Why Is Tom Robinson Unethical

One night, Scout was playing with a little roly-poly on the step outside their house. Once Scout decides she is bored of playing with the little bug, she decides to kill it, but Jem stops her. Scout asks Jem why she cannot kill the bug and Jem claims that, “...they don’t bother you” (320). Jem knows that killing something that did no harm and was completely harmless is wrong, this is why he advises Scout to not kill the roly-poly. Once again, this roly-poly is another creature that symbolizes a mockingbird, innocent, harmless, and to Scout, a source of entertainment. The reason that Jem makes such a big deal about this situation is because he is still processing Tom Robinson’s death and all the injustice that Tom Robinson endured during his trials, so Jem really understands that killing is wrong, especially to something so innocent.
To begin, Tom Robinson is a part of the black community who are constantly bound to their skin color and blamed for things they did not do. They are innocent people who do no harm, but are seen as inferiors to the whites, similar to how a little roly-poly is seen as inferior to humans in general. Additionally, both Tom Robinson and the roly-poly are almost killed, but are both innocent and really did nothing. Scout’s hand about the squash the bug to death can be seen as the extremely harsh accusations Mayella Ewell threw at Tom Robinson. No matter whether the accusations are true or not, Tom knows he has no say similar to how this little creature has absolutely no say to what is going to happen to it. Lastly, both Tom and the roly-poly have one person defending them and trying to keep them safe. Scout mutters to Jem, “Reckon you’re at the stage now where you don’t kill flies and mosquitoes now…” (320). Jem feels strongly about helping this roly poly similar to how Atticus feels so passionate about helping Tom Robinson during his