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The Tom Robinson Trial

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The Tom Robinson Trial
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, racism is the belief that some races of people are better than others. In the American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, racism is evident all throughout the book taking place in the south during the 1930’s, a time when racial injustices and discrimination was turbulent in America. Harper Lee weaves the truth of racism through the eyes of a young, innocent child looking at the differences in society.
The Tom Robinson trial is an important asset in To Kill a Mockingbird which emphasizes the racial injustices in court. Atticus Finch is a lawyer in Maycomb county and the father of the lead protagonist, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Atticus agreed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused …show more content…
Even if all the evidence proves Tom to be innocent, the jury would be in favor of the Ewells because they are white. Tom Robinson would help Mayella with chores because it “looked like she didn’t have anybody to help her” (263). Because of this, Tom felt sorry for her. However, his feelings were invalidated when Mr. Gilmer exclaims, “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?” When Tom said he was sorry for Mayella, it implied he was better than her. In Maycomb County, a county divided along racial lines, a black person thinking he’s superior to any white person defies the status quo. The Ewells had been “the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations” (40). The Ewells, especially Bob Ewell, represent ignorance and white supremacy in To Kill a Mockingbird. Bob Ewell’s full name is Robert E. Lee Ewell (227); coincidentally, he was named after the general who commanded the Confederate army, or the army in favor of expanding slavery, during the Civil War. The Confederate army represented white supremacy and racial justice, as do the Ewells. Atticus says to his son, Jem, “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (295). Even with the Ewells labeled as the “disgrace of Maycomb” (40), they are still seen in a higher position compared to Tom …show more content…
Jem claims Dolphus Raymond’s late fiance shot herself just before their wedding "because she found out about his colored woman, he reckoned he could keep her and get married too. He's been sorta drunk ever since" (215). When finding out about her soon-to-be husband's “colored woman,” Dolphus Raymond’s deceased fiance probably thought being rejected for a person of color was “social suicide.” This emphasizes the disgrace being associated with blacks brings. When Scout asks Mr. Raymond, “Why do you do like you do?” Raymond replies, "I try to give 'em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason... folks can say Dolphus Raymond's in the clutches of whiskey--that's why he won't change his ways... that's why he lives the way he does"(268). Raymond pretending to be drunk all the time gives people a reason to justify his actions. To Maycomb, the only logical explanation for Dolphus preferring negroes over whites is that his actions are being controlled by alcohol. Before Dill, Scout, and Jem left Dolphus Raymond, he hastens, “You little folks won’t tell on me now, will you? It’d ruin my reputation if you did" (267). This quote clarifies Dolphus Raymond understands some people don't understand how a white man can be with a black woman and he knows it would cause problems if people didn't have a justification for his actions. It is evident
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