In To Kill a Mockingbird the trial is viewed as the climax of the whole story. As there are many themes, author Harper Lee refers directly to messages such as: racial prejudice, morality, injustice, and maturity. This is demonstrated in the trial of Tom Robinson as was a way of showing that racism was included in the society of Maycomb. This trial observed the citizen’s views of the evil racial prejudices of Maycomb just to destroy an African-American man.
Atticus Finch is defending Tom Robinson, who is on trial for raping a young white woman, which clearly shows how a black man might be treated unfairly when accused of serious crime. From the novel, one can summarize Tom Robinson’s version of the story as he is called to the witness stand, he explains that he passed the Ewell house on his way to work, as that is where Tom picks cotton and more farm work. Tom accepts that supposed victim, Mayella Ewell, indeed asked him to chop up an old chiffarobe while he used a hatchet. He continues to state how after that favor Matella usually asked him to help her with strange jobs around the house as he strolled around. The first payment came with a nickel but Tom denied the payment even knowing that the family had no money. Tom explained that he helped her out as it seems as nobody else can …show more content…
In order to prove Tom’s innocence, Atticus uses ethos by recognizing the true worthiness of the courts. As it states “Our courts have their faults as does any human institution, but in this country, our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts, all men are created equal”(Lee ch.21). As the trial commenced Atticus began by building sympathy for Mayella. Atticus uses pathos by stating that Tom is “And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry’ for a white woman has had to put his word against two white people.”(Lee
Atticus Finch is defending Tom Robinson, who is on trial for raping a young white woman, which clearly shows how a black man might be treated unfairly when accused of serious crime. From the novel, one can summarize Tom Robinson’s version of the story as he is called to the witness stand, he explains that he passed the Ewell house on his way to work, as that is where Tom picks cotton and more farm work. Tom accepts that supposed victim, Mayella Ewell, indeed asked him to chop up an old chiffarobe while he used a hatchet. He continues to state how after that favor Matella usually asked him to help her with strange jobs around the house as he strolled around. The first payment came with a nickel but Tom denied the payment even knowing that the family had no money. Tom explained that he helped her out as it seems as nobody else can …show more content…
In order to prove Tom’s innocence, Atticus uses ethos by recognizing the true worthiness of the courts. As it states “Our courts have their faults as does any human institution, but in this country, our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts, all men are created equal”(Lee ch.21). As the trial commenced Atticus began by building sympathy for Mayella. Atticus uses pathos by stating that Tom is “And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry’ for a white woman has had to put his word against two white people.”(Lee