Ana Huajardo-Sartorius The Essay of Atticus and Tom Robinson In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, in a town called Maycomb, live two completely different people, totally unaware of each other, until they aren’t. Atticus Finch is a lawyer with two kids, Scout and Jem Finch. The Finches are the family that originally founded Maycomb, so Atticus is very well known. Tom Robinson is a African-American man who gets accused of raping Bob Ewell’s daughter, Mayella Ewell. Atticus is Tom’s Robinson’s lawyer for the case, sparking lots of controversy between the two races, African Americans and Whites. It’s hard for Atticus to accept the case because Tom Robinson is an African-American man, so if Atticus were to accept the case, …show more content…
In Chapter 18, Mayella Ewell accuses Atticus of mocking her when he was just trying to be polite. Judge Taylor responds by saying, “‘That’s just Mr. Finch’s way,’ he told Mayella: ‘We’ve done business in this court for years and years and Mr. Finch is always courteous to everybody. He’s not trying to mock you, he’s trying to be polite.’” (243) This shows that Atticus is polite and nice to everyone he meets, including Mayella who lies, even in court. People often mistake his politeness for mocking, like Mayella did since not a lot of people are polite to Ewell’s. In Chapter 1, Atticus defends two criminals, urging them to plead guilty so they could lead an easier life. It says, “Atticus had urged them to accept the state’s generosity in allowing them to plead Guilty to second-degree murder and escape with their lives, but they were Haverfords, in Maycomb County a name synonymous with jackass.” (5) This shows that Atticus looks out for people, even people who are wanted criminals and uneducated. Atticus tries to give them the opportunity for a better life than the one they were raised up believing. Atticus was trying to make the Haverfords lives better because he felt that no one, even criminals deserve that kind of pain. In Chapter 5, Atticus catches Dill, Scout, and Jem sending a letter to Boo Radley, urging him to come out. It says, “Atticus took it and tried to read it. ‘Why do you want Mr. Radley to come out?’ Dill said, ‘We thought he might enjoy us…’ and dried up when Atticus looked at him. ‘Son,’ he said to Jem, ‘I’m going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that man. That goes for the other two of you.’”(65) This shows that Atticus understands things from the victim’s perspective, instead of things from his own perspective. He
White people believed to treat them like “trash” and they are influencing their kids to do the same which puts an impact on the community . The white people in Maycomb , Albama believe that black people are “ Filthy Beings” . Tom Robinson is a prime example in this book because , just because he’s an african american he loses the case of raping a white girl by the name of Mayella Ewell . Tom was given an defense attorney , which is Atticus and he was chosen by the judge . The law and system is so messed up that the judge picked a white man to be his attorney . Atticus Finch is a white man who is an experienced lawyer . Atticus is trying his best to win Tom’s case . All of a sudden he immediately loses the case . When the trial was over , Mr . Underwood said “Atticus has used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson , but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case . Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed . “ (241)
In the book to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, set in 1930s Alabama; was a racist town in the Deep South called Maycomb who did not care for the African American race. But, Atticus a secondary main character believes everyone is born equal, leaving him to try innovative ideas to save Tom Robinson an African American man who is being prosecuted in the court of law on a false claim made on him. Throughout, evidence will be shown that life is difficult and unfair for the Blacks; showing us that there is an apparent theme of uncertainty and injustice at this time period. At the beginning of the story not much-involving race occurs it's more about this mysterious Boo Radley who no one really accepts. Later on, around chapter 9 is when things
The whole town of Maycomb is racist, which makes Atticus’s job harder trying to defend Tom Robinson against the word of a white man.Tom Robinson’s case is unjust since he is black and the majority of Maycomb revert to the stereotype that all blacks are immoral and criminals. “Quote” shows that it is a situation where little is possible to do when defending a black man because the town of Maycomb is deeply affected by racism they tend to only make decisions based on the race and so immediately think Tom Robinson is guilty, that he did indeed raped Mayella when there was so much evidence to prove otherwise. This is challenging for Atticus, since he has to persuade everyone to pretend there is no stereotype about blacks and that they are human
Atticus says that even though Tom is innocent, the all-white jury will find him guilty anyway because he is a black man. The people of Maycomb are livid that their best lawyer would defend a black man who “raped” a white woman. Up until now, Maycomb has been displayed as a happy little town, it’s been seen as nothing but positive. The racist and unflattering side of Maycomb has been exposed as they attack the Finches. Even some of the Finches’ family members disapproves of Atticus’s choice. The town believes that Atticus defending a black man puts the Finch name to shame. They believed that he shouldn’t have done what he
Atticus is a mockingbird for the Maycomb society. He has the correct attitude towards different races. In Tom Robinson’s case, he provides strong arguments Tom’s accusation and proves that Tom Robinson did not rape and harm Mayella Ewell. Even though Atticus failed to restore Tom back to Tom’s family due to racial discrimination existed commonly in Maycomb in 1930s, Atticus leads the society to take the first small step in the right direction in the battle against racial discrimination, according to the quote stated by Miss Maudie, “Atticus Finch won’t win, he can’t
Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is set in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. Racism is ever present toward blacks and the trial of Tom Robinson, an African American, clearly displays this. Tom Robinson was accused of raping a white woman. The huge detail in this is that it was a white woman. Racial issues are really brought about because of that detail. People during this time would easily take a white man’s word over that of a black man, so nobody would ever trust Tom Robinson, especially since he was a black man being accused of a crime against a white woman. Tom Robinson really can’t do anything to help his case. The only person that can help him is Atticus. While Atticus does not believe that he will win the case, he knows that it is right to do everything he can to help Tom. He knows right from wrong and he will do everything in his power to help people see that, and to help Tom survive this case. Tom Robinson could also be described as a Mockingbird in this story. If proven innocent, he would be
As Lemony Snicket wrote in The Blank Book, “People don’t always get what they deserve in this world.” 1930s America was fraught with racism, especially in the southern states. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, a Negro man by the name of Tom Robinson was put on trial. Although he was not guilty, the jury convicted him because of the colour of his skin. During the trial, others showed injustice towards Tom and people that were on his side. As Tom’s lawyer, Atticus Finch was not admired by many of the white citizens of Maycomb, the town in which the novel takes place. Although Atticus and Jean Louise Finch (Scout) were white, they were still treated unjustly as a result of helping and supporting Tom Robinson. Scout, Atticus’
Atticus decides to take on a highly controversial case in Maycomb, where Mayella Ewell, a 19 year old white female, accuses Tom Robinson, a black man in his thirties, of rapeing her. During the trial, Mayella, Bob, and the sheriff state that Robinson hit her on the right side of her face; however, Atticus contradicts the Ewell’s story by showing the jury that Tom Robinson only has one useful hand. Jem then whispers, ‘We’ve got him’” (Lee 202). Although, Maycomb’s society would never allow for Tom Robinson to win the trail, Jem’s innocent perspective enables him to believe that race does not come before the facts. Shortly after the trial, Jem says, “‘Doesn’t make it right. You can’t just convict a man on evidence like that-—you can’t’” (Lee 252). Jem displays an understanding of the racism and divisions in society within Maycomb in this quote. He knows that the conviction of Tom Robinson is bias and that the treatment of all blacks is unfair. Jem shows moral growth in this quote and has a more mature mindset about equality than most of the folks in Maycomb.
In novel “To Kill A Mockingbird”, many white people go against Atticus because they don’t like Atticus tries so hard to defend for Tom Robinson. Atticus’s family also gets hurt and Atticus even risks himself in danger. However, Atticus persists to defend for Tom Robinson because he thinks Tom Robinson is innocent. Some people think it doesn’t make sense for Atticus to take a stand to defend Tom Robinson. Oppositely, Atticus should take a stand to defend Tom Robinson for reasons.
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 1930s, discrimination against African Americans was extremely prominent in southern towns. These towns characterized African Americans using different archetypes despite their actual personality, which widened the gap between the two races. In her book To Kill A Mockingbird, author Harper Lee uses the character of Tom Robinson to show how said archetypes against African Americans provides justification for racial mistreatment for white southerners. In the book, Tom Robinson, an African American man, is accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell. Atticus, his appointed lawyer, finds many faults in Mayella's case, saying, “ I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have
How to Kill a Mockingbird Essay The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a coming of age story in the 1930s. The characters live in Maycomb County is southern Alabama during the great depression, when poverty and segregation are a major issues. Maycomb is a very small town, where everyone knows each other, and rarely gets knew members or people leaving.
The first part of To Kill A Mockingbird introduces the Finch family and their daily lives. The father in the family is an attorney whose only care is the moral rights of others. His views aren't biased or prejudice, he only sees humans who deserve as much respect as they should. He gets a case of a black man being accused of rape towards a white woman. He explains to Scout as this, “..but there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t be defending this man (Lee 75).” Ever since Atticus has been appointed to the Tom Robinson case, most of the conservative white people in Maycomb County found it a little dishonoring since the defendant was an African American. "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win," Atticus said (Lee
Throughout the story of To Kill a Mockingbird we are able to see the story being told from the point of view of a young Scout Finch who lives in the close minded town of Maycomb County. Within the story Scout and her brother, Jem, begin to learn the ugly truth about the town they are living in. This is assisted throughout the story due to their father, Atticus Finch, representing an African American by the name of Tom Robinson. However, due to this Atticus is then viewed differently by the society he is living in. This ranged from being seen as more respected due to his stand on what he believed to being morally right to being differentiated due to him turning his back on his own race.
Earlier in the novel, Scout relates that Atticus views the Ewell family as “the disgrace of Maycomb” (33). However, as the Ewells are a white family, they are having a higher social status. During the trial, it is declared that Mayella seduces Tom Robinson, and her father, Bob Ewell, thought that his daughter would shift her warm feelings for a black man. In addition, Bob Ewell’s reaction to his daughter kissing to Tom Robinson displays the fear of miscegenation. Atticus, however, strives for justice. Atticus explains the ugly truth to Jem and Scout: “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (251-252). Atticus shows disgust with white people taking advantage of a black person’s ignorance” (252). Tom Robinson is facing a trial and the death sentence because he is black. Furthermore, Atticus makes it clear to his children that racism exists and tells Scout and Jem: 'In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always