Talon Kindred Miss Pearson English 10C 20 May 2024 To Kill A Mockingbird In the story “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, a black man by the name of Tom Robinson is accused of hurting and raping a woman, Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch is representing him and helping him fight his case. Tom Robinson is a prime example of this because he is being treated less than because he’s black and now that he is in the court system he is being treated poorly because of the things that are being said about him. Black people are treated as less than and not as successful as white people because of their skin color and in this society it is okay to treat black people poorly. African Americans were discriminated against and anyone who supported them because …show more content…
Black people were set out from America because of the color of their skin; they fought for everything they have today just because of the way they look. Because they were set out and placed away from white people means that they found some sort of motivation and drive to prove that they were worth something more than a slave and someone who doesn’t matter and they were deserving of love,respect,and success. African American people, female or male, made an effort to try to prove everything they did because no one would believe them because they were black and no matter what it is they say it’s always wrong. Atticus is a white man trying to prove a black man is right and a white woman is wrong. Tom is struggling in the courtroom, but not only is he black, but he is trying to defend himself against a white woman. "There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always
First, Tom, formally known as Thomas Robinson was a black man who worked for a man named Link Deas. Tom was 25 years old, had three children and a wife named Helen. When he was 11 years old Tom’s left arm was caught in a cotton gin and he lost feeling in his left arm. Tom was accused of rape by a white woman named Mayella. Everyone hated him because it didn’t look good for a black man to be accused of raping a white woman. During his trial he had a white lawyer named Atticus, who did his best to prove that Tom was innocent and Mayella and her dad Bob Ewell were lying. Atticus says,”Did you resist her advances?, Mr.Finch, I tried to ‘thout bein ugly to her. I didn’t wanta push her or nothin.” stated Tom(Lee 195). Tom did not want to kiss her but he didn’t
One's identity is a very valuable part of their life, it affects the Day to day treatment others give them which can lead to how the individual feels emotionally. Atticus, defending Tom Robinson, who is an african american man from the plaintiff of the case, Mayella Ewell, who is a caucasian woman, accusing that Tom raped her is supposivly a lob sided case. During the great depression, any court session that contained a person of color against a caucasian would always contain the “white” individual winning the case. The cause of the bias outcome comes from the lawyer of the african american does not try to defend or the jury goes against the person of color simply because their black, this shows the effect of racism to anyone’s identity in the courtroom for a case simply because of race. Atticus, deciding to take Tom Robinson’s case seriously sacrifices his identity as the noble man he is, to being called many names for this action, such as “nigger lover”. He is questioned by
Atticus wants his children to ignore what everybody thinks of him when defending a negro. During a conversation between Jem and Atticus, tells Jem,” As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, whenever a white man does that to a black man, that white man is trash.” (223). At the court Atticus is sure that he will lose but wants to make a statement to this racist society. He wants this county to treat black people just how they treat white people....
Atticus Finch is a heroic character in To Kill A Mockingbird. A hero is a person who is known for certain achievements and qualities. Atticus is known for many qualities he displayed during the novel, as well as various achievements. This makes him a heroic character. Atticus Finch is a hero because he defended a black man in court, proved his abilities and intelligences, and cared for everybody equally.
After the trial was completed and Tom was convicted guilty, Jem was devastated due to the realization that the court which was supposed to be “the one place where a man ought to get a square deal… be he any color of the rainbow”(pg.220,paragraph 3) was corrupt with racial prejudice and segregation. Atticus explains to Jem that “The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box. As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it- whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.” (pg.220,paragraph 3) Atticus foreshadows to when he said that it was a sin to kill a mockingbird in this quote because he is saying that it is wrong to kill a mockingbird no matter who you are. This also helps the reader understand the racial segregation going on at the time. Lee once again reveals the dangers of being vulnerable and innocent by having Atticus say “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life.” It shows how often white men take advantage of blacks who are vulnerable individuals
Towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus decides to represent a colored man by the man of Tom Robinson, who is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. Atticus believes that Tom is innocent, but he does not think that Tom will be found not guilty because of they way the townsfolk treat colored people. They treat them like dirt; like they are worth nothing. Atticus went ahead and represented Tom despite the fact that he knew the townsfolk would call himself and his children names and treat them disrespectfully. Even Scout’s relative Francis said rude things about them. “‘I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-...’ ‘Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.’” Atticus set a good example for Scout and Jem. He had a difficult decision to make, but he chose what he thought was
This type of discrimination made African American victims of jails and crimes that they did not even consider doing but were thought of doing because of racial segregation enforcement (popularity?) within the Southern society of the US. However, Atticus was different and believed that Tom robinson is innocent since he understood (understands?) how people discriminate others and was aware (is aware) of different types of prejudice (in that time period). So, due to Atticus’ good morals and values, he was willing to try his best to support the truth (who was
Atticus made several points proving Tom couldn't have done what he was accused of, for example, he has a disabled left arm but Mayella’s face was beaten on the right side. For a person to be hit on the right side of the face, the attacker must be left handed but Tom’s left arm is crippled. Another example of when cruelty is shown is Tom’s skin colour. “There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads — they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life.” (Lee 220) Atticus has no chance in winning this case. Black men in Maycomb are said to be liars, immoral, not trusted around women, and cheat everyday. If Tom was white, this whole case would have been handled differently. Tom would have walked out that court freely. But in the end, it does not matter that there was no proof that the crime Tom Robinson is accused of was ever committed, that Bob Ewell beat his daughter, or that Tom Robinson is disable in his left arm. Tom is convicted because he is a black man accused by a white
The dominating theme of racial discrimination is clearly evident throughout the book. Unfortunately, the society itself is the ultimate cause of such dilemma. Maycomb County is segregated into the hardworking, honest black people, and the privileged and prejudiced white people. The long hold racist attitude towards the black people are unforgiving as they have not been recognised as human beings, and are treated inhumanely. When Tom Robinson; a respectful black man is wrongfully accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell, Atticus is assigned to fight for Tom in the trial. Due to Atticus being a white man ...
