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Scout: Chapter1-4:At the beginning of the story Scout is a little child that is very innocent, she thinks that the world is fair, there are no injustice, etc... But she soon discover that the world is not very fair. Throughout chapters 1-5 she is victim of some injustice, with her teacher or with her friends, but she starts to learn the principle of equality . this makes her to grow up by gaining a little bit in maturity even if the main theme is the innocence of Scout.

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The Ewell Family is one that is considered "the disgrace" of Maycomb society. By Atticus Finch, they are described as "people, but they live like animals" with an inescapable reputation of being dirty, uneducated and poor.

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Scout Finch is a 6-year-old little girl living in Maycomb, Alabama.

Scout has an elder brother, Jem. her mother passed away when she was 2 years old. She is very intelligent compared to most other children. She has friends such as Dill and Walter. She knows everyone in town and allows her imagination to run wild.

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Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb. As a single father of Scout and Jem, he tries to teach the children important moral lessons, emphasizing empathy.

To get in more depth with empathy, Atticus helps Mr. Cunningham with his legal affairs even though he cannot repay back. His son, Walter Cunningham is welcomed into the Finch home for a meal, despite the difficult economic situation for them.

We could also say that he's very fair. He employs Calpurnia and treats her well, despite the prejudice towards the black during the Great Depression.

He protects the vulnerable of the town by telling the children to leave Boo Radley alone, and by defending Tom Robinson.

Atticus’s interactions with Mrs. Dubose show his deep empathy and understanding of people’s struggles. He encourages Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose as a way to learn about real courage and to understand her challenges with addiction. He says real courage is not about physical abilities, downplaying his shooting skills, but about moral strength.

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The people of Maycomb and Boo Radley thought that the person that intruded into his yard was a "Negro" as a white person would never try to break into someones property. This show that racisim was quite normal for them.

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In this chapter, the tone takes a turn in tone. This is also where Jem first realizes the consequences of what he did. He was almost murdered.

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Jem is the older brother of Scout Finch. He is ten at the beginning of the novel. He lives with his father and little sister. He remembered his mother when she was still alive, unlike Scout, so he was hit by her death harder.

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Atticus Finch’s Lesson on Moral Courage – To Kill a Mockingbird Insights

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Boo Radley is introduced as a mysterious and reclusive figure living in the Radley house. The children, Scout and Jem, are both fascinated and terrified by him, believing he is a ghost-like presence. They create stories about him, imagining him as a monster, which reflects their childhood fears and the town's superstitions. As the story progresses, Boo symbolizes themes of isolation and the misunderstanding of those who are different. His character starts to shift from a source of fear to a more complex figure as the narrative unfolds.

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During this chapter Scout undertsand that the acts of children could have serious consequences in their life. They diaboyed to Atticus which by this act put Scout, Jem, and Gill's life in danger, because of the shot of Nathan Radley. By this episode the child learn that disobeying to an adult especially Atticus could be dangerous. Fortunetely for them Gill has a lot of imagination and invented an excuse on the moment. This teaches the reader that the child are very reactive and that they can escape from a lot of difficult situation by their inventiveness.

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The main example of courage comes from the children because of the Boo house. They were extremely scared of it yet in order to prove their courage they played games around it, touched it and even peeking through the window at night. The biggest feat of courage from these chapters is when Jem demonstrates his courage and goes back to the Boo house to get back his pants even though he knows he might die.

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During this chapter they find gift in a tree next to the house of The Radley, a mysterious character gives gift to Jem and Scout. They are a bit worried because they don't know who gives them these presents. At the end of the chapter they decide to write a message for this mysterious gift-giver, but when they decide to see if the gift-giver answered they find that the hole in the tree is plugged up. They think that Nathan Radley did this. By this Scout learns, that no everyone is worthy to get her trust, she also does not undertsand the real matter of the act of Nathan, counter to Jem who starts to understand what's happening, that is why he is crying at the end of the chapter

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Scout is much more mature than her elder bother Jem at times.

When Dill and Jem wanted to break into Boo Radley's house, Scout tried to knock some sense into them, but they began to threaten and bully her.

Even after having to go through a close to death experience, nearly shot by Nathan Radley as a suspected vegetable thief in the night, Jem wanted to go back to get his pants, he did not care if he got shot, then Scout yet warned him and told him not to go.

