Harper Lee, in the book, To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), argues via the closing statement of Atticus Finch against the mistreatment of black people. In his closing argument, Atticus argues that the defendant, Tom Robinson, is innocent, and should not be so quickly accused or condemned simply because of the color of his skin. Lee supports her argument by illustrating that the townspeople's beliefs about black people are obviously false. The author's purpose is to show the immorality of the oppression of black people. The author writes in a formal tone, using Atticus's diction to make an emotional appeal to Maycomb county, and America by extension, that black people are no more criminal than white; that the prejudice against them besmirches the
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The jury of peers were purposefully and unapologetically turning a blind eye to the fact that Tom Robinson was clearly innocent, because their prejudice against the color of his skin made them not only convinced that he was guilty, but completely indifferent towards the prospect of him, an innocent man, being put to death because of them. At one point in his argument, he says, "Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin," -- basically meaning that the assumption that all black people are lowlifes is cruel and outright nonsense. By addressing the jury as gentlemen, Atticus is conveying politeness and respect. His use of “we” conveys familiarity, suggesting that he's the same as those on the jury -- he's a citizen of the town, just like they are. He's not superior to them. He's on their side. His words portray confidence in the jury -- confidence that they agree with him; that they see the assumption as he does -- as well as portraying the assumption as immoral and false. Atticus wants to come across familiar and likeable, so as to make the jury feel more compelled and less hesitant to agree with him. He wants to make them see things -- feel things -- in a truer light. He wants to clear the fog of hatred which covers their eyes so that they
The jury of peers were purposefully and unapologetically turning a blind eye to the fact that Tom Robinson was clearly innocent, because their prejudice against the color of his skin made them not only convinced that he was guilty, but completely indifferent towards the prospect of him, an innocent man, being put to death because of them. At one point in his argument, he says, "Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin," -- basically meaning that the assumption that all black people are lowlifes is cruel and outright nonsense. By addressing the jury as gentlemen, Atticus is conveying politeness and respect. His use of “we” conveys familiarity, suggesting that he's the same as those on the jury -- he's a citizen of the town, just like they are. He's not superior to them. He's on their side. His words portray confidence in the jury -- confidence that they agree with him; that they see the assumption as he does -- as well as portraying the assumption as immoral and false. Atticus wants to come across familiar and likeable, so as to make the jury feel more compelled and less hesitant to agree with him. He wants to make them see things -- feel things -- in a truer light. He wants to clear the fog of hatred which covers their eyes so that they