The reader can then infer that in To Kill a Mockingbird, society believes that white people are a symbol of the superior race, and colored people are a symbol of the inferior race. Neither of which is true because no one person is one-hundred percent honorable or evil. Unfortunately, stereotypes and beliefs of the time lead the people of Maycomb County to be unable to view everyone as equal and instead only focus on race. Tom’s situation is an overall representation showing that when people treat others differently based on color that someone will have to face the consequences of this thought process. In the book, Tom fails to receive a fair trial just because he is black, yet many years earlier in the 19th century, Sir William Garrow coined the term “innocent until proven guilty.” The phrase itself never specifies only being true for white people or any certain group of people, for that matter. Due to personal bias, the people of the time are able to twist that phrase and unfortunately warp it into something closer to “guilty until proven innocent.” The reader can infer based on his actions of distancing himself that Atticus feels misunderstood and even alone. He is fighting a battle
Tom is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, and is faced with the charge of spending his life in prison. As a state in the south during the 1930s, racism was a commonplace in Alabama. However, Atticus’s thoughts are different from many of the people around him. Contrary to many of the other folks, he believes that blacks (and all people) should be treated in an equal way. Although he knows what the town will think of him if he accepts the case, after barely any hesitation, Atticus agrees to defend Tom. This was mainly done on his own terms, but also taking into considering the impact it will have on his children. He explains to Scout reasons why he is defending Tom, “the main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). He works as hard as he can to defend Tom in the best way possible, even though he knows it may very well be of no use, as the outcome of this case was basically predetermined at the
In the novel, Atticus defends a colored individual in a racist and sexist society. He willingly accepts the responsibility of defending Tom Robinson; a man accused of raping and abusing a white woman named, Mayella Ewell. Atticus accepts the label ‘nigger lover’ and takes the case knowing he is going to lose no matter how hard he tries to succeed. His simple objective is that he could stand in front of Jem and Scout with dignity and be a good role model. Atticus says ‘I wanted you to see what real courage is...You rarely win, but sometimes you do.’ (pg. 149) By saying this he means that it’s not always about winning something, losing can also be beneficial. In this situation Atticus also shows how he takes a road many others wouldn't have taken: everyone else would want to hear that he or she has won the case instead of losing in front of the jury and all who came to see. Living in the racist and prejudice society of Maycomb, Atticus knows people will believe a white person over a black person because...
The novel How to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee contains one overbearing theme: extreme prejudice. Throughout the novel “Scout” and her brother “Jem”; their real names being Jean Louise Finch and Jeremy Atticus Finch respectively, are victims and perpetrators of prejudice. In the novel, the children’s father Atticus Finch is the defense attorney for Mr. Tom Robinson, a black man convicted of raping white women with only circumstantial evidence. This evidence only pointing to Mayella Ewell being assaulted not by him; but by her father, Mr. Bob Ewell. Tom Robinson is only a victim of prejudice, alongside a multitude of people, all because of gender, socioeconomic, and/or racial aspects of their lives.
(Lee 232). Atticus starts off by repeating the statement the white community addresses on Negroes, that they are evil in every aspect of life, and therefore they should not be trusted by women and in the community overall. Then, Atticus turns the tables on to the people of the courtroom, telling them that they must have lied or done evil before too, henceforth, making other people of different races evil. The racism toward Tom Robinson makes him feel as if he is guilty of his race. The white community makes Tom’s innocence feel obstructed because he has been accused of a rape, as well as being told he is “evil” as well.
This man is unfortunately victimized since his society does not believe he is innocent due to the color of his skin. Being the black man that Tom is, it is clear that “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed” (241). There is no way that a black man’s words would override the voice of a white person. No testimony, evidence or speech can help Tom prove he is not guilty. Atticus understands that Tom is victimized by racism, so he explains: “When it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (220).