Poetic Justice is a term that describes a character getting what he deserves, in the end, especially if what he deserves is punishment. Poetic justice is a big literary element in To Kill a Mockingbird. It really balances out the ending of the novel
In the book Bob Ewell is the town drunk. He is the one of the poorest persons in Maycomb. He is racist and prejudice against colored people. He beat up his daughter savagely because she kissed a black man. Then, Bob Ewell accused Tom Robinson a black man of raping his daughter. This was taking to trial and Atticus Finch was the defense attorney for Tom Robinson. The trial seemed to be a tug-of-war between the attorneys. The trial continues throughout the day and Tom Robinson is found guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. Tom was not in his right mind when he heard this. Atticus promised an appeal so they could have another chance. But, they would never get that chance. The next day Tom ran from the jail and tried to climb the fence to escape. The jail guards saw him in the act and told him to stop, but he didn’t listen so they shot a warning shot. He still kept going, and then the guards shot him and killed him.
Bob Ewell got an innocent man killed which would lead to bad karma. At the end of the novel Bob Ewell tries to kill Scout and Jem, but Boo Radley saves them and kills Bob. This really balanced the story.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Atticus shows that his words are not empty, and he practices what he has taught his children. Atticus conveys empathy for the minorities around him, such as the Ewell family and the Negroes. Tom Robinson, a black man, is being represented in court by Atticus. Atticus empathizes for Tom who is wrongly accused of taking advantage of Mayella Ewell, a poor white women, and tries his hardest to win the case for Tom. After losing the trial and humiliating the Ewells in the process, Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, spits in Atticus’ face and threatens to get even with him. Atticus, feeling sorry for Mayella, takes this incident and uses it as a lesson of empathy for his children. Atticus says, “ Jem see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed every thread of credibility at that trial, if he he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always do. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there” (292-293). The lesson of empathy is supported largely through Atticus, and his ways with Tom and the Ewells. To sum up, Atticus’ inspirational experiences convey greatly to his children, and help to better them for the rest of the…
- 814 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Tom Robinson vs. Mayella Ewell. It was the trial it seemed everyone in Maycomb County had been waiting for. A white woman accusing a black man of rape and battery? I knew the outcome right from the very beginning; Tom Robinson would not win. Though, I appointed Atticus Finch to defend him. Might as well give the man a fighting chance not to be sentenced to death. While he was a Negro man, I knew Mr. Ewell was not a respected man in the community and I was liable to believe that Tom was not guilty. As Atticus professed, in the eyes of the law, no man should be discriminated against because of the color of his skin. I agreed.…
- 248 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Tom Robinson, one of the main characters in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, daughter of Bob Ewell, and is taken to court. Atticus Finch, father of Jean Louise Finch and Jeremy Finch, is appointed as Tom Robinson’s lawyer by Judge Taylor due to his experience and wit. Mr. Gilmor is the prosecuting lawyer and is chosen as Mayella/Bob Ewell’s attorney. Whilst the court case is happening Reverend Sykes,…
- 400 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
During the trial of Tom Robinson, he encounters false accusations on behalf of the Ewell family. “Miss.Mayella...you’ve testified that the defendant hit you, grabbed you by the neck, and took advantage of you.” This quotations explains the false accusations Mayella Ewell made up to save her father Robert Ewell from the jury.Mayella Ewell obviously thought if she traps a black man, which is already disrespected by society instead of her father the jury will take her side either way.This act of pleading innocence was wrong of Mayella because she took advantage of an innocent man that has a family of his own to be there for. Mayella’s loneliness and isolation from the rest of Maycomb county lead her to take such actions. But she was smart enough…
- 282 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
To Kill a Mockingbird’s themes of justice, morality, and ethics are represented through the actions and beliefs of the characters Atticus, Bob Ewell, and the town of Maycomb, represented through the Missionary Society, which is controlled by the sociable white women. Justice, as in justice by law, is inherent in the novel as is justice through karma. Morality is also central to the novel; a strong sense of morality, or rather a lack of, guides the characters as the story progresses. Ethics and unethical conduct form the basis for the plotline. Harper Lee uses characters to control the events that bring conflict in To Kill a Mockingbird.…
- 547 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Tom Robinson was a friend of Calpurnia, who was the Finch’s housekeeper, from her church. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Her and her father couldn’t stick with the same story. They would also keep changing their story about what happened. Plus Bob Ewell is left handed, and Mayella’s bruises were on her right side. While they are over there changing their story Tom Robinson's story was the same the whole time, and it never change. When Scout said that Tom Robinson was a very honest man, and when atticus had asked Tom if he had ever raped Mayella Ewell, he had said in a very serious voice “I did not!” Then there was when the Ewell’s defendant or lawyer was talking to Tom Robinson with disrespectful attitude. Even though all of the evidence was shown to prove that the Ewell’s were guilty and Tom Robinson wasn't guilty and lying, they convicted Tom Robinson guilty. The trial was not fair at all with the jury saying he was guilty, Mostly because he was…
- 601 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
