Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Who killed Tom Robinson in To Kill A Mockingbird?

Tom Robinson was shot while
trying to escape from prison.

In a way, Bob Ewell killed Tom
Robinson.  He was the one who accused him of raping Mayella.  Since Tom didnt really do it, but
the jury convicted him anyway, Tom Robinsons death was partly Ewells fault.  It was also partly
the jurys fault. They convicted an innocent man.

Tom Robinson had already
been in jail for a while when he was convicted, awaiting trial.  He believed that the trial was
his one shot at justice.  When he was convicted, he was devastated. tried to tell him that they
could appeal the decision, but Tom didnt believe they would succeed.  He felt that his life was
over.

They shot him, said Atticus. He was running. It
was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the
fence and started climbing over. Right in front of them (Ch. 24)


With two good arms, Tom Robinson would have made it over the fence.  He was that
strong.  However, he only had one good arm and he didnt make it. The guards didnt want to shoot
him.  They shot some warning rounds into the air.  He didnt listen.  He kept going, and they
shot him.  It was what is called "suicide by cop."  He wanted to end his life on his
terms, since he couldnt control it.

Tom Robinsons death was a .  Even Mr.
Underwood, a blatant racist, thought that his death was a travesty.  He wrote about it in the
paper.

Mr. Underwood didnt talk about miscarriages of
justice, he was writing so children could understand. 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 €¦ (Ch. 25) 


Tom Robinson never hurt anyone.  He was a kind man, and he was trying to help Mayella
because he felt sorry for her.  For his troubles he got a rape trial, and lost his liberty.  His
death is a tragedy because he was a scapegoat in his society.  Like Mr. Underwood said, it was
like killing a mockingbird.

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