Preview

Tom Robinson's Trial

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
293 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Tom Robinson's Trial
A theme in “To Kill A Mockingbird,” could be that you should never judge a person by their color. The way people were judge affected Tom Robinson’s trial because all colored people were treated differently than white people back in the day. Reverend Sykes explained to Jem; “I ain't ever seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man” (Lee 279). Tom was not going to be charged with the crime. This is because everything that was said on his half proved that he was innocent but judges never choose a colored man over a white man. Further, Tom Robinson was not able to win the trial because he is a colored man. The judge got the piece of paper and says “ ‘Guilty… guilty… guilty… guilty…’ “(Lee 282). The color of Tom’s skin changed

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Today a trial took place at the small court in Maycomb County, Alabama. A nineteen-and-a-half year old white woman named Mayella Ewell and her father filed a rape charge against a maimed black man.The courtroom was packed to the brim with white and black viewers. The judge, Mr. Taylor, was draped lazily across his chair, looking very well asleep, as the prosecutor drilled first Mr. Tate, the local sheriff, then Mr. Ewell, and finally Mayella. According to the witnesses, the girl asked for Tom Robinson’s help to “bust up a chiffarobe” and when she turned to give him a nickel he sprang on her and beat her and took advantage of her. Mr. Ewell heard her screaming from a nearby field and “came runnin’ fast as I could” and tried to catch Robinson…

    • 288 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tom Robinson was innocent of raping Mayella Ewell. In the story it talks about how Mayella got punched in the eye with the left hand but Tom couldn’t have done it because his left hand is crippled. Reverend Sykes said, “He got it caught in the cotton gin, caught it i Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s cotton gin when he was a boy...like to bled to death...tore all the muscles loose from his bones-”(186). This explains what happened to Tom’s hand and that he couldn’t have punched Mayella with his left hand because he could not use it. Furthermore, when Tom was telling his side of the story he said that Mayella kissed him and that he tried to get away because he knew that it wasn’t right for her do that. Tom explains what happens when Mr. Ewell sees them,…

    • 251 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    A trail for a black man was set in the courthouse in Maycomb city. Tom Robinson, the defendant was accused of using violence to Mayella Ewell. It rare to set a trail for a black since most of them are getting lynched in this city. Therefore, a huge amount of people rushed to the courthouse and observed the trial including the whites and the blacks.…

    • 156 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    I will be interviewing Mayella Ewell about the trial about Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was a African american who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Mayella Ewell said that Tom Robinson snuck up behind and he hit her and hit her repetedly, her pa was out in back and he didn’t hear anything untill she was thrown on the ground. She said that he hit her with her left hand, so Atticus Finch then interviewed Mr.Ewell. Atticous asked Mr.Ewell to write his name on a piece of paper, he did. Atticus proved that he was a leftie meaning he did everything with his left. Mr. Finch then asked Mr.Robinson to catch a cup, he did but he causght it with his left hand, proving he was a rightie. Atticus asked if Tom could catch it with his left hand, Tom robinson…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Tom Robinson was a civilized man who was trying to get home from work one day,and Mayella Ewell ruined that for him. In the unfair case of Tom Robinson he was accused of raping a girl he never found interest in.The case had a ruling set before it even started,because he was a black man. There was so much evidence that Mayella wasn't raped by Tom Robinson,some of the evidence were Tom's physical handicap from a cotton gin as well as his left arm being twelve inches shorter than his right and was not able to use his left arm.His color works againt him,the jury decides to believe mayella instead of Tom. Therefore, he was convicted and sent to jail.…

    • 255 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory 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
  • Good Essays

    Tom Robinson's Guilty

    • 131 Words
    • 1 Page

    Like a mockingbird, Tom Robinson was an innocent creature who did no harm to anyone. Tom, black man with a wife and children was wrongfully accused of raping a white woman. He went out of his way to help to help Magellan Ewell many times. Not once was Tom awarded for his hard work, on the contary he was found guilty of raping her. Tom was found guilty not because of his actions but because of his race. Killing Tom was a sin just like it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. The jury and prison guards thought that finding him guilty and killing him was not a big deal. Not everyone shared Atticus Finch's integrity and perspective in that time. Tom Robinson was a good man who was wrongfully targeted.…

