Chapter 19: It is now Tom Robinsons turn to testify his side of the story. He says that he passes the Ewell place every morning on his way to work and often does chores for Mayella for no pay. On the night of the incident he says she wanted him to fix a door but when he got inside there was nothing wrong with the door. He notices the children are gone and Mayella tell him that she had finally saved enough to send them to go get ice cream. She asks to to grab a box from the top of a different chifferobe and when he does this Mayella hugs him around the waist and then asks him to kiss her. Her father witnesses this and calls her a whore and threatens to kill her. Tjis scares Tom so he runs away. Link Deas (Toms employer) stands u in the court room and declares that he has never had any trouble from Tom, he gets sent out for this. Mr. Gilmer cross-examines Tom. He gets him to admit that he does have the strength to choke someone with his one arm. He also asks why he was so eager to do all these chores for Mayella without pay and he eventually says that he felt bad for her. This was not the right thing to say because in Maycomb black people are not supposed to feel bad for white people. Dill starts to cry so the Scout takes him…
Atticus is criticized openly in the society where the book takes place (Maycomb) because of his understandings. Atticus had made the connection that Mayella could have been beaten by her father instead of being beaten by Tom. He made this connection by saying that Mayella was hit on her right eye and it would make more sense for the person the person who attacked her was left handed. This shows that Mayella's dad could have beat her because he is left handed and Tom is right handed. “The right side, Mr. Finch, but she had more bruises—you wanta hear about ‘em?” He is criticized because people believed that he had crossed the line and had no right to say that. Atticus is also criticized with the fact that he believes Tom could have not beat…
As I replaced my corset, I could hear those mindless little birds jabbering on about how Tom Robinson was going to get what he deserved. Ha. For my brother is not a fool and he would not defend a Negro as forcefully as he did if that Negro was not one-hundred percent innocent. But, I plastered a smile on my face, went out to face the world as a strong and proud and proper woman of the 20th century. But, I felt like falling to the floor and eating all of the tea cakes I was carrying while I cried. The Finches were ruined, not only was it bad enough that Atticus was defending a Negro but that we lost was an even bigger blow to his dignity, our dignity.…
Atticus’s defense of Tom Robinson who is accused of rape leads to multiple protests and small riots. One night a mob of people goes up to kill Tom; Atticus is there to defend him. Atticus put up a chair outside the jail door knowing that people would come. When the men come they ask if he was awake and Atticus responds saying, “He’s asleep. Don’t wake him up” (Lee 202). In respect of Atticus “the men talked…
I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In chapters 10 through 15 the trial becomes one of the main topics and causes many conflicts. Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with the Finch family, which leads to some quarrelling. In this journal I will be characterizing Atticus and questioning whether Calpurnia or Alexandra is an excellent mother to the children.…
Over a three year span, the novel follows Atticus’s and especially his children’s reticule before the trial for defending a black man. Even though the community of Maycomb is racist, Atticus stands by his choice to defend the black man, Tom Robinson. His kids stand by him as well, even sitting in the colored balcony to watch the trial. Atticus makes a great case proving Robinson not guilty; yet, the white jury convicts him. He is later shot trying to escape. Even after the trial Atticus and his family still face problems for defending Robinson. At the end, Scout, one of Atticus’s children, truly realizes that the barrios between blacks and whites need to come down.…
The hook of To Kill A Mockingbird is, Atticus Cunningham said it was a sin to kill a mockingbird. The name of the book is called To Kill A Mockingbird. It was wrote by Harper Lee. Jem and Scout always wondered why Atticus wouldn’t play with them anymore. Although, Atticus was always there when Jem and Scout didn’t know they needed him. My claim is, i think it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. If, a mockingbird isn’t hurting you, why should you want to go over there and hurt it?…
Atticus mentions this quote “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and in it.” so that scout could she could talk to others and get to know them better so that she can get to know what that person went through.A good example of that would go with the quote above would be“ but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part.”. The example of that quote explains the part “ until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” This example is a quote the book shows us what Scout and Walter would do if they were in Miss Caroline's shoes. Atticus tells this quote to Scout so that she could take the time to get to know other people and get to know what they are feeling.…
