Tom Robinson's Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

Data has found that black people were four times as often to be searched than white people. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and in “Racial Profiling,” shows that people with color are most likely to be accused or be suspected of something they probably did not even do. The modern day racial based accusations connects to To Kill a Mockingbird when Tom Robinson was at fault for the rape and beating of Mayella.

Robinson was being accused of doing to Mayella. The jury took one look at Tom, and voted

Multiple times throughout his speech he brings up Mayella Ewell’s poor state and the lack of love and human contact in her life. He illustrates to them that she acted rashly and broke the unspoken rule of her people due to her sad emotional state. This shrewd lawyer does this to evoke emotions from the jury and make them see that Tom Robinson stands before them not as the culprit, but the subject of a misdemeanor. Using ethos Mr. Finch speaks in a way to persuade the jury and ultimately get his

When someone drinks too much they tend to lose control of their faculties and behavior; considering Maycomb’s socioeconomic status, the Ewells are known for drinking alcohol and way too much of it. Inferring from her silent nod, Mayella may have been nervous to speak with her hand on the bible and for telling the truth by assuring the court Bob Ewell aggressively attacks her: Consequently the jurors will grasp the idea of Bob Ewell assaulting his daughter, revealing Tom’s innocence. Injured and in pain, Mayella’s cries attract her father as well as a friend, but they both insist on not calling for help. Supposedly with Mayella bruised up and with a black eye comin still “[no one] called a doctor”(224). Without consulting a doctor, the Ewells have no evidence their eldest daughter was injured or even raped by Tom Robinson, creating suspicion and an extremely dubious assumption. The Ewell family may have convicted Tom since it was reasonable because of his color or they did not want to incriminate themselves by calling a doctor because the entire truth would emerge, and the gullible, stereotypical people of Maycomb would be proven wrong. Empathetic towards Mayella, Tom boldly guides her through the arduous

Imagine being treated with no dignity. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee creates a town where people judge each other harshly. Boo Radley is an example of a person who was misunderstood as an evil, frightening man because of rumors that he killed his father. The character, Tom Robinson was also judged as being a criminal based on false interpretations made about him. In addition, Raymond Dolphus, a wealthy white man, pretends to be a drunk so that the citizens of Maycomb will have an explanation for his odd behavior. The way that these characters were treated, relates to the ideas portrayed in the article, Racial Microaggression in Everyday Life. Therefore, false judgements are displayed through the characters, Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Raymond Dolphus.

In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson is in trial for the supposed rape of Bob Ewell’s daughter, Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson was on his way home when Mayella Ewell asked him to help her with something. Being a kind man, he went into her yard and started to look for some of the plants he usually dug up for her when she asked him for help. He didn’t find any, so he asked her what it was she needed. She told him a box she needed was up in a place she couldn’t reach. He went in the house and grabbed the box, and after he did Mayella told him the door was broken. Tom Robinson proceeded to look at the door, not finding anything wrong with it. He told her and she jumped on him, hugging him and saying she never kissed a black

Jem asked Atticus how the jury could convict Tom Robinson when he was obviously and undeniably innocent, Atticus retorts with,”I don’t know but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it again tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it-seems only children weep”(213). Unfortunately due to the creed and outlook of the rural community, Tom was convicted due to the reason he was black even though he was proven guiltless. Most if not all the jurists knew Robinson was not guilty, yet convicted him of a crime he didn't commit because the mindset of blacks are bad and whites are good is much more meaningful than law and integrity. Atticus was apprehensive with the case and Harper Lee had him foreshadow the outcome of the trial when he said,” couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson’s word against the Ewells”(88). He is saying that the cards have been stacked against anyone who is defending a black person against a white person in a court case; he realizes he is going to lose the case by default. “ Maycomb’s usual disease”(187) was expected to take Tom Robinson’s life by Atticus and the reader. Although, some people like Atticus and the rest of the Finch family never surrendered to the prejudiced way of thinking that everyone had seemed to adjust

Atticus was assigned Tom Robinson in the case against Bob Ewell, and in the process he was an example to both his children and the town as an honorable lawyer. When Bob Ewell brought a case to court claiming his white daughter had been raped by black Tom Robinson, almost everyone assumed the jury would charge Robinson guilty; however, Atticus hoped for a different outcome. Atticus firmly believed his client was innocent, contrary to the public’s beliefs. Because Atticus was highly respected as a lawyer, this case caused a riff between the town. As Tom awaited his trial in the county jail, Atticus spent the night guarded the door to the cell. A group of perturbed men soon ambushed Atticus and demanded to see the prisoner. “You know what we want,” another man said. “Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch (153).” In this situation, Atticus displayed honor through risking his life so an innocent black man was not killed. Even though he lost respect among his some neighbors, Atticus was honorable in his actions and stayed true to

In this circumstance, many lies abound. However, among the truthful stands Tom Robinson, whose constant honesty gains him respect in the mind of the readers. He stays truthful, even with the pressure of the questions from various persons, including Mr. Finch and Mr. Gilmer. This is illustrated in the following passage from page 255: “When did she ask you to chop up the—the chiffarobe?” “Mr. Finch, it was way last spring…” This illustrates well the openness of Tom, because in saying this, he was stating that Mayella Ewell, the accuser, perjured. Throughout the rest of the court case,

He continues to point out “it requires no minute of sifting of complicated facts”, this leads the jury to realize there is no hard evidence to back up the charges against Tom Robinson. This all leads up to Atticus dropping the final remark of, “it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant.” This sentence will stick in the jury’s mind because they already now subconsciously believe they are overthinking the case, but now they might rethink their original choice on whether or not to convict Tom Robinson. Atticus later continues to point out, “ The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence.” This shows there is no evidence to prove that Tom is guilty.

Mayella Ewell tries to seduce Tom Robinson, but Tom is a loyal married man and he refuses her, so as revenge, Mayella and Bob accuse him of rape, the case is taken to court and Tom Robinson is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, even though Atticus gave a very compelling argument.

In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus advises Scout to consider things from another viewpoint. Atticus states that if she can learn this trick, she will be able to get along with various people. Throughout the novel, this quote can be applied to a number of characters to explain how they were misunderstood. Three such characters are Tom Robinson, Mrs Dubose and Boo Radley.

Atticus finch ,the best lawyer in Maycomb county, was sitting nervously in his chair as he waited for the town judge to arrive in court. Tim Robinson, atticus client, was sitting right next to Atticus.About, an hour the judge came into the courtroom and was ready to go. When they called Robinson to the stand, he tried to persuade the judge that she forced herself on him. But, the judge was not taking his word for it ,and charged him with rape.

During the trial against Tom Robinson, Jem is always mumbling to himself and explaining his point of view. He believes wholeheartedly in the case and its injustice. While Mr. Ewell is testifying, Scout observes, “Jem seemed to be having quite a fit. He was pounding the balcony rail softly, and once he whispered, ‘We've got him” (Lee 238). Unlike Scout, Jem understands everything that is going on at the trial.

Another mockingbird in the story was Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was just like Boo Radley nice and loving to others especially Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson was very kind to Mayella he always did we she wanted him to do and he always did it with pride. When Bob Ewell accused Tom Robinson of raping Mayella it was like a mockingbird that just stops singing or died because Tom Robinson would never rape Mayella. Bob Ewell said that Tom Robinson was kissing and touching Mayella. Mr. Ewell thinks now that Tom Robinson is an animal who was taking advantage of his daughter. Tom Robinson is a man who helped Mayella Ewell everyday when he would walk by her house, she