...Everyone knew Tom Robinson was not guilty, but because of Maycomb’s prejudice community, he lost his innocence. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom’s mockingbird was killed. This is because he was wrongly accused for beating Mayella, concluded as guilty, and was killed in prison. Tom Robinson was put on trial for raping Mayella and was accused of choking her too. Tom Robinson’s mockingbird was killed when he was charged for hurting Mayella when he did not. Heck Tate falsely told the jury that Tom beat Mayella up. “ ‘There were definite finger marks on her gullet-’(said Tate). ‘All around her throat? And the back of her neck?’(said Atticus). ‘I’d say they were all around, Mr. Finch.’ ”(226) By saying this Heck Tate said that Tom used both of his hands when choking Mayella. Although, Tom Robinson can only use one of his arms. “Thomas Robinson reached around, ran his fingers under his left arm and lifted it. He guided his arm to the Bible and his rubber-like left hand sought contact with the black binding. As he raised his right hand, the useless one slipped off the Bible and hit the clerk’s table.”(254) This shows that Tom cannot use his left hand. Heck said that there were fingerprints around her whole throat, so it could not have been Tom. Tom lost his innocence during the trial when he was hearing all the lies that were...
Words: 602 - Pages: 3
... The Mockingbird in to Kill a Mockingbird stands for someone's innocence. This means someone who is a mockingbird is innocent. Harper Lee uses Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley as mockingbirds in her novel. First Lee uses Tom Robinson as a mockingbird. Tom Robinson is an African American male who was accused of raping a white female by the name of Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson ran away and wanted to escape the inevitable. Tom Robinson knew that he was going to be found guilty in court because the government is not bias. “ they shot him seventeen times in the chest. They didn’t...
Words: 711 - Pages: 3
...Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a man named Tom Robinson is convicted of raping a 19-year-old girl that is part of the Ewells family. As a black man in the 1930s, it was hard not to be guilty of a crime against white people like the Ewells. Siding with Tom Robinson as a white man is also looked down upon. This can be proven by the reaction of a lady named Mrs. Dubose when she hears one of the main characters named Atticus was defending a man when she said: “your father’s no better than the N-words…” (To Kill A Mockingbird, 102) The quote shows Mrs. Dubose’s hatred and discrimination to black people. The quote also shows how defending a black man is hated by the people. Mrs. Dubose’s act gives...
Words: 468 - Pages: 2
...Tom Robinson’s case has been concluded with the not-so shocking verdict of judge John Taylor and his jury. Yesterday, Tom Robinson’s case has been brought to court: Tom Robinson who had been accused by Bob Ewell of raping his daughter Mayella Ewell, 19, has been found guilty of rape. The first bystander to testify was sheriff Heck Tate. When Heck Tate was called by Judge Taylor to give his testimony, he got questioned about Mayella Ewell her injuries. He testified that after being contacted by Bob Ewell, he went to the crime scene to find a beaten Mayella laying on the ground. According to Heck Tate, Mayella’s right eye was blackened and she had bruises on her neck suggesting that somebody tried to choke her. The second bystander to testify...
Words: 423 - Pages: 2
...As the article above states, the Tom Robinson and Mayella Ewell Trial has concluded in sentencing the black, guilty man to death. He was dispatched to the county jail, just to later attempt to escape. The guilty man was shot dead while escaping. I, being a qualified editorial writer, think that it was incredibly ignorant and egocentric act. He was proven guilty, and sentenced to time in jail. I, and many others, believe that he should have paid the price for his expensive and abusive crime. The fact that he was denying his extremely inappropriate actions towards Mayella, which were later proven accurate actions, just shows the immaturity level of the grown man who should know better. When committing a crime, there is always a probability of...
Words: 345 - Pages: 2
...In the 1930s bigotry was more accepted than in today’s current society. Since Tom Robinson’s time, the legal system has been taken apart. It is interesting to see how conformity has changed from the 1930s to the 21st century. In the years 2009-2010, a University of Vermont professor looked at a statistics to see how many more times people of color are to be pulled over in a car than white people. The statistics show: “An analysis of traffic stop data from four police departments in Chittenden County shows that blacks are more often stopped by law enforcement than their white and Asian counterparts. Blacks are two times more likely to be to pull over than whites in Burlington and South Burlington.” The forces of conformity are more cultural than legal these days. People of color or who are “different” are covering from racists and prejudice people. A similar instance happened with Tom Robinson, Atticus, Calpurnia, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond being outcasts from society. Since they were outcasts, they were treated with less respect and privilege. Harper Lee wants the reader to take away from this; Take a moment before judging another person or racially profiling someone and, possibly, try walking in their...
Words: 1421 - Pages: 6
...accuser and Tom Robinson as the defendant. Atticus takes the stand as the lawyer to defend Tom, and proves a valid point to anyone that it is as clear as day that Tom is not guilty. Why was he proven guilty then? Personal, I don't see that he should be guilty. I want people to realize the truth, and see why he isn’t guilty. Physical evidence of Mayella’s bruises clearly shows that her left side was bruised. Attius states, ”...there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively left … Mr.Ewell … no doubt signing it with his left hand, and Tom Robison..having taken oath with the only good hand he possess- his right hand.” This clearly contrast both...
