TKAM free response essay
R.D Laing, a psychiatrist, once said, “Alienation as our present destiny is achieved only by outrageous violence perpetrated by human beings on human beings.” There are many forms of evil that may destroy our humanity mainly resulting in segregation and confinement. These alienation's become evident through the basis of gender, race, class, or creed. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops Tom Robinson’s racial alienation through dialogue and internal monologue to show the persecution of African Americans.
The alienation of Tom Robinson is developed to demonstrate that Tom couldn’t win the court case due to the prejudiced opinions of the jury. The entirety of the jury is white and has biased opinions against African Americans. Scout realizes this after the trial. As she’s reading Mr. Underwood’s editorial, she understands that “Atticus had 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” (Lee 323). This clearly shows that despite Tom’s innocence and Atticus’ ability to defend him, Tom Robinson never would have had an opportunity of winning the court case because of his estrangement. The beliefs and opinions of this time period allowed a guilty man to be let free and an innocent man be convicted. The jury not only convicted Tom, but they also, in an essence, murdered him, because of his race. They are responsible for his death and it becomes evident when Scout refers to Tom as a “dead man”. This excerpt emphasizes the length to which white Americans were willing to go, in this era, to denigrate the African American race. Lee demonstrates this through Scout’s internal monologue and her interpretation of the scene.
Tom Robinson’s alienation is shown through the angry reaction of Maycomb after Tom’s comment of empathy towards Mayella Ewell. Tom is chastised for feeling sorry for Mayella because she is white.
The alienation of Tom Robinson is developed to demonstrate that Tom couldn’t win the court case due to the prejudiced opinions of the jury. The entirety of the jury is white and has biased opinions against African Americans. Scout realizes this after the trial. As she’s reading Mr. Underwood’s editorial, she understands that “Atticus had 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” (Lee 323). This clearly shows that despite Tom’s innocence and Atticus’ ability to defend him, Tom Robinson never would have had an opportunity of winning the court case because of his estrangement. The beliefs and opinions of this time period allowed a guilty man to be let free and an innocent man be convicted. The jury not only convicted Tom, but they also, in an essence, murdered him, because of his race. They are responsible for his death and it becomes evident when Scout refers to Tom as a “dead man”. This excerpt emphasizes the length to which white Americans were willing to go, in this era, to denigrate the African American race. Lee demonstrates this through Scout’s internal monologue and her interpretation of the scene.
Tom Robinson’s alienation is shown through the angry reaction of Maycomb after Tom’s comment of empathy towards Mayella Ewell. Tom is chastised for feeling sorry for Mayella because she is white.