Preview

To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Closing Argument

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
394 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Closing Argument
A Dream To Be Coming Free Ebony or Ivory we should all live together in harmony. Whether somebody is black or white everybody should be held equally accountable in the court of law. Harper Lee, the author of To Kill A Mockingbird, has a character named Atticus Finch who is representing a guy that goes by the name of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a black defendant who was accused of rape by Mayella Ewell. In the town of Maycomb County, being racist is nothing new. There is suspicion that since Tom is an African American the verdict would be guilty no matter what he did. Atticus's closing argument was effective in the trial. Atticus's closing argument was effective because of how long the jury takes to determine the verdict and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Defending a black man accused of rape in front of a jury made up of white men, raising two children on his own with the help of a maid, and still having the strength to hold his head high when the rumors in the small, tired old town of Maycomb county Alabama seemed to thrive among its citizens. What many would consider to be numerous adversities, is Atticus Finch’s everyday life. The story of the courageous Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s bestseller To Kill a Mockingbird truly begins when Atticus is asked to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. Being the respectful, and determined man that he is, Atticus accepts his fate and takes on the case of Tom Robinson. Despite knowing that his chance of winning the case is very slight,…

    • 334 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson is one of the witnesses that one may think is most reliable. Tom Robinson may be one of the most reliable people on the witness stand because he is not afraid to tell the truth; he is honest, nervous, and hopeful. However, one may think that Mayella is more reliable but because one may see that she is nervous and wants to fight back on ideas that she does not agree on, one might conclude that Mayella is less reliable. One key idea in Tom Robinson's testimony was that his left arm was crippled. This is key evidence because Mayella had a bruise on the right side of her face and most likely was hit by a left handed person, while in this…

    • 218 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Being a Black man in Maycomb, Alabama was difficult; Maycomb was a racist town with people who did not want the Blacks to be equal to the Whites. People discriminated Robinson’s race to the point where his race was what defined his character. The Whites in Maycomb had a mentality that all blacks were not to be trusted. This affected Tom Robinson because during his rape trial his lawyer, Atticus Finch states “. . . You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral; some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.” [Lee, 48] Atticus was trying to say that we need to judge people as individuals rather than by their race. Robinson’s race caused him to be discriminated against by the Whites in Maycomb, in particular Bob Ewell. Bob Ewell had seen that his daughter had kissed a Black man and was very upset. He said "I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella!" [Lee, 84] Because Robinson…

    • 1213 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the trial, Atticus argues calmly but adamantly for Tom Robinson’s innocence, but also for the jury to give him fair trial. In his closing argument, Atticus reminds the jury that the “case [was] as simple as black and white” (Lee 207), and he also dispels the “evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber” (Lee 208). For Tom Robinson, the case would have never gone to court if he was not black. This is a clear critique on the racism of Maycomb, which is only supported by the fact that Atticus had to remind the jury that African Americans are human beings of the same moral…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the book To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee African American Tom Robinson in 1930's society was accused or raping Mayella Ewell. This trial was a complete and utter failure, the jury was full of prejudice people. Only one person testified that he saw the act and that was by unreliable Bob Ewell Mayella's father and proof that Tom was innocent yet he was still found guilty.…

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this article, Lubet questions the role of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. His article provides many different sections and ways to analyze Atticus’ character.…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “To Kill a Mockingbird” takes place in 1930’s Alabama, where racism and segregation were accepted as social norms. Lawyer Atticus Finch defended “Negro” Tom Robinson in court, whom Mr. Ewell accused of raping his daughter. People considered defending a black man in court against a white man as a disgrace to the lawyer, his family and community. While Atticus talked to his brother Jack, he mentioned that “The only thing we’ve got is a black man’s word against the Ewells‘. The evidence boils down to you-did—I-didn’t. The jury couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson’s word against the Ewells”. (Lee, 116-117) Atticus tells Jack that they don’t have enough data to prove Tom’s innocence in the case. The Ewells were not as respectable people as Tom Robinson, but according to the social hierarchy, dishonorable white people were above…