Words: 648 - Pages: 3
...Tom Robinson was accused for raping a young girl named Mayella and he went to court for it. He was clearly innocent in but since he was an African American he was considered guilty. Many people then assumed that Tom Robinson actually did it. “We find the defendant guilty as charged” (Foote 68). The people that went against Tom Robinson were clearly being racist and they assumed that all African American’s were not equal. Since he was guilty he was then later that night killed. The jury make assumptions about him which made the situation end...
Words: 465 - Pages: 2
...Mockingbird, Tom Robinson, a black man, was convicted without sufficient evidence of raping a white girl and sentenced to prison. While trying to escape, he was shot and killed by the prison guards. Tom Robinson’s trial was unfair and was heard by a biased jury. The question now is: Would Tom’s case have played out in a modern court like it did in the book? The answer is NO! It is true that minorities feel that prejudices and racism against them are still present in our modern justice system, which can be supported by the recent riots and the “Black Lives Matter” movement. However, Tom Robinson’s trial would not have had the same outcome in our modern judicial system as it did in To Kill A Mockingbird due to modern day defenders of Civil Rights for all....
Words: 903 - Pages: 4
...theme, having to be faced with the harsh reality of the world which ruins your innocence. Atticus Finch stays strong and practical during the trial, defending Tom Robinson with his life. Atticus’s effort during the trial shows his courage because, despite it being tricky to get the judge and people of the racist South to side with Tom Robinson, compared to Mayella, who claims to be the victim. Atticus does not give up and continues to fight for Tom Robinson’s justice. Atticus shows courage through logical...
Words: 1076 - Pages: 5
...“Guilty...guilty...guilty...guilty..” Judge Taylor echoed himself as he read through the poll of the jury with his gavel held firmly in his fist. After hearing from witnesses; Sheriff Heck Tate, Bob Ewell, Mayella Ewell, and Tom Robinson and adjourning for a lengthy four hours, the jury came to a unanimous decision. Despite the valiant efforts of defense lawyer Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson was found guilty of the rape of Mayella Ewell. After the trial concluded, Robinson was transferred to The Enfield Prison Farm, where he was to be held while awaiting execution. However, Robinson’s stay at the prison farm was cut short. During the exercise period for the prisoners, Robinson supposedly tried to escape and was unfortunately shot down before climbing...
Words: 285 - Pages: 2
...named Tom Robinson rape a white women? As a white lady living in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression, people see things differently. Sometime the doses of morphine I take affect my thinking. Maycomb is like a divided town right now. Some townsfolk I, Mrs. DuBose can be seen as a racist in some people's eyes. People view me as a mean old woman. To me, blacks are not equal to whites. Blacks serve as maids and cooks for whites and nothing more. Gossip around town is absurd. I like to stay in my house or sit on my porch and listen to what people are saying. People are wondering if Tom Robinson raped Mayella Ewell or if he did not. People around town believe most of the same things as me. The white community is all on the same page except Atticus who is defending the person that did wrong. Atticus Finch did the wrong thing defending Tom Robinson. He thought choosing this case sounded like a good idea, but he will realize. Tom Robinson is black and if Mayella says she was raped then Tom should go to jail. A white man should never defend a black man ever, no matter what the...
Words: 505 - Pages: 3
...the novel To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee Tom Robinson (a black man) was accused of raping Mayella (a white girl) in Maycomb County Alabama during the Great Depression. Atticus ( a white lawyer) was chosen to defend this black man in court. Many people supported this decision and many were against it due to the time period where Whites believed that they were better than the Blacks. The benefits of Atticus taking a stand did outweigh the consequences. One reason why it was worth it for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson is to set a good example for his children. It is ideal that Atticus...
Words: 1301 - Pages: 6
...jury of Tom Robinson’s innocence. Atticus uses big picture obvious statements to convince the jury of Tom Robinson’s innocence. He states things that everybody in the room knows to emphasize it. For example, in his speech where Atticus says “This case is not a difficult one, it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant. To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 271.) This quote excellently summarizes the trial and how simple it was. The judge, the...
Words: 932 - Pages: 4
...Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. In the recent chapters we learn about the Ewell’s life at home. I also read about the Tom Robinson case and the court hearing which covered every chapter read within the time frame of this journal. Within this journal I will be characterizing Tom Robinson as considerate and meek. Throughout the book Tom Robinson can be characterized as considerate and meek. There is strong evidence of Tom being considerate in the book. The first piece of evidence of Tom being considerate is when he agrees to do chores for Mayella when she asks him. This proves he is considerate because Mayella asks Tom to do multiple chores, and he does them without complaint. Tom does not have to do these chores...
Words: 1370 - Pages: 6
