, causes Jem’s naive view of Maycomb to shatter. Tom’s conviction makes Jem realize the cruelty of the townspeople and its consequences. He sees that because of the judgment against people with a darker skin color, a man is being sent to jail for a crime he did not commit. Jem’s reality is falling apart in front of him as he leaves the courthouse: “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. ‘It ain’t right,’” he muttered,” (284). Jem later argues with Atticus about the purpose of a jury and its necessity which leads back to Tom’s conviction. Jem says to Atticus, “‘Doesn’t make it right,’ said Jem stolidly. He beat his fist softly on his knee. ‘You just can’t convict a man on evidence like that—you can’t’” (295). The racism involved with Tom’s trial goes unnoticed by Jem until he witnesses it himself as Tom is sentenced to jail. It frustrates him that the world could be so unjust. He reflects on the trial to see that all along it was always biased towards the white people. He is blown away by his discovery and refuses to believe it is fair. Therefore the wrongful conviction of Tom Robinson is the cause of Jem’s oblivious view of the world to fall apart. Prior to Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem is ignorant to the negative impact of racism in his hometown, but in the wake of Tom’s groundless conviction, he became cognizant of the consequences that come with treating people differently because of their skin color. Through the beginning of the novel as well as before the trial, Jem believes that the world has fair judgment and because of the trial he sees firsthand that what he previously thought is not true. People are unfair and cruel because they judge others by skin color. This isn’t just a problem in the time period To Kill a Mockingbird was set in, it is still a prominent problem today. It is an issue that has been with humanity for centuries and people have yet to come to a resolve. How many more generations will deal with theses prejudices and hatred toward each other?
Also Jem was affected negatively by racism by a loss of his innocence. Jem states while he walks out of the courtroom “ It ain't right Atticus”(Lee 285). Jem now knows that Tom should have won but he didn’t just because he is a black man facing a white woman. When Jem angrily said, “ I never wanna hear about that court case again, ever, ever you hear me?”(Lee 331). This quote proves that Jem has lost his innocence because he knows that Tom Robinson should have had a fair trial but he didn't so he doesn't want to hear about it.
Tom Robinson was just a “respectable negro” with a kind nature who was accused in absence of wrong. Mr Robinson is immediately seen as an enemy by most in town of Maycomb. Is it because of his malicious personality? Is it because of his hair colour? Is it because he is arrogant? No, all of these are false he is instantly convicted because he is of a different ethnicity. It seems foolish but this is the reason why Maycomb has discarded a man who is of higher quality than the majority of the town. “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed.” As soon as the trial began Tom’s opportunity for victory grew slimmer and slimmer and Maycomb knew that Atticus was fighting an unwinnable battle. But Atticus was determined to defend the ‘ultimate mockingbird’ right up until the end; even after the court case Atticus defends Tom at the jail. A final act of Tom’s innocence to prove his mockingbird status was whilst in court, he still didn’t want to accuse Mayella because “she seemed...
