Character Analysis Of Atticus In Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

After Tom Robinson was charged with raping 19 year old Mayella Ewell, he was taken to court and Atticus had to defend his case. On page 212 of the novel Tom Robinson states that he ran away from Mayella when she had kissed him because he was scared, Atticus asked him why and he said “ Mr Finch, is you were a nigger like me, you’d be scared, too.“ Tom said this because of the society that they lived in where all “Black” people were not to be trusted. Atticus did his best to prove to the jury that Tom Robinson was not guilty for the crime that he was charged for

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.

After Scout confronts Atticus about “defending negros”, Atticus replies on how this decision is for his own dignity: “‘For a number of reasons’, said Atticus. ‘The main one is, if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.’” (123; ch.9). Out of the lots of prejudice in Maycomb County, Atticus is one that looks passed race and gender. He holds equal respect for those who abide by the laws of being human. Not much of population consist of people like Atticus, who is not just fighting for Tom for the sake of the town, but for his own virtue. It takes a lot of integrity to stand up for what is right during that time and that is exactly what Atticus is making an effort to do.

A potential flaw Atticus had as a parent was that he over trusted devious people and was perhaps a little careless and under cautious. The best example of this was when he allowed Jem and Scout to go to the Halloween party alone. Even though Atticus thought Bob Ewell was not a threat, he still should have attended the party with the children just to be safe or even send them with Aunt Alexandria. Even if Bob Ewell was not going to harm the children, there would still be a chance that Bob Ewell would show up and verbally harass the children, so it was rather careless on Atticus’ part to let the children go alone. After Bob Ewell attacked Jem and Scout, Atticus admitted to Heck Tate that he thought Bob Ewell’s threats were empty

I believe Tom Robinson to be not guilty for three reasons; Mayella’s actions and reactions during her testimony made her appear as if she was lying, Tom’s attitude made him appear truthful when he was giving his testimony, and the only physical evidence does not correspond with Mayella’s testimony. While being questioned on the witness stand by Atticus, Mayella Ewell’s reactions made her appear misleading. While answering the questions from Atticus she changed her answers. At the end of her testimony Mayella said, “No, I don’t recollect if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me” (Lee, pg. 185).

If the jury understands what really happened then there is a better chance they will make the right choice. “We don’t know, but there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left.” Atticus says this in hopes of making the jury comprehend that there is no way Tom would have been able to beat Mayella with his left hand because he is crippled and Bob Ewell is left handed. This implies that Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, was the man who beat her. Atticus speaks about how it is evil to think that all negroes are immoral beings and he states “Which, Gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you.” The jury for Tom’s trial is incredibly biased and racist and Atticus points out that skin color does not mean anything about a person’s personality or

Atticus proves that Tom is handicapped and cannot have beat Mayella the way she claims she has been beaten when he expresses,“Tom robinson now sits before you, haven't taken oath with his only good hand, his right” (304). If Mayella claims she had a black eye on her right eye, and bruises from someone grabbing her neck, the person who beat her had to have used mainly there left, and both hands to grip her neck. Tom Robinson’s only good hand is his right, so therefore it is physically impossible for him to have beaten Mayella. By Atticus proving this point, the jury is supposed to realize that it was not Tom who beat her. Nothing can argue against logic and solid facts, so therefore if the jury was fair they would realize it could not have been

“Wait a minute, Sheriff,” said Atticus. “Was it her left facing you or her left looking the same way you were?” Mr. Tate said, “Oh yes, that’d make it her right. It was her right eye.” Atticus’s integrity and intelligence has good intentions, he wants to prove that Bob Ewell has raped his daughter or that Tom Robinson has raped Mayella, either way by Atticus using his intelligence asked very many questions to figure out who the victim is..

