Whether “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” or “not easy to send a boy off to die without talking about it first,” in an ideal justice system, all evidence must be examined without reasonable doubt (Lee, 119) (Rose, 12). Accepting a justice system where juries decide upon the verdict, society often conforms itself to the ideologies and prejudices of the people on the jury. Generally, society becomes desensitized to these verdicts and accepts them as impartial even when they’re disproportionately targeted against minorities. Both To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee and Twelve Angry Men, by Reginald Rose, are timeless stories that portray the hardships of minorities in an intolerant society plagued by injustice in the justice system. Jointly,
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Aware of Atticus’s ability and passion for the trial, Judge Taylor deliberately appoints Atticus as Tom Robinson’s defense attorney. Not only does he do this, but he also creates a public display of humiliation for Bob Ewell while on the stand. Silently, Judge Taylor gives his approval to Atticus’s stance by improving Tom’s chance to the best of his ability without incriminating his own position in Maycomb. Atticus even sees this silent approval by specifying, “Don’t tell me judges don’t try to prejudice juries” (335). This method of coping is extended onto Mr. Underwood, who as the town newswriter, is hesitant to lose his job if the town turns against him. Risking his reputation, Mr. Underwood stands in the thick of night with a shotgun by the jailhouse when a lynch mob confronts Atticus. However, he takes a very passive public angle of support by dismissing the verdict of the trial, saying, “it was a sin to kill cripples” (323). Even the children in the story exhibit a will to break free of society’s intolerant morals. Running away from conflict, Dill, in the presence of adversity and intolerance takes on a fleeing response. He assumes that by running somewhere else he will eventually come across a society that doesn’t persecute others. Scout on the other hand, refuses to accept Aunt Alexandra’s push to conform to gender roles. Resisting by wearing her overalls and befriending Calpurnia while the boys are away, Scout copes with Aunt Alexandra’s oppressive commands by outright disregarding
Aware of Atticus’s ability and passion for the trial, Judge Taylor deliberately appoints Atticus as Tom Robinson’s defense attorney. Not only does he do this, but he also creates a public display of humiliation for Bob Ewell while on the stand. Silently, Judge Taylor gives his approval to Atticus’s stance by improving Tom’s chance to the best of his ability without incriminating his own position in Maycomb. Atticus even sees this silent approval by specifying, “Don’t tell me judges don’t try to prejudice juries” (335). This method of coping is extended onto Mr. Underwood, who as the town newswriter, is hesitant to lose his job if the town turns against him. Risking his reputation, Mr. Underwood stands in the thick of night with a shotgun by the jailhouse when a lynch mob confronts Atticus. However, he takes a very passive public angle of support by dismissing the verdict of the trial, saying, “it was a sin to kill cripples” (323). Even the children in the story exhibit a will to break free of society’s intolerant morals. Running away from conflict, Dill, in the presence of adversity and intolerance takes on a fleeing response. He assumes that by running somewhere else he will eventually come across a society that doesn’t persecute others. Scout on the other hand, refuses to accept Aunt Alexandra’s push to conform to gender roles. Resisting by wearing her overalls and befriending Calpurnia while the boys are away, Scout copes with Aunt Alexandra’s oppressive commands by outright disregarding