To kill a mockingbird the trial

Tom Robinson, a 25 year old black male, stood accused of raping a 19 year old white woman named Mayella Ewell. The crime took place in November of last year. Both the victim and the accused were lifelong residents of Maycomb, County and were acquainted. Robinson was represented by County lawyer, Atticus Finch, a well renowned and respected lawyer. Ewell stated under oath that the defendant, Tom Robinson, was in fact the person who raped her. However, there were several discrepancies in the testimony that she provided under questioning and cross examination.

The defendants lawyer, Atticus Finch, tried to capitalize on the contradictory statements made by Ms. He questioned the witness using a variety of techniques and seemed to receive less than uniform answers to the same questions that were asked in a different manner.

At times the witness appeared confused and became frustrated and emotional as Mr. Finch continued to try and raise a reasonable doubt among the jurors concerning the testimony that was being given by Ms. Lawyer Finch called his client to the stand and questioned him about the allegations that were being made about him.

He denied ever contemplating or committing such a terrible crime. Finch pointed out that the bruises on the left side of her face were consistent with the injuries that would have been rendered by left handed person. He went on to demonstrate through logic that this would almost definitely be the case. His client had a left arm that was rendered useless as the result of an accident sustained while working a cotton gin. The strongest defense portion of the case was the closing argument that was delivered by Atticus Finch.

Finch appealed to the all white jury asking them to deliver verdict based on the facts of the case that were presented rather than on the basis of the race of his client and the race of the victim. He appealed to the jury by stating that they had the power to grant life or to end the life of his client. This power that they were given comes with a great responsibility. The jury is responsible to render a verdict that is based in fact and not tainted in any way by race, creed or sex.

In this case, the jury must apply the law in a color blind manner. For the rest of us however, the consequences are not so clear and simple and they will not be immediately known to us. It is said that courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. In Maycomb County, Alabama, on Halloween night, a girl becomes a young woman, and a boy becomes a man.

Through the events and results of the trial of Tom Robinson, the Finch children get a clearer view on the extreme racism and violence of the deep south. During the trial, the Finch children do not recognize the bias of the situation. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced. However, Scout overheard Miss Gates say horrible things about the black community at the Tom Robinson trial.

Scout wonders how Miss Gates can be sympathetic about the persecution of the jewish people and then turn around and persecute African-Americans. When Aunt Alexandra comes to live with the finch family, she brings Jem and Scout right into the middle of all the hypocrisy. However, throughout the book the children start to realize that Boo is the furthest thing from a monster. Throughout the story the children are curious as to why Boo Radley never comes outside, a few times they try to get him to come outside.

After a long conversation about Aunt Alexandra and her strange dislike for certain social classes, using their childish innocence, Jem and Scout start to see the strangeness and ambiguity in the social behavior of humankind.

Just standing on the Radley porch was enough. Show More. Boo Radley Prejudice Words 5 Pages Jem realizes that with all the hate in the world Boo probably stays inside to avoid all of that and just wants some peace.

Read More. To Kill A Mockingbird Metaphors Analysis Words 3 Pages To Kill a Mockingbird stresses the consequences of prejudice and by exploring the repeated use of metaphors, the reader can understand how innocence is stolen by prejudice. To Kill A Mockingbird Bie Character Analysis Words 2 Pages The children in particular think that Boo is a bad person and is a man they should be scared of, but he has only ever shown kindness towards the children.

In the trial conducted in the courtroom, Atticus loses. In the trial conducted in the mind of the reader, it is the white community, wallowing in prejudice and hatred, that loses. Read more about To Kill a Mockingbird as a courtroom drama. All three lack the racism that the crowd of white faces in the courtroom propagates. Jem, Scout, and Dill are segregated even from the other children, who have taunted Jem and Scout for loving Black people.

No matter what evidence is presented at the trial, the racist jury would never, under any circumstances, acquit a Black man accused of raping a white woman. He believes that the irrefutable implications of the evidence will clinch the case for Atticus. Atticus, like Mrs. Lee, who fought valiantly for the Confederacy in the Civil War despite his opposition to slavery.

If Robert E. Lee represents the idealized South, then Bob Ewell epitomizes its darker and less respectable side, dominated by thoughtless prejudice, squalor, and meanness. The irony, of course, is that Bob Ewell is completely unimportant; he is an arrogant, lazy, abusive fool, laughed at by his fellow townsfolk. Read more about the Scottsboro Boys Trial, a case similar to the fictional trial in the novel.

Ace your assignments with our guide to To Kill a Mockingbird! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. How is Tom Robinson a mockingbird? What does the rabid dog Atticus shoots symbolize? How did Jem break his arm? What is the significance of the gifts Boo Radley leaves in the knothole?

Why does the jury find Tom guilty?