Essay On The Trial In To Kill A Mockingbird

I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and I am on page 260. This book is about Scout and Jem Finch coming to the realization that their hometown is imperfect. It is also about how these children react to the trial of a black man against a white woman who cried rape. The reader follows the children through this trial, and one can see how it matures them. In this paper, I will be predicting and evaluating.
I predict that Tom will be found innocent. I believe that Tom will be found innocent for two reasons. One reason is that Atticus does a phenomenal job of discrediting the Ewells. When Mayella is cross-examined by Atticus she becomes flustered. She contradicts herself and constantly needed to pause to figure out her story. When the cross-examination is over
Bob Ewell also was proven to be left-handed, and Mayella’s assailant was likely left handed. The descriptions of the Ewell children’s home life and the fact that Bob Ewell was left handed made his credibility as a witness to be questioned. The second reason for why I believe that Tom will be found innocent is that there is no substantial evidence. Tom would’ve had a very difficult job of committing this crime because his left arm is of no use. In the book, Scout says that his left arm is 12 inches shorter than his right arm. When being sworn in Tom has to pick up his left arm and place it on the bible. This shows how his left arm is inoperative. Reverend Sykes said that Tom had got his arm caught in a cotton gin when he was younger. The cotton gin wrenched the muscle from bone, leaving his arm immobile. Also, Tom’s testimony and the Ewell’s testimonies contradict themselves in nearly every way. In Tom’s testimony, he says that he was in the house because Mayella invited him in to help with small chores. Mayella said that Tom forced his way inside, with the intent to rape her. Tom said that he had no intent of assaulting