She is way smarter than most other in Maycomb. She can read and write large sentences without any trouble while her friends are just learning how to read and write. She is very creative and allows her imagination to run wild and also comes up with ideas to recreate scenes from Boo Radleys life.

Scout being a tomboy, spends most of time with boys and less tome with other girls in her class.

She has a close and loving relationship with her father. We know this because, she said that she learnt how to read and write when she used to try and read the newspaper Atticus would read at night before retiring for the day, she used to sit on his lap. This tells us that she was very loving towards her father.

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In this chapter Scout learns that every objet that she owns has a real value, since it can disappear in some hours, like the Mrs Maudie's house. However she does not really undertsand how Miss Maudie is acting at the end of the chapter. She also discovers that the person who put a blanket on her shoulders was Boo Radley, so Jem and her could have seen him for the first time, but they did not. Furthermore, she has the confirmation that Boo Radley is a good person (at least from now), as when she was freezing in the night, Boo Radley put this blanket on her. It is a very nice and kind act. She deduces that Boo Radley is interested by them, but also that Nathan Radley does not want them to see Arthur, as explained Jem.

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Dill lies about many things that make him sound cooler than he actually his. He lies about his dad waiting for him back home, which Jem calls him out on because he knows his Dill's dad left.

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Even after almost being killed by Nathan Radley and after Nathan Radley blocked their only known communication with Boo Radley, Jem is still a child and he hasn't lost that joy, he builds a snowman with the likeness of one of their neighbors with that childlike innocence

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Mayella Ewell is the oldest daughter of the family, at the age of eighteen. At the death of her Mother, Mayella becomes a surrogate wife for her father and caretaker for her younger siblings. She stands out among them in the representation of jars of red geraniums that she grows along the Ewell fence. They symbolize the possibility that Mayella might yet be able to escape the trapping of her environment and the beautiful hope among the filth of the Ewell life.

At 19, her future seems set in an abusive relationship with her lover and drunk father, unable to help herself and living a deeply isolated and lonely life. In the story, her affair with a black man, Tom, is portrayed as an exciting way of gaining power over someone "lesser than her".

Later on, we see that when he refuses her "beck and call" she proceeds to accuse him of beating and raping her.

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The Good, Evil human dignity of To kill a mocking bird

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The Good, Evil human dignity of To kill a mocking bird

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The novel paints a complex picture of good and evil, primarily through the trial of Tom Robinson, an innocent Black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Good is expressed by characters like Atticus Finch, the moral center of the story, who stands for justice and the idea that people should be judged based on their character, not their race. Atticus teaches his children, Scout and Jem, to treat all people with dignity and to try to understand others' perspective especially those who are marginalized or wronged.

Evil is represented by characters like Bob Ewell, Mayella's father, whose racism, ignorance, and hatred drive him to accuse Tom Robinson falsely. The novel suggests that evil is often a result of ignorance, fear, and prejudice, while goodness requires empathy, courage, and the will to do what is right, even when it is unpopular. In

Human Dignity Human dignity is a central value in the novel, explored in several ways:

Atticus Finch: fiercely defends human dignity by taking on Tom’s case, even though he knows the odds are against them. He emphasizes that every person, no matter their background, deserves respect and a fair trial.

Boo Radley: another misunderstood character, is initially viewed by the townspeople and Scout as an outcast or a figure of evil. However, as Scout matures, she comes to realize that Boo is a kind, protective figure. The novel suggests that Boo’s dignity, like Tom’s, was unjustly denied by society’s prejudice and fear.

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Tom Robinson first appears in chapter 9 when Atticus is telling Scout about the man he is defending. Tom is a black man who lives in a little settlement beyond the town dump. His family attends the same church as Calpurnia, and she says that they are clean living people. He has been accused of raping a white woman, and Atticus has decided to take his case. Despite all the scorn he and his family will get Atticus stands firm in his decision, because he knows that it is the right thing to do.

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we see that first scout is very oblivious to the fact that her father was the only parent was still doing an amazing job at taking care of her. She used to think that he was untalented and old, and he was just lazing around on his couch the whole day, until a rabid dog approached them and to protect his children, he shot at the dog and was known for the best aim at Maycomb County. This made scout realise that she was just being naive, and she later realised her father's worth. 

