...(National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), my sensibilities are not delicate. I grew up in South Carolina as the civil war reached its climax, a place and time where racism was unambiguous and often violent. I would be the last person to deny that we have made remarkable progress against racial prejudice. However, with Tom Robinson’s recent trial, it is obvious that we still have a long way to go. The trial of Tom Robinson exemplified the entrenched prejudice that many, not only in Maycomb but also in the United States, hold against the Negroes in...
Words: 778 - Pages: 4
...regarding Scout’s early reading skills by claiming “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view(Lee 39)”. At this point in the novel, Scout thinks little of what Atticus says and refuses to believe any justification for how Miss Caroline treated her earlier in the day. However, Scout quickly becomes reminded of this lesson time and time again. At the climax of the novel, Atticus justifies Bob Ewell’s reaction of the court proceedings as “some kind of comeback(Lee 292)” when putting himself in Ewell’s shoes. Scout begins to relax, but is not reassured completely by Atticus’ explanation of Bob Ewell’s bland threats. Scout finally truly understands this coming of age lesson when putting herself in Boo Radley’s...
Words: 1354 - Pages: 6
...Yesterday around 11pm at the Maycomb Courthouse, Tom Robinson who is accused of raping Bob Ewell’s 19 year old daughter Mayella, has been charged of rape. The court case took place yesterday in the Maycomb Courthouse in front of a large crowd of Maycomb citizens, both white and black, turning up to watch the trial. The crime took place on the evening of November 21st of last year, on the Ewell’s estate behind the Maycomb dumpster, where the Ewell family had lived for years. Bob Ewell, the father of Mayella Ewell, who survived on relief checks to make ends meet. Mayella Ewell had two or three years of education before leaving school to take care of her siblings as she is the oldest of all the Ewell children. Mayella serves as the mother figure at home as her mother passed away along time ago leaving the children in the care of their father, Bob Ewell. However, after the jury had listened to both sides of the story. Tom...
Words: 506 - Pages: 3
...In the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, a character that shows true courage during the trial is Atticus Finch, lawyer and loving father to Jem and Scout. True courage is being able to defend and fight for something despite the circumstances.Numerous times Atticus shows courage in the story which all relates to the 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
...In 1935, Maycomb County had witnessed a tragic trail for Tom Robinson— a 25 year old man of color. He had been accused of raping Bob Ewell’s 19 years old daughter, Mayella Ewell. The trail took place at the village Courthouse, where a huge crowd of people from both races: white and blacks, attended the trial. Mr Gilmer was the prosecutor and the Atticus Finch was the defense lawyer. Judge Taylor and a chosen jury controlled the case. Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson’s lawyer, he had defended the opposing suspects with strong evidence. Unfortunately, Atticus’s evidence was not enough to prove Tom Robinson innocent. The trial ended in favor of the accusers, the Ewell family. The sin took place a year ago, near the garbage dumps of Maycomb. These dumps were once cabins for Negros, and the Ewell’s had lived behind these garbage dumps for years. Mayella was the oldest in the Ewell family, and she had had two or three years of education only. Bob took care of his children in all previous years, alone, since the death of their mother. The trail started with the sheriff, Mr Heck Take, giving his testimony, he was interrogated about the harms that Mayella Ewell has received. Mr. Finch and Mr. Gilmer, the prosecutor, questioned him. Shortly after the sheriff, Bob Ewell, the father of the victim,...
