As
Maycomb's owner and editor of its newspaper, Mr. Underwood has fairly dedicated his life's work
to the representation of the truth. Whenis surrounded in the dark by the mob who comes for Tom
Robinson before his trial, it is Mr. Underwood who calls down to him, "Had you covered all
the time, Atticus" as he leans out with a shotgun from the Tribune
office. Mr. Underwood wants what is right based on evidence and factsa clear departure from the
typical Maycomb citizen.
When Tom dies, Mr. Underwood writes a scathing
editorial in the newspaper.notes that he writes this piece in a manner simple enough for
children to understand instead of debating complex philosophical principles:
Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they
standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Toms death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by
hunters and children.
Tom poses no threat to the
community, and after Atticus's presentation of evidence, everyone in town is aware of that. Yet
in his escape attempt after being falsely convicted, he is horrifically gunned down. Scout
understands the importance of Mr. Underwood's piece:
In
the secret courts of mens hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella
Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.
Yet there is a
further significance to these published words. Mr. Underwood is a racist himself. In , Atticus
comments, "He despises Negroes, won't have one near him."
Perhaps
Mr. Underwood represents the possibility of change in racist hearts. Or perhaps he is just
complexa racist who also wants justice and the truth to emerge victorious. His character shows
that some people are neither all good (like Atticus) nor all bad (like Bob Ewell) but instead
are a bundle of human complexities.
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