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we see that first scout is very oblivious to the fact that her father was the only parent was still doing an amazing job at taking care of her. She used to think that he was untalented and old, and he was just lazing around on his couch the whole day, until a rabid dog approached them and to protect his children, he shot at the dog and was known for the best aim at Maycomb County. This made scout realise that she was just being naive, and she later realised her father's worth. 

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She undergoes several significant changes, marked by varying degrees of maturity and understanding. One notable change is her growing awareness of racial and social injustice. When Scout attends Calpurnia's black church, she's exposed to the stark differences in how the black community lives and worships, broadening her perspective on race and empathy.

The arrival of Aunt Alexandra in their home forces Scout to confront societal expectations of femininity and propriety, which contrasts sharply with her own tomboyish behavior. This causes some internal conflict as Scout tries to balance her family's expectations with her individuality. Despite her resistance to Aunt Alexandra's expectations, Scout begins to comprehend the importance of family heritage, even if she doesn't fully embrace it.

Scout also shows growth in her emotional resilience. When Dill arrives after running away, Scout demonstrates empathy and understanding towards him, offering him comfort and companionship. This indicates her ability to support her friends emotionally, a sign of her maturation.

The incident at the jailhouse, where Scout diffuses a potentially violent situation simply by talking to Mr. Cunningham, shows her growing influence and understanding of human behavior. Her recognition that her innocence and honesty can impact adults' actions suggests an increasing awareness of her role in the larger community.

Lastly, witnessing the trial of Tom Robinson leaves a profound impact on Scout. She experiences the harsh realities of prejudice and injustice firsthand, which erodes her childhood innocence but instills a deeper sense of morality and fairness. Through these experiences, Scout transitions from an innocent child to a more perceptive and empathetic individual, equipped with a stronger sense of justice and compassion.

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Boo Radley is an example of prejudice in the maycomb society the fact that he is diffrent then the others rumors are made about him and spread around.

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One of Scouts first encounter with racism in the novel. she is subject of multiple racist remarks directed ar her father including "nigger lover". This shows how the parents racisim can reflect on the kids.

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Scout and Jem are finally able to experience the differences between the black and white comunity when they go to the chuch for the afro amercian community. They discover that the racism is not only found in the white community. Parts of the black community are also hold gruges towards white people.The church which is a place of unity is sepperated. Their are 2 churches in maycomb this shows the deep rooted racism found in the Maycomb Society.

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Scout and Jem discovers the fact that Atticus defend a black man named Tom Robinson. In this chapter we discovers that this trial will challenge Atticus and his values. During this period Scout and Jem have a huge grow up. Jem is becoming like Atticus and understand a lot of the adult theme that he cross in the book, racism, prejudice, etc. Scout also find out and dicsover some of the "secret of the society, like when she asks what's "rape", but Atticus try to keep her aside from the reality of Maycomb and the under theme of it. Scout discovers the church for black people and notices how poor they are and how this shows the inequalities between the black and white people. She also learn about Calpurnia and her views on eduaction which make Scout realises that education is a very important gift that not every people have. However she still keep her innocence, and this save the life of Atticus and Jem during the lynching party event. This situation is quite ironic as she does not even realise that she saved the situation just being herself, very polite, innocent and ask about Cunninghmas'son when he wanted to kill Tom Robinson

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Aunt Alexandra tries to teach the kids racist ideologies such as the fact that some families biologicaly greater then others. This type of racism is called classism. This is very present in the Maycomb society even the black community is part of it however they are at the bottom. Atticus tells the kids not to listen to their Aunt.

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Bob Ewell is the antithesis of Atticus. His character is aggressive, conservative and harsh. Bob is the father of the Ewells, with seven children whom he regularly assaults due to excessive drinking. It is also implied that he sexually assaults his oldest daughter, Mayella Ewell. He is an abusive drunkard, who represents the lowest socioeconomic class among the white citizens of Maycomb. He upholds his family’s reputation as a source of trouble in the town as he disregards both legal and social expectations. A central part of Mr Ewell's character is also his belief in white superiority and blatant racism that affects his behaviour in court. Atticus effectively argues that Mr Ewell is responsible for beating his daughter rather than Tom Robinson, and to Mr Ewell, this accusation feels like an attack on his claims of superiority over the Black community in Maycomb. As a result, he violently lashes out at everyone who he perceives as a threat to his status. Additionally, he constantly refers to Tom Robinson using slurs and makes degrading comments.