Words: 668 - Pages: 3
...Harper Lee demonstrates the racism of South in the 30's. Tom Robinson's trial represents the racist atmosphere of Maycomb's society. The racial bias of the people of Maycomb makes them blind to see the fact of Tom's innocence and this brings about his murder. Tom's murder echoes Aimé Césaire sarcastic statement in his Et les chiens se taisent, that "in the whole world no poor devil is lynched, no wretch is tortured, in whom I too am not degraded and murdered" (qtd in Black Skin, White Masks 61). Darren Felty in "An Overview of To Kill a Mockingbird", states: "Lee wants to make explicit the consequences of racism. She accomplishes this goal by employing Tom Robinson's trial to allude to different historical events such as the famous 'Scottsboro Boys' trials of the 1930s". According to Felty, in these trials nine black men were accused of raping two white women. Despite a lack of evidence, the men were sentenced to death by the white jury. Unlike Tom, they finally escaped death after a long time (2). Tom Robinson's trial mirrors these historical events to illustrate the racial binarity and segregation that the black people suffered throughout the colonial history. Racial binarity is prevalent in the novel. The narrow-minded people of Maycomb are in favor of segregation in their society and they consider sexual relationship as a threat to their segregation. According to Adam Smykowski in "Symbolism and Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird", For example, "the red geraniums that...
Words: 1944 - Pages: 8
...The closing statement given to the jury by defense attorney Atticus Finch during the trial of Tom Robinson was eloquent and strong. A similar closing statement that was moving and deep can be seen in the trial of O.J. Simpson where defense attorney Johnnie Cochran presented his closing statement to Judge Lance Ito. The defense attorney attempted to defend O.J. Simpson from the judge's verdict of guilty and persuade the jury to acquit O.J. Simpson from murder charges.The closing statement delivered by Atticus Finch during the trial of Tom Robinson was more effective than the closing statement conveyed by Johnnie Cochran during the trial of O.J. Simpson. During Atticus's closing statement, he used more persuasion strategies such as ethos or an...
Words: 629 - Pages: 3
...English Essay Describe at least one idea that was relevant to people in today’s society in the written text. Explain why the idea is relevant to people in today’s society. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, an idea which is still relevant to people in today’s society is prejudice. The idea of prejudice was shown throughout the novel, most prominently by Tom Robinson’s trial, and the character Arthur “Boo” Radley. Tom’s trial highlighted the idea of racial prejudice and the character Boo Radley, who is a victim of speculation and rumours, helped us better understand social prejudice. Racial and social prejudice are still prevalent and are experienced in our society today despite our seemingly enlightened and tolerant mind-set. Prejudice and the negative mind-set that it induces is influenced by our surrounding family, friends and media. Even though all humans are born with a strong moral conscience, we are bombarded with pictures and people that influence our first impressions of people and make us judgemental, unconsciously or not. The dictionary defines prejudice as a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience, which is clearly the case in Alabama in the 1930’s. The 1930’s was the time of the Great Depression and was before the Black Civil Rights movement took place. People of colour or a different race suffered majorly due to discrimination and prejudice against them. People in small towns during this time period were often...
Words: 1339 - Pages: 6
...Through their actions, Boo Radley, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson epitomize one of the three themes-justice, morality, and ethics- Harper Lee addresses in To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson displays in the book the actions he took to become ethical. Boo Radley shows us how he insures justice to the Finch children and Tom Robinson’s family. Atticus Finch’s morals are what holds the town intact. Each of these characters conveys his/her own theme. First, Boo Radley has been treated with such injustice from both the community and the Finch children that he separates himself from the real world. Despite all the trials they made Boo suffer through, irony occurs when Boo Radley is the one who establishes justice in the end. When Boo kills Bob Ewell, he not only saves the lives of the Finch children but also delivers justice to Tom...
Words: 521 - Pages: 3
...Calpurnia offered to take Jem and Scout to her church when Atticus was away. Calpurnia’s church was for black people only. When they arrived the congregation were very respectful and welcoming except for one woman. This woman’s attitude was the exception because the church community had a great regard for Atticus, so they openly welcomed Jem and Scout into their church. In a negative way to say the least. Jem and Scout do not want Aunt Alexandra do live with them in Macomb County. Aunt Alexandra has very many rules and enforces them very strictly. She is very harsh on Scout...
