In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch’s purpose at the current time was to persuade the jury that Tom Robinson was an innocent man, Tom was black field worker that had been accused of beating and raping a young girl, and at the time, 1930s, if a black man was accused of doing anything to white female, they were found guilty, plain and simple. But Atticus uses, pathos ethos and logos during his speech to the jury, which allows him to effectively demonstrate the real aspects of his personality and morals. Since Tom was black, many did not want to represent him in court, due to his race. But Atticus, saw the challenge did not back away from it. He wanted to prove to the jurors that Tom Robinson was an innocent man and that he should…
As one starts by reading throughout the first few chapters of this book, He will soon realizes the nobility that Atticus possesses. It is clearly shown in a court house during a trial. Tom Robinson a black man who has a trail, who is defended by Atticus because he believes weather you’re black or white you have done wrong before, Atticus states, “Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. 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…
In Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” racism is a common thread in the community and is never more apparent than in this chapter. Tom Robinson is subjected to an unfair disadvantage throughout this novel, from the mob that comes after him at the Maycomb county jail to the results of his trial. Atticus states in chapter 10, “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” this comes back into play as Tom’s innocence is constantly ignored because of his skin color. Tom Robinson may be the minority but it should not make him any less innocent than any white man on the witness stand. It is a distinct aura throughout Tom’s trial that he is not innocent until proven guilty, solely because of he is black. Across the plot Atticus is constantly…
In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Atticus is a wise lawyer, who endeavours to have a fair trial for Tom Robinson. Tom is a black man accused of raping a white girl. The time is within the early 30s taken place in southern Alabama. The townspeople believed that Atticus shouldn’t present a proper defence for a Negro. However, Atticus fully intends to do so because he believes in equal rights of others. Due to this strong belief he encounters many vicious comments directed towards himself and the people supporting him. He is wise enough to know the trouble this case will bring him. “… Simply by the nature of work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally this one’s mine, I guess” This quote helps to emphasise that…
Throughout this journal, one can predict that the black spectators at the trial stand when Atticus passes because they respect him and are grateful that he defended Tom Robinson. To begin, the black people of Maycomb respect Atticus. One example that supports this is that Atticus himself respects black people. Throughout the book, Atticus has openly supported equality between races. A specific example is during Atticus’s finishing statement, when he proclaims that all men, whether white and black, are equal in the eyes of the court. This shows that Atticus believes black men and white men to be equal and is willing to publically state such, which is a trait the blacks can appreciate and respect Atticus for. Another example that verifies the…
It must be acknowledged that there were several negative outcomes of Atticus’ decision to take on the case of Tom Robinson. For instance, when it is first discovered by the people of Maycomb that Mr. Finch has assumed the black man’s case, even their children lash out against Scout and Jem, nearly causing a fight in the schoolyard as a result (Lee 77). However, Atticus uses this as a teaching moment for his children, which is then imparted along to the vast number of readers who have studied the pages of To Kill A Mockingbird, learning the same invaluable lesson that Scout does, to “hold [one’s] head high and keep [one’s] fists down” and continue to stand and fight for what is right and just (Lee 78). Furthermore, some could question the wisdom…
In the 1930’s, there was a immeasurable amount of discrimination towards black people in the United States of America. The majority of the country were segregated due to conniption that people had lacking slaves to work for them. Most people in the United States did not want anything to do with black people, but there were some who showed courage for black people. In the book to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, a lawyer, shows courage by choosing to defend Tom Robinson, a black person, through Atticus’ moral values of equality.…
The remarks about Atticus helping Toim Robinson were arising from all over Maycomb County. Family, adults and even children who repeat whatever their parents say talk about Atticus in a poor manner. For instance, in the process of Francis aggravating Scout, he explains to her that Aunt Alexandria had said that Atticus was, “ruinin’ the family”, because he’s turned into a “nigger-lover”, and therefore they’ll, “never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb County”. If the people of Maycomb County put themselves in Tom Robinson’s shoes and showed empathy towards him, then the community wouldn’t shame him as much as they do now. In addition, in this particular case, empathy for Tom Robinson wouldn’t only justify and clarify the prejudices people have towards him, it would also stop the rants against Atticus Finch, because since Tom Robinson is being represented in court by Atticus, he often gets kicked out of the…
Mr. Walter Cunningham and a mob of men drove up to the jail where Tom was staying ready to attack, “... Atticus was sitting propped against the front door”(Lee, 201) No matter how much they threatened Atticus, he wasn't letting anyone through to kill an innocent man. Even though the mob that arrived at the jail with Mr. Cunningham showed that they still had much respect for Atticus.…
Atticus once said “ You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view”. In this passage you can see Atticus talking to Scout about understanding different people's point of view. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many examples of never fully understanding what one has gone through until one has lived in someone else's shoes.…
America during this time period was very segregated, especially in the South. In this book, Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused of raping Bob Ewell’s daughter. The reader later finds out that Tom was unjustly accused due to racism, and was still sentenced to jail because of racism. Even though black people were not seen as equals at that time, Atticus still took the case. Because Atticus was defending a black man, he was ridiculed a lot by other people in the town. People were even giving Scout and Jem a hard time about it at school. Throughout all the ridicule however, Atticus stayed by Tom to defend him because he knew it was the right thing to do.…
Atticus’ decision to defend Tom Robinson shows a ton of courage. Since the story takes place during segregation, a white man defending a black man is frowned upon. Atticus still accepts the case even though he knows he will receive hate from the racist townspeople. Atticus represents Tom Robinson because his conscious makes him feel like it is the right thing to do. He also wants to set a good example for his children and teach them that all people deserve to be treated fairly.…
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, “ if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature” (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, “our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal” (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.…
Black people are victims of injustice, just like Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a victim of injustice because even though he is innocent, he is found guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. The jury agrees and decides to make the black man guilty of the rape. “I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: ‘Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty.’ I peeked at Jem, his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them” (Lee 214). Atticus does his best to defend Tom, but it was not enough to win the trial. The jury may have chosen the Ewells to win because Tom Robinson was a negro. Tom Robinson was shot and killed in jail, while trying to escape because he should not have been there in the first…
Initially, it makes sense for Atticus to take a stand because of his reasonableness. Atticus is the type of parent to be a role role model for his children, Scout and Jem. For instance, Atticus explains, “... I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 75). Atticus tell his children that he has to live with himself before he pleases others, that's why he is defending a “negro”. On the other hand, the night Tom Robinson was moved to the county jail, Atticus sat outside the jail reading his newspaper waiting for the mob to show up with guns trying to hurt Atticus and Tom. Luckily the children…