Analysis Of The Movie ' The Court Scene '

Tom Robinson enters To Kill a Mockingbird accused of raping Mayella Ewell but leaves To Kill a Mockingbird dead. Atticus Finch the defendant in Tom Robinson’s case and the father of Jem and Scout, did not fail Robinson, Robinson’s family or his own because he tried his best to prove that Tom was not guilty. For example , Miss Ewell explained that the attacker in her testimony, Tom Robinson had force himself on her, began to hold to her by the neck and hit her repeatedly after she asked him to bust up a chiffarobe for her. Heck Tate, the sheriff and witness of the trial had said Mayella only had bruises on both the neck and right side of her face, this now raised a red flag for Atticus. For Robinson to beat Miss Ewell repeatedly on the right side of her face he would have to use his left arm which got caught in a cotton gin years before. The disability that Tom Robinson had created great evidence for Atticus’s defense but didn’t work because of the unjust community they both live in. Maybe it would have worked if the trial was held in a courtroom that is built on justice for all, not just for the white.

Atticus explains to Jem that “in our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (Lee 295 ). Atticus explain the justice system’s flaws to Jem, shows readers how racist people were in the 30’s. Therefore the novel does show some of the oppression that people of color were being forced to go through. During the trial, Tom Robinson says he ran from the Ewell house because “[he] was scared [he’d] hafta face up to what [he] didn't do” (Lee 265). Tom’s confession of his worried feelings of court prove how terrible and bias the southern justice system is. Even though Tom’s life before the trial was never mentioned in the novel, readers can still get a glimpse of the racist views in the south through his trial. Also at Tom’s trial, readers can “see the town of Maycomb in its worst light, willing to execute an innocent man for a crime he did not commit rather than question their belief in black inferiority and their social taboos about interracial relationships” (Felty). The trial truly shows the racist beliefs and the horrible lives African Americans were forced to live through with no freedom and fear of each new day. The novel does show some of the daily difficulties that African Americans went through and for that reason it should be looked upon as an example of racism in the south. Overall, the

Given the harsh circumstances that involved discrimination and racism during the 1900s, the understanding and empathy of a young Jem Finch shines through the plot of To Kill A Mockingbird like a star. Under the spectacular influence of Atticus Finch, Jem’s compassion always seems to prevail, no matter what the situation may be. This is used in great effect to justify the ethical theme of the story. That being that everyone deserves the same rights and freedoms. In the book specifically, this is conveyed through the unequal privilege of a “fair trial”. It was shown that the black society stood no chance in court when Bob Ewell, a poor white man, accused Tom Robinson, a black man, of raping

Tom Robinson’s role in this book shows a lot of prejudice. He is a black man convicted of raping a white women. This book is set in the 1930s, during this time period the Jim Crow Laws were still in place and racism was big. ‘You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?’ Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling” (Lee, pg 197). Tom Robinson is talking about how he felt sorry for Miss Mayella, who is white. Mr Gilmer gets very upset stating that a nigger should not feel sorry for 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 wins. They're ugly, but those are the fact of life.” (Lee, pg.220) Atticus is talking to the kids about how Tom Robinson will get the death sentence because of the color of his skin and how the jury looks at him. He talks about there is no court in Alabama that would’ve gave him something less. Basically it was Tom against a town full of white folks. Tom is a big symbol of prejudice in the book.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee uses Atticus Finch’s character and setting to describe the conflict of racism and Finch’s moral conviction to do the right thing. The setting takes place in the 1950’s in idyllic town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the time of segregation and prejudice, white people treated black people very unfairly. Atticus, the protagonist worked as a lawyer. Atticus believes all men are created equal and entitled to a fair trial no matter the color of a man’s skin. A black man Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman, named Mayella Ewells. Atticus chooses to defend him against the town’s wishes. The whole town is against Atticus, who believed Tom was innocent and entitled to a fair trial under the constitution. Tom Robinson didn’t have a fair trial because of his skin color. Everybody in the whole court had already judged him

This book the new Jim Crow Laws in a modern version of to kill mocking a bird. In the book killing a mocking bird Atticus is a white lawyer. He is representing a black man during that 1960’s when the Jim Crow Laws existed. The Jim Crow Laws were laws written to separate the blacks and whites in the public areas this meant African Americans could not use the same bathroom, be at the same school, and even at to sit at the back of the bus. They had unequal opportunities and even the in government. In the book Maycomb accused Tom Robinson of rapping her. In the book Atticus and Tom Robinson could have both been lynched. The court case in the book and the jury is