Words: 1099 - Pages: 5
...Radley (Boo), and Tom Robinson. Dolphus Raymond, Arthur Radley, and Tom Robinson are all discriminated against because of people’s distorted perception of them. Who they really are is much different than who people think they are. Dolphus Raymond’s appearance to most people is that of an alcoholic. He only pretends to drink alcohol when in fact he is drinking cola. He does this so other people can easily justify his life. To the general public, Arthur Radley’s appearance is of a violent psychopath. In reality,...
Words: 2084 - Pages: 9
...southerners followed. Atticus, Jem and Scout's father and also a respected lawyer, is appointed to take part in a controversial trial: he is to defend Tom Robinson, a poor negro laborer charged with raping Mayella Ewell, the nineteen year old daughter of the impoverished Bob Ewell. Jem and Scout are shown going through a tremendous amount of growing up in this novel - not only physically, but also emotionally, mentally, and morally. The children learn more about the real world in brushes with the outside world, such as at school. They are also intrigued by their mysterious neighbor Boo Radley, who had been locked up in his house for a petty crime as a teenager, as he had not been outside his house for decades. Arthur "Boo" Radley is an object of great wonder and speculation for the children, who imagine him to be a savage. They have many opportunities for life lessons in observations of their neighbors like the kindly Miss Maudie, a confidante for the children, and the mean old Mrs. Dubose, imagined to be the meanest person alive. Jem and Scout gain much insight into the workings of the society in which they live through Tom Robinson's trial, and ultimately shed their childhood innocence at that point. When Dill Harris, a little boy only a year older than Scout, comes to Maycomb, Jem, Scout and Dill indulge in play together, enacting scenes from Tarzan, Tom Swift and such, until "by the end of August, [their]...
Words: 2105 - Pages: 9
...not be taking a black man, Tom Robinson’s case. Link tells Atticus “You’ve got everything to lose from this Atticus…”. Atticus replied by saying, “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till the truth’s told.” “And you know what the truth is.” Mr. Finch had really strong morals and beliefs that he would not bend. You could even see it in his parenting sometimes. When Atticus’s daughter Scout was...
Words: 644 - Pages: 3
...After the fire, Scout notices someone had but a blanket on her. She was standing in front of the Radley house and Nathan Radley was helping with the fire so it only made sense that it was Boo. Scout wants to beat up Cecil Jacobs because he is saying rude things about Atticus. Scout goes home and tells Atticus and he tells her not to be upset about it. Atticus tells Scout about being Tom Robinson’s lawyer, Tom Robinson is a black man who is being accused of raping a white lady. Atticus’ brother comes for Christmas and he gives Jem and Scout air rifles. The whole family goes to visit Aunt Alexandra, who is very traditional. Scout’s cousin says mean things about Atticus and Scout beats her up. Scout’s uncle spanks her without listen to her side of the story. They go home...
Words: 1364 - Pages: 6
...A Mockingbird: Overview Vanessa Vigneau English 400 March 20, 2015 Cultural and Literary Significance To Kill A Mockingbird was written during the most critical time periods of racial discrimination, the 1930s. During this time racial prejudice was already an issue, especially in the southern states, but during the Great Depression it escalated even more and the imagery in To Kill A Mockingbird allows the reader to fully understand the impact prejudice had on children and adults. To further explore the cultural significance it is important to also realize that the story time period closely related to the time period in which it was published, 1960. During this time, many were trying to fight Jim Crow laws of segregation and were in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. (2007) This story would seem obvious to some as a coming of age story involving the main character and narrator, Scout, but it was much more involved than a little girl growing up and learning to see things from another’s point of view. This story involves the cultural significance of how people lived in the south in the 1930s and how children and adults were affected by the on-going, ugly, violent prejudice. In the story Scout and Jem are taught by their father lessons about courage and tolerance as it is becoming clear to Atticus, he can no longer shield his children from what is happening in their town. He teaches them to stand in someone else’s shoes and consider the world from that perspective, but...
Words: 1798 - Pages: 8