In the case, Atticus asks Mr. Ewell to write his name - '"What's so interestin'?" he asked. "You're left handed, Mr. Ewell," said Judge Taylor."'. By asking Mr. Ewell to write his name in front of court, Atticus proves to everybody that Bob could have very well beat Mayella. This is because he is left handed, and if he would have swung, would have hit her on the right side of her face (where she was bruised). Although it is questionable, we know that Mayella had a higher chance of being bruised by a strong left hand in the right side of her face than a weak, disfigured hand. Mayella herself talks about her father Bob - "I said he does tollable." Mr. Ewell leaned back again. "Except when he's drinking?" asked Atticus so gently that Mayella nodded."(245). Mayella seems somewhat in denial while wanting to admit the truth. This ultimately tells us that Mayella knows her father is not tolerable when he's drunk. If she is with him all the time, we know she is abusive because he his intolerable towards her in the form of his drinking. This also shows that he had a better chance of beating Mayella than Tom because he could have been drunk as he got home and beat her. Overall, this evidence points toward the fact that Bob Ewell could have beaten Mayella

Atticus spoke up and said that her story had differed than how she told it before and said “Well which story is it Mayella?” She got very angered at that comment, and then screamed at the court that she didn’t lie and that everyone is a bunch of bad people if they don’t accuse him to be guilty. There were a couple moments of silence, and then the trial continued on. After that, the jury went to go decide on the conviction. Atticus noticed his children in the back of the building, and told them to go home immediately. He also said after they ate dinner, they could come back

Firstly, Tom Robinson was honest, while Mayella Ewell contradicted herself. During the trial, Tom demonstrated his honesty. “Jem said Atticus was showing the jury that Tom had nothing to hide,” page 225 states after Robinson is questioned about his criminal record. This shows that Atticus is trying to get the jury to understand that they can take Robinson’s words as the truth. However, Mayella Ewell, his accuser, is inconsistent during her

Therefore, the mockingbird and Robinson's voice commonly are not paid attention to throughout the whole novel. "It couldn't be worse Jack. The only thing we've got is a black man's word against the Ewells. The jury couldn't possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson's word against the Ewells." (88) This quote from Atticus is noteworthy for it implies that regardless of what Tom Robinson claims in the court, the jury is expected to stand on the white man's side. Although the jury at court is supposed to make objective decisions, along the other villagers, he displays a definite bias against the black man. If there is any responsibility that falls upon Tom, it would be the responsibility for chopping wood and providing help for Mayella who is reflected as the loneliest person on earth in the eyes of Scout. However, the mockingbird figure is wrongly accused of things that he has never done or even imagined. Although there is a sufficient amount of proof that Robinson is innocent, it is ignored after all, and he is imprisoned. Emphasizing this, Atticus tells his son Jem: "In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins." (220) This

But soon after the supposed initial incident occurs, Atticus is assigned by Judge Taylor to take on the case due to his valuable attributes and optimistic personality. The trial officially commences in chapter 17 when Bob Ewell begins his testimony with crude and atrocious behavior that is unfavorable to both Judge Taylor and the audience in general. Bob Ewell claims to have seen Tom Robinson take full advantage of Mayella which he states is the cause for Mayella’s bruises that are scattered throughout her body and particularly on the right side of her face. Atticus then interjects by commanding Bob Ewell to sign his name on a piece of paper which then proves the fact that he is left-handed. Atticus concludes that the beating most likely was committed by a left-hand user such as Bob Ewell himself; However, the conclusion drives Bob Ewell to pure rage soon after he says that Atticus is nothing but a lawyer that is cheating and taking advantage of him.

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, at the trial, Tom Robinson court has convicted him of raping Mayella Ewell but everyone knows that he did not. One way it is proven that Tom did not rape Mayella is early in the trial Atticus asks sheriff Tate what side of Mayella's face is bruised he said the left. Then after that, Atticus asks Mr. Ewell to write his name and he wrote it with his left showing that he was the one who hurt Mayella. (pg 237)” Mr. Ewell wrote on the back of the envelope looked up to see judge Taylor staring at him as if he were some fragment gardenia in full bloom on the witness stand”.Atticus is trying to show that Mr. Ewell could have beaten up Mayella If her bruises were mostly on the right then it would tend

This is all about relationships & how you should really communicate with others in public & how punishment shouldn’t happen anymore. Everyone should have equal rights. Shouldn’t be all about the white people it should be about everyone equally.