Tom
Robinson is an innocent black man who becomes the victim of racial injustice after he is wrongly
convicted of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell. Before the trial begins,understands that he
has no chance of winning the case because of Maycomb's racial prejudice. However, Atticus
valiantly defends Tom Robinson and proves his innocence. During the trial, Atticus makes Mayella
contradict her testimony, proves her motivation for lying, emphasizes Tom's handicap, and
suggests that Bob Ewell was responsible for her injuries. Unfortunately, Atticus's efforts are
not enough to win the case.
During Mr. Gilmer's cross-examination, he asks
Tom Robinson why he continually helped Mayella. Tom responds by saying that he felt sorry for
Mayella, which is a significant mistake. In Maycomb's racist community, it is unacceptable and
taboo for a black man to feel sorry for a white woman. When Mr. Gilmer repeats Tom's
answer,mentions:
The witness realized his mistake and
shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom
Robinsons answer. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let it sink in. (Lee 201)
Following Mr. Gilmer's cross-examination, Dill begins to cry as a
result of Mr. Gilmer's prejudice, and Scout takes him outside, where they meet Dolphus Raymond.
Dolphus understands Maycomb's racial prejudice and tells the children:
You havent even seen this town, but all you gotta do is step back
inside the courthouse (Lee 205)
Tragically, Tom Robinson
is wrongfully convicted, and the children lose their innocence after witnessing racial injustice
firsthand. Following the trial, Atticus discusses Tom's injustice with his son, andmentions that
the jury should not have been able to convict Tom because there was no evidence to prove his
guilt. Atticus responds by saying:
You couldnt, but they
could and did. The older you grow the more of it youll see. The one place where a man ought to
get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of
carrying their resentments right into a jury box (Lee 224)
Tragically, Tom is sent to Enfield Prison Farm, where he is shot and killed attempting
to escape. Mr. Underwood proceeds to write an article about Tom's death and likens it to the
senseless slaughter of songbirds. Scout reads the editorial and understands that Tom Robinson
never had a chance of winning the case because of his skin color. Scout says:
Senseless killingTom had been given due process of law to the day of
his death; he had been tried openly and convicted by twelve good men and true; my father had
fought for him all the way. Then Mr. Underwoods meaning became clear: Atticus had used every
tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but 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. (Lee
245)
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