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university” - (Albert Einstein). These words reflect the way Atticus Finch, protagonist, attorney, and father in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, lives his life. There is no difference to him in regards to race, social status, or gender. Atticus Finch is an admirable gentleman who demonstrates intelligence and respectfulness throughout the Tom Robinson trial and his interactions with people who despised the fact that he was taking the case. He strongly believes in respect for people of color and passes his belief down to his children by taking the Tom Robinson case. Although he is at times too trusting of people, his words and actions continue to prove to his children and community how a real gentleman behaves.…

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus goes against the values of society. At the time period, blacks and whites were segregated and wanted nothing to do with each other. When a black man, Tom Robinson was accused of raping white girl, Mayella Ewell, tension grew among Maycomb. Atticus goes against the town's values and beliefs about blacks and decides to take Toms side. He believes Tom is innocent and supports him while society takes Mayella's side. Atticus demonstrates how skin color should not matter.…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I have two questions. My first question is why did the mob leave? I believe that one of the main reasons why the mob left was because of Scout. Scout would not leave the prison even after the mob threatened her and Jem. In response to one of the men trying to remove Jem from the prison, she kicked the man very hard in the leg. Scout made the men feel guilty about what they were planning on doing. One man in particular Scout focused on; Walter Cunningham. She sought him out and talked about his son, this proved very effective because she made him think about his son. In the process of making Walter think about his son, it also made him indirectly think about what he would…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    From the beginning of the book we find he is an African American who has been unjustly accused of raping a young, white girl Mayella Ewell. An example of social inequality is evident by Mayella Ewell’s response to a question asked by Atticus while on the stand (p199), “I said, Come here, nigger, and bust up my chiffarobe for me, I gotta nickel for you”. Also, the attitude towards negroes is shown as quoted in chapter 25, “Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance”. Despite the fact that Tom Robinson was innocent to all allegations the jury found him guilty. Supporting the assumption, “when it comes to the line the veneer’s mighty thin. Nigger always come out in ’em”. Prejudices born from social inequality are issues which still exist in many countries…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Flaws

    • 959 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Harper Lee lucidly epitomizes the matter pertaining to this theme in her gothic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee, with southern drama, scathingly condemns racial prejudice through the story of a wrongfully accused black man. However, she also affirms the inherent goodness in human kindness through the story of the protagonist, Atticus Finch and his daughter, Scout. In this story, Atticus benefits from the racist Maycomb jury, who was admired and respected, ever since the discovery of the wrongdoings of the jury. Atticus, a small town lawyer, decides to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who was wrongfully accused for raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. He does this despite being disparaged by the racist Maycomb community. Even though his actions may cause turmoil to him and his family, he continues to benefit and act upon the wrongdoings of the Maycomb community by defending an underrepresented man. Through this decision, scout learns how to…

    • 959 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The concept of conflicting perspectives is consistently present in Harper Lees’ novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The text asks questions about current trends in society and the attitudes that cause people to ‘act like sheep” and conform while also expressing the need for individuality. It also brings into question the way the judicial system should be beyond reproach no matter what man is on trial, whether they be white or black. In a similar manner it also shows changing attitudes in regards to racism over time and in turn establish a conflicting perspective between the reader and characters of the novel.…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus agreeing to defend Tom Robinson in court showed that he believed in fairness and justice for all. During that time black people were considered to be lower class, which caused white people to always suspect blacks before they suspected white people. People in the town begin to call him a "nigger lover" and threaten him and his family. During the trial Atticus makes this statement, "Confident that you gentlemen, would go along with them on one assumption, the evil assumption, that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are immoral beings, that all Negroes are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that of one mind of their caliber. Which gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie that I don't have to point out to you. You know the truth. The truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men can't be trusted around women, black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (Lee 149). In this passage Atticus Finch is explaining that courage isn’t just about being tough, it’s about persevering, giving up your fears, and never losing hope. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus expresses that courage is to never give up or finish what you started, which I can relate to from personal experience.…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays