I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee. In chapters 16 through 20, the town crams in the courtroom for Tom Robinson versus Mayella Ewell’s trial. Atticus is fighting a losing battle when unclear evidence points him towards the true felon. In this journal I will be predicting and evaluating.
Tom Robinson could be innocent or guilty. Anyone can predict he is innocent based on characterization by Harper Lee. Tom carries himself much like Atticus in a way. He isn’t overly confident, he doesn’t hate the whites for what they have done to blacks in history, and he doesn’t make excuses but instead leads himself with hope. All these traits give him an advantage over the stuck-up, bratty Mayella. Bob and Mayella Ewell both feel the need …show more content…
On the other side of the story, one could see Tom Robinson as guilty. He is a very brawny man and for this reason it’s easy for the jury to make him out to be someone who could easily take advantage of her. They ignore his crippled hand because Mayella disguises it under her tears. Elaborating further, in the book when Atticus began to grill Mayella on the case, he was guiding her to what he believed to be the truth. He fired multiple questions at her, giving her a respectable amount of time to answer, and when she didn’t, he would ask her another. After several questions, Mayella spoke, through tears, “I got somethin’ to say an’ then I ain’t gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentleman don’t wanta don’t wanna do nothin’ about it then you're all yellow stinkin’ cowards, stinkin’ cowards, the lot of you. Your fancy airs don’t come to nothin’—you're ma’aming Miss Mayellerin’ don’t come to nothing Mr. Finch—(Lee 251).” In this quote Mayella portrays herself as the victim of not only a rape case, but also unfair justice due to rich white men. She wants the jury to see her as helpless and unfairly punished. Also, because they are white along withmost of Maycomb, they …show more content…
He is a reliable person. During a transition time after Tom’s testamony on the witness stand, Link Deas stands up and states, “ I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now, that boys worked for me eight years an’ I ain’t had a speck o’trouble outa him. Not a speck (Lee 261).” This quote says more than enough about Tom. A white man stands up in his defense during a trial to say only good things about him. Anyone can see it wasn’t set up, it was a genuine compliment and true statement from Deas. Furthermore, Tom is only there to help. The book says he went to Mayella’s often to help her with household chores. He said many times that she had a lot of work and no one to help her with it so, with invitation, he would lend his sevices. Also, Tom is crippled in his left arm, however he works everyday. In chapter 19, Tom himself says, “ I works pretty steady for him all year round, he’s got a lot of pecan trees (Lee 255).” This quote tells readers he has to pick pecans from a tree. Also that he works all year round with no stopping. This is a great show of character. He has a disability but he chooses to pick pecans with one hand even though someone with two working hands would have it much easier. Tom looks past his difficulties. Link Deas has no problem trusting him. He knows Tom will show up every day for work and do what he can. Mr. Deas hired Tom knowing he is at a disadvantage but he
Tom Robinson could be innocent or guilty. Anyone can predict he is innocent based on characterization by Harper Lee. Tom carries himself much like Atticus in a way. He isn’t overly confident, he doesn’t hate the whites for what they have done to blacks in history, and he doesn’t make excuses but instead leads himself with hope. All these traits give him an advantage over the stuck-up, bratty Mayella. Bob and Mayella Ewell both feel the need …show more content…
On the other side of the story, one could see Tom Robinson as guilty. He is a very brawny man and for this reason it’s easy for the jury to make him out to be someone who could easily take advantage of her. They ignore his crippled hand because Mayella disguises it under her tears. Elaborating further, in the book when Atticus began to grill Mayella on the case, he was guiding her to what he believed to be the truth. He fired multiple questions at her, giving her a respectable amount of time to answer, and when she didn’t, he would ask her another. After several questions, Mayella spoke, through tears, “I got somethin’ to say an’ then I ain’t gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentleman don’t wanta don’t wanna do nothin’ about it then you're all yellow stinkin’ cowards, stinkin’ cowards, the lot of you. Your fancy airs don’t come to nothin’—you're ma’aming Miss Mayellerin’ don’t come to nothing Mr. Finch—(Lee 251).” In this quote Mayella portrays herself as the victim of not only a rape case, but also unfair justice due to rich white men. She wants the jury to see her as helpless and unfairly punished. Also, because they are white along withmost of Maycomb, they …show more content…
He is a reliable person. During a transition time after Tom’s testamony on the witness stand, Link Deas stands up and states, “ I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now, that boys worked for me eight years an’ I ain’t had a speck o’trouble outa him. Not a speck (Lee 261).” This quote says more than enough about Tom. A white man stands up in his defense during a trial to say only good things about him. Anyone can see it wasn’t set up, it was a genuine compliment and true statement from Deas. Furthermore, Tom is only there to help. The book says he went to Mayella’s often to help her with household chores. He said many times that she had a lot of work and no one to help her with it so, with invitation, he would lend his sevices. Also, Tom is crippled in his left arm, however he works everyday. In chapter 19, Tom himself says, “ I works pretty steady for him all year round, he’s got a lot of pecan trees (Lee 255).” This quote tells readers he has to pick pecans from a tree. Also that he works all year round with no stopping. This is a great show of character. He has a disability but he chooses to pick pecans with one hand even though someone with two working hands would have it much easier. Tom looks past his difficulties. Link Deas has no problem trusting him. He knows Tom will show up every day for work and do what he can. Mr. Deas hired Tom knowing he is at a disadvantage but he