Books filled with controversy rarely get recognition for shaping people’s lives; however, To Kill a Mockingbird overcomes this stereotype by showing the good in an otherwise not so good community. This community, known as Maycomb, exemplified traditional racial views that southerners held during the 1930’s. Most of the community, and most of Southern America, shared these same racial views, but Atticus Finch’s beliefs differ from those around him. Throughout the book, Atticus stands up for people of all races despite what those around him think. The courage shown by Atticus has greatly impacted all aspects of my life, including my faith, and demonstrates the determination that I wish to possess.…
Atticus is a man of morals, and he will not allow other people’s opinions to alter his morals. Even though Atticus clearly proves that Tom is innocent, Atticus “could [not] in truth say that [they] had more than a good chance” of winning the case (Lee 242). While Atticus goes to the jail on the night of Tom’s moving, Atticus knows he risks being hurt by the lynch mob. It is solely courage that takes Atticus to the jail even if it means risking danger upon himself. This mob quickly disperses with the help of Scout Finch. Although Atticus’ courage will not show immediate change, his change is more long term. Maycomb will not accept African Americans as equals overnight, but through the brave actions of Atticus this change is not completely out of…
A lot has happened since the day that I stood on Boo Radley’s porch and looked out into the street. I had finally been able to see the world from his perspective. It was on that day that I truly learned that a person cannot be understood until I stood in their shoes and walked around in them. From that day forward, I vowed that I would one day teach my children the wise words that Atticus Finch had taught me when I was a child. Seventeen years have passed since that day.…
Atticus once said “ You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view”. In this passage you can see Atticus talking to Scout about understanding different people's point of view. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many examples of never fully understanding what one has gone through until one has lived in someone else's shoes.…
That day was like any other day in my life. Except that miss Jean Louise and mister Jim, were really astonished about trial. At the court about Tom Robinson and of course that is very gloomy, but if they would spend more time with Atticus, maybe they wouldn't be that depressing and.... I think from the beginning, Atticus always had a sentiment that Tom will be find guilty. Remember I asked why, but he said that just people think that if they were born white that is giving them some privileges in that life. And they can't even recognize that we all were born free in the eyes of ...…
Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, wrote her novel with the intentions of showing people that people's actions and perspectives or ways of thinking reflect their morals or beliefs. Each perspective of each person was different according to their age, sex, race, economic background and many other factors. Reading this novel showed that not everyone sees things the same way or understands why some people do the things they do. Atticus teaches Scout that sometimes breaking the rules is necessary, Jem realizes with great power comes great responsibility, and that violence is never the answer.…
It was cool and breezy November morning in Maycomb. The last of the leafs had just fallen off of the trees. The year was 1951. There was a large crowd around the old oak tree in the cemetery, looking down at the casket. The casket belonged to Atticus Finch. Atticus was the greatest father anyone could ask for. Jem was standing at the head of the casket with his expecting wife Lisa. He put his warm and soft hand on the casket and looked at the sky. He suddenly felt someone touch his back lightly, it was Scout. He turned around and hugged each other for what felt like forever. Soon, many other people joined around Jem and Scout and murmured different things about how great of a man Atticus was. He was the most respected man in all of Maycomb. Jem and Scout tried to look at the positive things about Atticus. Dill wrapped his arms around Scout, which the two married only three months before Atticus’s death. The family of Tom Robinson showed up and Tom’s wife spoke very softly about how Atticus was the greatest man to ever step foot in Maycomb. This made Jem very proud because he took up just like his father and became a lawyer. Scout became a school teacher, and she teaches the 1st grade. Dill works at a Wood Mill in Maycomb. This was a new addition to Maycomb; it was built only six years ago. Miss Maudie handed Jem and Scout the will that he wrote. The will gave Jem and his wife the house that he grew up in. It also listed for Jem to have Atticus’s pocket watch. Next it was Scouts turn. Scout got Atticus’s car. There was a spot for Boo Radley. Unfortunately, he died three weeks before Atticus did. The sun was beginning to set in the distance, and they started to lower Atticus’s casket into the ground. As if began to lower, three tears suddenly fell onto the casket. The tears belonged to Jem, Scout, and Dill. As the casket finally fell into its stopping point, Scout reached down and grabbed a handful of dirt, she tossed it…