Lee uses Scout and Jem’s tumultuous childhood experiences to... has had many trials through her life, and on was in fact a trail of Tom Robinson, a black man accused in raping Mayella Ewell, one of the daughters of Bob Ewell, the town’s idler. Atticus, the children’s father, was defending Tom Robinson, and the case seemed to be in favor of him, all the way to the point of Jem stating, “He’s not leaning, Reverend, but don’t fret, we’ve won it..Don’t see how any jury could convict on what we heard-”(Lee 176). Jem is very confident in his father’s argument, and believes that the case will lean to Tom,
Jem knew from the start that Tom Robinson had no chance in winning a case against the Ewells. However, he deluded himself into thinking that that maybe the jury will be accepting and open-minded in that one case. Of course, that’s not what happened in the end; Tom Robinson is found guilty, causing Jem to question whether or not Maycomb is really the same as he remembered it from his childhood. This change in Jem especially shows when Scout comes to ask him about Hitler’s hatred towards all Jewish people during the Holocaust; Scout ends up comparing what her teacher said in class versus what that same teacher said outside the courthouse after the trial, and Jem was instantly reminded of the verdict:
Tom Robinson is at the stand being questioned by Mr. Gilmer. Dill starts to feel sick because of how Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom. The narrator explains, “Well, Dill,after all he is just a negro” (Lee 266).This piece of evidence shows that prejudice is used as an antagonist in the novel by giving an unfair trial to Tom Robinson. The quote states “he is just a negro,” which shows that the trial is unfair just because of the towns racial views on people of color. The jury is all white and the case is black versus white. The jury is very biased towards the case. The prosecuting lawyers and defending lawyer are giving their closing statements. Atticus ends with a powerful speech that prove Tom is innocent and his views on race. The jury thinks over all the evidence for a long time and come to a verdict. The author of To Kill A Mockingbird quotes, “Guilty...Guilty...Guilty...Guilty…” (Lee 282). This quote shows the jury is very prejudice. There is more than enough evidence to prove Tom did not rape Mayella and that Bob Ewell beat her. Even though there is enough evidence to proves Tom’s innocence the jury’s verdict is guilty just because of their hate and their prejudice towards African Americans. Ultimately, prejudice is being used as an antagonist is very thoroughly shown throughout the entirety of the
In the beginning, Jem was a boy who thought that everyone in the world was truthful and honest; however, this aspiration was brought to an end when he witnesses an innocent man found guilty by a court jury. Jem was certain that Tom would be proven innocent due to lack of genuine evidence against him. Even though Jem didn't know the people of the jury, he had faith that they would naturally do the right thing. “I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that’s what they seemed like” (Lee 246). This event opened Jem’s eyes as he began to see not only his town, but the human race in a different way. In addition, Tom Robinson being wrongly accused of rape continued to eat away at Jem. When Scout approached Jem later on in the novel and commented on the case, he was irate and shouted at her to never bring it up again. Scout couldn’t seem to understand why Jem acted so agitated. Jem was older, and his entire view of the world was completely shattered. Scout was younger, and even though she understood that what happened to Tom was wrong, her world and point of view wasn’t turned upside down. Not only did Jem grow agitated when someone brought the trial up, he also attempted to forget the outcome by pushing it to the back of his thoughts. Jem’s innocent perspective on his home was
How would you like it if someone walked up to you and berated you based on the color of your skin? A characteristic like that isn’t even something you can control, so an insult of that nature can leave one furious and oppressed. Discrimination is inevitable in any culture, throughout history, in modern times, and even in ancient times. For example, the oppression and murder of 6 million Jewish people during the Holocaust, the African Slave Trade which occurred for multiple centuries, and more recently, the “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya people in Myanmar, brought on by the government of the Asian nation, all of which are tragedies doomed to happen when history repeats itself and people do not learn
Tom Robinson’s trial, and in fact his entire life, was badly affected by racism. It is truly a testament to the corruption of society when a person who has earned a bad reputation is held in higher esteem than a person who was born with it, as is the case with Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson. Even though Tom was obviously honest in his testament, the jury sided with Bob Ewell because he was white. They made this decision despite the fact that the Ewell family was widely known to be a worthless part of society. Jem, not being racially prejudiced, could not understand this mentality. As Atticus pointed out, “If you (Jem) had been on the jury, son, and eleven other boys like you, Tom would be a free man.”
