What Is The Aftermath Of Tom's Trial

The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is an American classic and has been a staple in high schools for many years. The main storyline that this novel follows is of Scout, a young girl, living in the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. It follows the case of Tom Robinson, an African American man, and how he was accused and convicted of rape. In prison, Tom was shot and killed because he was said to have tried to escape. While Mayella is the one who is saying that Tom raped her, the real person who should be to blame is her abusive father. As is quite apparent, Bob Ewell is the person who is most responsible for the death of Tom Robinson.

There was no room at the public hitching rail for another animal, mules and wagons were parked under every available tree. The courthouse square was covered with picnic parties sitting on newspapers.” (Lee, 160). The Ewells, Negroes and the defendant, Tom, represent the lower classes, the trial made it clear that when a black man’s word is against a white, the white, no matter the social status, always wins. Atticus understands the fact that winning the trial is very slim to none and he explains that you just can’t give up “They’ve done it before and they’ll keep doing it again and when they do it-seems that only children weep.” (Lee, 213). Despite the man Tom is, the jury must accuse someone of the crime and choose the easiest man to blame, Tom Robinson.

When Scout arrives home from school to explain to Atticus what her classmates have been calling him he stated that “I’m simply defending a negro...but there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t be defending this man.” (Lee. 75). Entirely based on the fact that Tom is black he is seen as less than therefore does not deserve the justice services offered to the white community. During Aunt Alexandra’s get together, Atticus pulls her and Calpurnia aside and tells them the bad news. “Tom’s dead...they shot him. He was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over. Right in front of them.”

The Tom Robinson case in the book was a very tough trial. They accused Tom for raping a white woman. Atticus was the one defending Tom. He knew the trial would be unfair with the Jim Crow laws in place. The laws were a racial system in the southern states and border states. The judge and the jury convicted

Finally, Atticus teaches his children about racism and morals by defending Tom Robinson. Atticus knows he will not win the trial but decides to defend Tom in a case of personal moral

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

After the jury deliberates longer than expected, they come back and announce that Tom Robinson is guilty of all charges. Bob Ewell, who is the one who accused Tom Robinson of rape vows to take his revenge out on Atticus a black man. It comes out in the paper that Tom Robinson tried to escape prison and ended up being shot. During the night of Halloween when Scout and Jem are coming home from a school event, they start to feel like they are being followed. It turns out to be the Bob Ewell and he starts attacking Scout and Jem. Boo-Radley ends up stabbing Bob Ewell to help the children get away. The book ends with the sheriff convincing Atticus that Bob Ewell’s death will be one that was an accident caused by himself.

1)How much of Mayella’s treatment is due not just to her being a white person accusing an African American of a crime, but a white woman accusing an African-American man of rape?

Now let's start from the beginning atticus has gone to court to defend a black man named tom robinson because the town is full of racism and there is no other person in the hole town that had the nerve to defend a black man. So as humble as atticus is he decided to defend the poor old helpless and innocent man tom robinson. Against the law because tom robinson is being accused of raping and molesting a young 9 year old girl named Mayella Ewell. And then after the court scene Bob Ewell confronted him and spit in his face to get back at atticus.

With the racial tension so high during this time period, Tom's innocence was lost before he could even defend himself. This was shown through Atticus's reply to Scout's question of, "Will we win?" Atticus answered no because the case was lost before it began. Tom Robinson's response to his loss of innocence was to simply run away from the problem that had befallen him. For his attempted escape Tom suffered the highest consequence, "They shot him,' said Atticus. 'He was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over" (235). Due to Tom's decision on how to respond, he was killed even though he was placed in his position no thanks to himself. Tom Robinson chose poorly when it came to his response towards his loss of innocence and it cost him his life.

During the trial, Bob felt that he had been ridiculed. Atticus’ powerful ability to speak had not been able to convince the jury to allow Tom to be freed, but it definitely had an effect on everyone in the court. Bob was expecting to have gained some sort of respect from winning the trial, but he won nothing. Afterwards he lost his job, tormented Tom’s mother, and attempted to break into the county judge’s home. His actions eventually ended up with an attempted murder of Atticus’ children.

The statement Tom volunteered “I killed her and threw the baseball bat over the fence” is admissible in trial. A Tom must be in custody and interrogated by Officer Norman before Miranda has an effect. "Not all questioning by law enforcement officers must be proceeded by the Miranda warning" (Hall, 2014, p. 474). Tom made the statement before being detained because Officer Norman question was spontaneous relating to a public safety exception in response to an emergency. A Miranda warning is not needed to precede a question made by officers in the interest of public safety. (Hall, 2014) If a question such as “What happened here?” is asked spontaneously in response to an emergency, there is no interrogation. (Hall, 2014) Tom admitted to killing the woman before custody. “The Supreme Court held that the physical fruits of non-Mirandized confession are not to be suppressed at trial” (Hall, 2014, p. 484). “If public safety is an issue, questions may be asked without the defendant being Mirandized, and any evidence obtained may be used against the suspect under these circumstances” (Miranda Warnings, 2017).

Atticus displays acts of personal courage in his willingness to keep others safe and his response to racism based threats. Many of the citizens of Maycomb County and its surrounding area were upset about Atticus, a lawyer, taking the defense case of Tom Robinson, a black man who was accused of raping a white woman. Mr. Link Deas and Mr. Heck Tate, along with some other men in Maycomb, come to tell Atticus about the Old Sarum lynch mob coming to kill Tom. The next night, Atticus goes down to the county jail and tells the mob to go home and leave Tom alone (Lee 194 and 202). The lynch mob comes to kill Tom, so they could potentially hurt Atticus, too. The amount of courage Atticus has to display to defend Tom outside of the courthouse and stand up to a dangerous mob of men is extremely high, considering the risks he takes. Atticus comes home from work one day, after the trial is over, and is approached by Mr. Bob Ewell, the victim's father: "According to Miss Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him... Atticus's peaceful reaction probably prompted him to inquire,'Too proud to fight, you [Negro-lover]?' Miss Stephanie said Atticus said, 'No, too old', put his hands in his pockets, and strolled on"(291). Mr. Ewell is upset that Atticus had tried to prove that Tom was innocent and that Mr. Ewell had hurt his own daughter. He also believes that

Tom should not tell about the murder because he might get hurt, he could get in trouble, and he has no evidence. When Tom and Huck witnessed Doctor Robinson get murdered by Injun Joe he was scared and sweared to keep it a secret. Since Joe used Muff Potter's knife, Potter was blamed for the murder even though he was unconscious. Since Tom feared the secret about the murder he thought about telling the sheriff.

How she had bruises on her arms, a black eye, and signs of her neck being strangled. But the thing is the young black man was just trying to help this woman with her everyday needs. He would never do such a thing, but this trial is very hard to decide. The judges decide and the young black man is found guilty and is charged with rape and has to go to jail. Atticus has a plan to somehow get another trial and find more evidence, but know when the young man was getting moved to a better person he would refuse to stop doing something and the police gentlemen shoot to injure not to kill. In the end it was very sad because Atticus Finch knew that he was going to win the next trial. A couple days later the kids Jem and Scout were hearing him from a school play and in the wood they were attacked by Robert Ewell and he tried to kill them. But that one guy, Jem told the story about is true and he came out and saved them both. His name was Boo Radley and he saves them. In conclusion, the whole town is affected by the racial tension of the trial and how he was really not guilty. My favorite scene was probably when it came to the trial because that part was just so good and it made me just want to keep watching to see what's going to