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, shows how life was for those in the southern part of the United States, during a time when racism ran rampant throughout the land. Many injustices were committed to those of “Negro” descent, and it was up to those behind the law to protect them as well as those who lived by the law. Atticus, attorney at law, defender of the people, and father to Scout and brother Jem is safeguarding Tom Robinson, accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. As the story continues though, Mayella’s accounts of the facts aren’t quite as how they actually happened. Together, Scout (Jean Louise Finch), Jem and Atticus show courage to stand up for what is right, defend the innocent until proven guilty, and how to remain

During the trial, Atticus gives a speech to the jury about why he thinks Tom Robinson is innocent and Atticus concludes his defense of Tom Robinson by asking the jury to set aside racial prejudice and consider what likely occurred between Tom Robinson and Mayella Ewell. Mayella has violated a normal thing in their society by kissing a black man, and

Lastly, a black man named Tom Robinson is also destroyed by racism. Tom Robinson is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell who is a young white women. In the novel he is accused of raping Ewella simply due to his skin colour. Mayella’s abusive father, Bob Ewell uses Tom’s ignorance as an advantage, he proclaims that Tom Robinson is the guy who sexually assaults his daughter. Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson because he believes that he is innocent. As he provides strong evidences that proves that Tom is innocent. At the trial, Atticus closes his argument with an outstanding closing statement that expresses his feelings towards the white jury’s view. He declares “ ‘(…) The witnesses for the state, with the exception of the sheriff of Maycomb County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them 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, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber.’ ”(Lee 273) Atticus speech illustrates what the mind set of the people in Macomb is.

The late 1930s was a time period where people suffered from many perspectives. First, the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, took place during the Great Depression which was a time when people did not have any jobs or money to provide for their family. There was great tension in society which triggered stress and emotional conflict. Also, Mockingbird was set in the south --Maycomb, Alabama-- where racial segregation was high against blacks. In the novel, Tom Robinson was an African American man who was wrongly accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman who was responsible for falsely accusing him to save her own reputation. The biased white jury sentenced Tom Robinson to be guilty

The mockingbird represents innocence. Compared to someone hunting mockingbirds, people can kill innocence. Atticus urges his children not to shoot mockingbirds both literally and metaphorically. These were the kind of images that Lee hoped her readers would have understood. Lee wanted to prove to the post-war South that blacks and whites are more similar than they have thought. The color of the skin really made no difference, but was rather a mental separation. She wanted her audience to see that Tom Robinson was innocent, contrary to what people thought. During the time period, blacks were often at a disadvantage in the court of law and were often found guilty. Robinson became an important figure and “has become a role model for the legal profession”. (Malcom Gladwell, The Courthouse Ring).

Although during the 1950’s it was said to be “separate but equal” the African Americans were still treated with disrespect like sitting in the back of the bus or even had to use a separate bathroom than white people, so when the trial started most of the people would believe the “victims” story since she was white. This trial would not even happened if Tom Robinson would have walked passed Mayella instead of helping her with a dresser that was clearly not in need of being fixed.Which the Mockingbird represents all that is good and Tom Robinson is obviously a prime example of that because no matter what was thrown at him he still helped people when they

All except one were falsely sentenced to death. The 1931 Scottsboro case and JFK’s “Address on Civil Rights” demonstrate issues of morality and justice as portrayed in To Kill a Mockingbird; they signify acts of racism, inequality ,and disrespect during this time. These three sources display the measures of racism and inequality that were common during this time. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus--Scout and Jem’s father--defends Tom Robinson while he is on trial for allegedly raping Mayella Ewell. Tom, a man of color, is falsely accused of this crime.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” has many connections to racism in the 1930s. Whites viewed blacks as a lower part of civilization.The jury was all white and many believe that the decision was very biased. Atticus said “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Atticus a white man helped a colored man in court, even though everyone treated Atticus and his family with lots of disrespected.

Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white girl which has the town completely upside down because Tom is Black. Being a black innocent man who eventually is shot shows it is as much of a sin to kill an innocent human being as it is to kill a mockingbird.This all started because Mayella had asked Tom to help her out in the kitchen. When Tom saw that there