    • 131 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I tend to my garden as I watch several cars drive along my street back to their homes. Tom Robinson’s trial must be over. Before the trial even started, I predicted that the verdict would be guilty. When I saw Jem, Scout, and Dill arrive back at their house with long faces, my prediction was confirmed. It is still upsetting for me to hear that another innocent black man’s life was ruined because of the way white people treat them. I did not attend the trial; I do not wish to see an innocent person on trial for their life. I take off my gardening gloves and head inside. As I wash my hands, I see the children looking very upset and confused. I decide to make them chocolate cakes to help to cheer them up. They must be extremely confused and disappointed about the verdict of the trial. They are too young to completely understand our unfair society.…

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird has multiple major themes that are outcomes of significant scenes throughout the book. One of the most well-known scene is the trial scene where Tom Robinson is found guilty for a crime he did not commit. Because Scout and Jem were at the trial, the verdict deeply affected their view on the goodness of the people of Maycomb. Lee throughout the novel explores the concept of human morality, the inherent goodness or malevolence of people and how it can have a positive or negative affect on people. Lee achieves this through the coming of age and development of Jem and Scout, and through the effect that human morality has on the characterization of the mockingbirds, Boo Radley…

    • 635 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    To kill a mockingbird is an insightful novel that effectively educates its reader about the discrimination and prejudice against African Americans that was occurring at the time. Through the pity and intensity of Tom Robinson’s trial the reader learns how the rights of African Americans were very different than the white Americans at the time. To kill a mockingbird highlights the pure injustice that Tom Robinson faces, when accused of a crime that he didn’t commit. Due to these accusations Tom’s fate is put on the line and his dignity is robbed from him as the whole of Maycomb assumes that Mayella Ewell is right. Immediately the town people build a sense of hate and anger towards Tom Robinson and attempt to act on their thoughts and opinions. Throughout this text one will learn how not only Negro’s were affected by this prejudice and discrimination but how innocent white Americans, such as the finch family were too.…

    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Justice of Tom Robinson

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” (Martin Luther King,Jr.) This famous quote from Martin Luther King, JR. talks about the step towards justice that every human should receive, no matter what the color of their skin is. But, you can ask yourself: what is justice? There are many different definitions for justice and it has become used so loosely in today’s world. Justice is often used interchangeably with the word “fairness.” In any type of situation whether it be in the classroom, at work, or in the courtroom, we want to be treated fairly and not judged by the color of our skin. Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, religion, and fairness, as well as the administration of the law, the right of all people to equal protection before the law of their civil rights, without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, color, ethnicity, religion, disability, age or other characteristics. In the case of Tom Robinson in How to Kill a Mockingbird he did not receive justice.…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tomorrow is trial for Tom Robinson. He is accused of the rape of Mayella Ewell, a white, nineteen year old girl. Although I am extremely nervous for the pending verdict, my evidence may change Tom’s fate. I can’t help fearing the worst things that can happen during and after this case. My mind is running with thoughts like, what will be the final verdict, will this trial be fair and lastly, how will my dearest children react? Fingers crossed my evidence will bring my client to justice.…

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Thomas Robinson Trial

    • 354 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The most controversial issue in this story is probably the Thomas Robinson trial. The entire town of Maycomb was involved in this trial, and each took sides. I am certain that Thomas was innocent because all of the evidence pointed back to the “victim” and her father. I am 100% certain that Thomas is innocent because the bruises on the victim, 19-year-old Mayella Ewell, could only have been caused by a left-handed person. Thomas, however, lost all mobility in his whole left arm after a cotton gin accident as a child resulted in his entire left arm to be crippled.…

    • 354 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many different themes are in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The theme of this essay is “Don’t judge before learning.” In the play, two kids called Jem and Scout investigate the rumors of a neighborhood man called Boo Radley while their father, a lawyer named Atticus, prepares to defend an African American named Tom Robinson for a crime he did not commit. People judged Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Scout.…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, focused on racial discrimination as a main theme. Racism against African Americans has been common since the slave trade started in America. The judicial lack of representation shown through the Tom Robinson case is eerily similar to real life cases. Many occasions had similar elements to Lee's fictive example.…

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays