To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

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"To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee is a book that touches on some difficult topics. The story takes place in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s (Tom's trial takes place in 1935). The story is narrated by a young girl who goes by the name of "Scout" Finch. Scout's real name is Jean Louise. The story takes place during the depression, but the Finch family is better off than many in this small town, as Atticus, Scout's dad is a successful and respected lawyer. Tom Robinson is a poor African-American field hand who is accused and tried for rape. In the process of defending Robinson, Atticus is able to provide evidence that the young man is innocent. But, because of the racist nature of white society in that time and place, the young man is convicted. Tom Robinson is a character that stays unseen through most of the book. He is a young, black man in his mid 20's who is married with three children and going through a court case in which he is accused of raping a white girl. He basically got set up by Mayella and her father for raping young Mayella. Tom only has one workable arm and does a lot of work for the people in his town for little or no money . "I can't use my left hand at all. I got it caught in a cotton gin when I was twelve years old. All my muscles were tore loose." One night Mayella wanted him to come in and help reach some boxes on a high shelf. Her father walked in on Mayella kissing Tom and he ran out the door . Her father beat her for kissing a "nigger" as they referred to Tom. Then to cover up her fathers brutal beat down they said Tom Robinson raped her and beat her. It was pretty obvious to the reader that he didn't. Many believed Tom but he still was tried in the courts. In t... ... middle of paper ... ...e of the day, with armed guards everywhere. "To Maycomb, Tom's death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger's mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw. Funny thing, Atticus Finch might've got him off scot free, but wait-?" (25.25) "Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, 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." (25.28) Some people don’t understand how Tom is feeling but during his trial you have to understand he was getting screamed at in front of the whole town by some people . Meanwhile they are being racist calling him names . Its very hurtful and heartbreaking but he stayed strong threw the story and at the end he had so much bottled up he just broke down .

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