Tom's Guilt In To Kill A Mockingbird

Guilty! Despite all evidence Atticus shows in court to prove that Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a 19 year-old girl is innocent in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the jury has found Tom responsible for committing this act against Robert Ewell’s daughter, Mayella Ewell. However, it is never said why they thought Tom was guilty, and how their bias influenced their judgement. In addition, both Tom’s mistake while being cross-examined and Mayella’s emotional reaction further convinced the jury of Tom’s guilt ignoring the overwhelming proof of innocence presented by Atticus.

During the entire testimony, the jury is composed of white men only who view the testimony with a general stereotype of black men. Mayella Ewell is the object of racism as Atticus says,

“...confident that you gentlemen would go along with them

[the people]on the assumption-the evil assumption-that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women…” (204),
Despite this powerful argument, the jury still feels too attached to this culture of stereotyped black men that they decide that Tom is guilty regardless.

Tom Robinson is also making a mistake when the prosecutor, Mr. Gilmer, cross-examines him. While Mr. Gilmer cross-examined him, Tom misspoke “Yes suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-”(197) after Mr. Gilmer commented on Tom’s generousness. In the eyes of the jury, Tom Robinson had a terrible alibi. However the balance of powers between the defense and the prosecution had already shifted when Mayella struggled from an emotional outbreak from Atticus’ questions where she insists ,

“That nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards, stinkin’ cowards the lot of you. Your fancy airs don’t come to nothin’ -your ma’amin’ and Miss Mayellerin’ don’t come to nothin’, Mr. Finch-”

(188).
This emotional display has moved the jury, convincing them that since Mayella was the only one who witnessed what exactly happened and insisting that it was Tom, he was responsible for the act and has to be put in prison or otherwise they would live with a guilty conscience.
While Atticus presented evidence that clearly showed Tom Robinson as innocent during the testimony, the jury decided to look at other evidence which has made them declare Tom guilty. The jury’s judgement is affected by Tom Robinson being a black man, his misuse of words, and Mayella’s insistence that Tom was guilty. This means that the jury, supposed to look at the facts without bias, ultimately did not.
It is revolting to see how this justice system can be so flawed.