An innocent black man charged for raping a white woman- the trial that teaches Jean Louise “Scout” Finch about society’s prejudice. In the Great Depression, slavery had ended but blacks were still segregated and treated as less than whites. Therefore, blacks were stereotyped as untrustworthy, evil, and savage, especially around white women. The symbolism of the sinful killing of an innocent is shown throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird through the use of simile, the corrupt justice system taking away the naiveté of children, and the comparison of Boo Radley.…
- 698 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of Scout and her father…
- 454 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
So when someone accuses someone else of doing something illegal or wrong they end up going to court with lawyers and with proof to prove that what they are accusing the other of is true. Bob Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of raping his daughter, Mayella Ewell. First off, Bob Ewell is a very vindictive man. He accuses a black man for a crime he did not commit. Bob Ewell simply wants to cover up the fact that he beats his daughter. He accuses Tom Robinson because he knows that it will be easier for him to get away with it if it is a black man at trial since during those times black folk were looked down on by white folk. In the end after Tom Robinson is found guilty he realizes that there is no more hope left for him and tries to escape which leads to him being shot 17 times. The judge did find him innocent and Atticus did prove that he was innocent but the jury did…
- 769 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Out of many reoccurring themes in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, injustice proves itself the most extensive. In the small southern town of Maycomb, populated by both blacks and whites, several situations involve great injustice. One will see injustice practiced by a person making quick assumptions or judgments, as well as one possessing a prejudiced or predetermined bias. Whether a minor situation or one in a courtroom, injustice is always wrong. The common theme of injustice displays itself through a number of vastly different scenarios, such as Aunt Alexandra’s quick judgments about Walter Cunningham, the Finch’s unique experience at Calpurnia’s church, and the people of Maycomb’s biased verdict of Tom Robinson.…
- 610 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Tom Robinson was a man who received no justice because of the color of his skin. Justice in and out of the courtroom is a playing theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. We learn that justice is not given to everyone because of the majority belief of prejudice in society. People are discriminated because of the color of their skin, their age, or the things they believe in. Tom, and Scout are all prime examples of this theme.…
- 357 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Life is not always fair. Today it’s not been fair to you. Tomorrow it will be unfair to another person. People take life not being fair in a good way and some take it in an awful way. Everyone is different and treated different. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are people that face life not being fair at times, like Scout, Tom Robinson and Calpurnia. Other people on the news and people in the book have also been stuck in situations where life isn't always fair to them.…
- 687 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Black people are victims of injustice, just like Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a victim of injustice because even though he is innocent, he is found guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. The jury agrees and decides to make the black man guilty of the rape. “I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: ‘Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty.’ I peeked at Jem, his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them” (Lee 214). Atticus does his best to defend Tom, but it was not enough to win the trial. The jury may have chosen the Ewells to win because Tom Robinson was a negro. Tom Robinson was shot and killed in jail, while trying to escape because he should not have been there in the first…
- 708 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Imagine how hard life was for colored people back then. How one couldn’t even receive a fair trial because of someone’s color or ethnicity. How is was virtually impossible for them to receive a fair trial without people using stereotypes to structure their judgment. To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates many conflicts, one being the beating and rape of a white woman by a black man, which back then was punishable by death. With this case, a man by the name of Atticus accepts to defend the man who is accused : Tom Robinson. Atticus has to endure what the society throws at him, along with his two children : Jem and Scout. To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee reveals, by using characters and characters’ actions and choices, it is morally correct to stand up and do the right thing. Without someone pointing out what is wrong with the society, things will never change for the better.…
- 617 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Bob Ewell is thought of as the most despicable man in all of Maycomb, except for its black residents, who the racists of the town think are worse than anyone else. Bob Ewell is one of these racists, and throughout the novel he shows that he thinks himself better than any black man. He shows his racist attitude many times at his trial. For example Bob Ewell does not refer to Tom Robinson by his name, instead he states "I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella!". In addition to not calling him by name; he also uses language associated with animals, “ruttin” as well as later saying “I've asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yon- der, they're dangerous to live around 'sides devaluin' my property-". In the previous quote Bob Ewell also shows he believes in the stereotype that all black men are criminals, and states his belief that they are devaluing his property more than the nearby dump. Finally, he tells Atticus “ I'm real sorry they picked you to defend that nigger that raped my Mayella. I don't know why I didn't kill him myself instead of goin' to the sheriff. That would have saved you and the sheriff and the taxpayers lots of trouble.”. He shows his racism here in that he believes that the law would be on his side against a black man no matter what happend, even if he had killed Tom.…
- 736 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays