This is a
loaded question, as there is no one way all the people responded. However, if we had to make a
generalization about the whole of Maycomb, the trial of Tom Robinson did not really impact the
people in any significant way. The people go back to their own business, as if nothing
happened. The trial is at best an entertaining spectacle. Now that it is over, it is back to
work as usual. Most of the town probably feels this, and so nothing really changes.
Some people harbor fear and resentment in their hearts. The women's
missionary society is a perfect example. One women feels unsafe in her bed. The implication is
that someone like Tom Robinson might try to rape her. Here is a quote:
S-s-s Grace, she said, its just like I was telling Brother
Hutson the other day. €˜S-s-s Brother Hutson, I said, €˜looks like were fighting a losing
battle, a losing battle. I said, €˜S-s-s it doesnt matter to em one bit. We can educate €˜em
till were blue in the face, we can try till we drop to make Christians out of em, but theres no
lady safe in her bed these nights.€˜ He said to me, Mrs. Farrow, I dont know what were coming to
down here.€˜ S-s-s I told him that was certainly a fact.
Finally, if we analyze the end of the book, it is clear that nothing in Maycomb really
changes. For example, Miss Gates at school talks about the horrors of Hilter, but she cannot
see the problems in Maycomb. This shows that the trial of Tom Robinson did very
little.
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