It was clear based on the evidence that Tom was innocent, but with the jury consisting of only white men in 1930's Alabama, they decided to convict Tom only because it was a white man's word against a black man's. This upsetted Jem and Scout as they were sure that Tom and Atticus would win the case. It made them realize that people with prejudice will make unfair decisions, even when it's clear that they are making the wrong decision: "...but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed." (Lee 323). Seeing this changes Jem and Scout's perception of the people living in Maycomb, as they start to question whether the people of Maycomb were as good-hearted as they thought. Nowadays, there would not be racial prejudice in a courtroom, however the jury that was biased during Tom's trial could be the modern equivalents of people who use racial profiling, racial bias, and stereotyping. The kids and the reader learn that people who make judgements and decisions based on prejudice are people who should not be considered
Tom Robinson is a virtuous and warm-hearted African American who works very hard to raise his own wife and kids everyday. He is reported that he hurts a white woman and takes advantage on her.Atticus was appointed by the court to defend Tom.Because of that, a lot of kids laugh at Scout and Jem so Jem and Scout do not really understand Atticus about why he wants to do this. As they are confused about their father’s choice, Atticus told Scout that this case is the one that he had to argue with, not because of the appointment, instead, he wanted to preserve the justice and truth. As the case going on, Jem and Scout are very excited and they all supply their father. When the judge finished and Scout lost the case, and Jem feels really upset too. “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd.” (243 Lee)As a kid, Jem not only thinks about his own thing, he also cares about Atticus’ case, he feels down when Atticus fail, this is the most obvious evidence of Jem’s growth and his admiration on
verdict of the trial, Jem and Scout see the hate in jurors for blacks, for it is obvious that Tom Robinson is innocent. Another new and disturbing element that Jem and Scout discover is child abuse. Having never been hit by Atticus, the children know nothing of physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse. However, Mayella Ewell knows too well of these abuses and is a victim of them from her own father. Bob Ewell shows he has no consideration for her by his actions or words, and this is clearly displayed during the trial when he is being asked on the stand, "Are you the father of Mayella Ewell?" (172) His crude reply is, "Well, if I ain’t I can’t do nothing about it now"(172). This shows he has no class or respect, while on the other hand, Jem and Scout are used to seeing the example of their tactful father. Also, during the trial it becomes lucid that Bob Ewell beat Mayella up and not Tom Robinson.
In “To Kill a Mockingbird” there are many examples of racism. During the 1960s when the book was published, racism was acceptable and Black people were constantly dominated and ridiculed by Caucasian people. This novel written by Harper Lee is based on racism against Black people and the refusal of people to treat everyone equally.
A lesson learned by Scout and Jem is that the justice system in Maycomb is not fair. They begin to realize this when their father Atticus Finch is hired by Tom Robinson to defend him in court as he is being charged with the rape of Mayella Ewell, daughter of Bob Ewell. Jem and Scout learn that Tom was accused of committing this crime as he is man of colour, or a "nigger" as the white community in Maycomb like to identify him as. When defending Tom in court, Atticus says " Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left... Tom Robinson now sits before you, having taken the oath with the only good hand he possesses- his right hand." Pg. 222. This quote is the evidence of Tom Robinson being innocent, yet the jury of the court house in Maycomb still convicts Tom of committing a crime he did not commit. This is how Scout and Jem learn
At first, Scout believes that Tom Robinson could have raped Mayella Ewells but as she gets to know more about Tom and learns the thoughts of the people around her, she begins to question the case. During the trial, when Tom Robinson is on the stand, Scout could tell that Tom would never have hurt Ewell. There were also many facts making him innocent, but with Mayella's word against his not much could be done. “Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her. But she said he took advantage of her, and when she stood up she looked at him as if he were dirt beneath her feet” (Lee 218). Tom Robinson always helped Mayella Ewell with her chores when he found out that no one else helped the lonely girl. When her father finds out about her trying to seduce the African American, he becomes violent “Despite her situation, she loses the reader’s sympathy when she repays Tom’s kindness with open contempt and a lie that costs him his life” (“To Kill a Mockingbird”). Tom Robinson looks guilty to the racist south just because of the color of his skin. The jury and the Ewells should feel the guilt of leading an innocent man to his
This abuse of Tom’s sympathy is really unfair and Tom does not deserve this unjust conviction as he did nothing wrong. When the jury finally finds Tom guilty, there is no way how anybody could not feel disappointment towards the way the case ends because the court is suppose to save the innocent not the guilty. In today’s standards, this ordeal would have never happen as there would be a fair jury, judge, and more evidence to back up both sides giving the case a fair trial, but because of the racism of the jury this case is completely one sided. Atticus knows that the jury is discriminating Tom but he has hope, at the end of his rebuttal he says, “A court is only as sound as the jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.”(274). Atticus being such a modern man in his time, he can see the differences between the people of Maycomb; he can recognize the racism towards the black community but he abominates the discrimination; for him to have hope really makes the situation more dramatic.