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Atticus demonstrates moral integrity and courage, mainly in defending Tom Robinson as his attorney. He teaches the children valuable life lessons as well, where Scout and Jem learn about empathy and justice. He explains to them why defending Tom Robinson is important despite the town's racial prejudice, emphasising that doing the right thing is more important than public opinion. To Scout, he gives an appropriate definition of 'rape', enough to fix a child's curiosity. Aunt Alexandra gets shocked by this, wanting Calpurnia, a black woman, to leave. Atticus firmly defends Calpurnia, mentioning she has been in their household for years.

As Tom Robinson's trial begins, Atticus becomes more serious due to the pressure he feels as Tom's lawyer. Atticus provides a strong defense for Tom Robinson, stating that Tom wouldn't have been the one who hit Mayella Ewell since she was injured on the right side of her face. He suggests that a left-handed person would have shown violence towards her, possibly Bob Ewell. His closing statement is powerful, firmly telling the judges to make a fair decision. Regardless of Atticus's strong arguments, the verdict is decided to be guilty. This shows Maycomb's deep rooted racial injustice against the black community.

Following the trial, Bob Ewell spits on Atticus in public. Despite this, he remains calm, reinforcing his lesson to Scout about true courage.

He personally delivers the news of Tom Robinson’s tragic death to his family, highlighting his commitment to justice.

When Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout, Atticus first wants to handle things legally and hesitates to agree with Sheriff Heck Tate’s decision to protect Boo Radley from public attention. However, he eventually understands that true justice is about keeping Boo’s privacy safe.

Throughout these chapters, Atticus symbolises justice, integrity, and moral strength, standing against racism.

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As mentioned, it is Mayella Ewell who accuses Tom Robinson of rape. In court, she and her father Bob Ewell are the witnesses asked to give their account of the events by Mr Glimmer, their lawyer.

Mayella's version: Before Atticus asks about her version of the event, he asks her questions about her home life. We discover that her father does not earn enough to feed them and when he does, he spends it on drinks instead. Mr. Ewell was neglectful and often disappeared for days at a time. Mayella's seven siblings were often sick due to limited resources. Mayella had gone to school briefly and could read and write but was completely isolated with no friends her age. In Mayella's account, she reports Tom Robinson as having snuck up behind her after she invited him into the house to bring money for him. According to her account, he grabbed her and beat her before raping her. During this, she screamed for help and fought him. This was the version given. Throughout Mayella's account, she seems nervous and fidgety and becomes angry when Atticus addresses her as Miss or Ma'am, believing that this is meant to mock her. Her reaction shows how unusual it is for her to be addressed with value and importance, giving an insight into how poorly she must be treated at home. Mayella also cries during questioning and is treated very gently by the judge, showing how biased he is by letting her ignore vital questions that Atticus asks. Eventually, she even outright refuses to talk. This is where her perspective ends.

Real version: Later on, we discover that Mayella was actually the one who forced herself upon Tom Robinson. She had built up a relationship with him by asking him for favours and to do jobs for her for a while. On the day of the incident, she did the same, only this time she had invited him into the house and trapped him by closing the door. Mayella had planned it beforehand so that all her siblings were in town, spending money she had saved up to get ice cream. At first, she simply hugged Tom but when she tried to kiss him, he was unwilling and refused her. This was when Bob Ewell arrived and yelled threats at Mayella through the window saying "You g*d d*mn wh*re, I'll k*ll ya'!". Tom ran away, fearing for his life, while Bob Ewell assaulted Mayella before running to the sheriff and blaming Tom in order to cover up what Mayella had done.

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In the case of Bob Ewell, he is the second person called upon as a witness.

Bob's version: When called upon, Mr Ewell already seems smug and reacts insensitively to the first questions, making a comment about Mayella's deceased mother and trying to appeal to the crowd with humour. It is clear that he believes in his value as a person simply because he is white. As he tells his account, he also uses offensive language to the point where Judge Taylor is forced to call him out to remind him that he is in a courtroom. In his version of the story, he comes back from the woods to hear Mayella screaming. He runs to the house where he allegedly catches Tom Robinson amid his crime. Mr Ewell does not run after him right away as he is "escaping" but checks up on his daughter first before running straight to the sheriff to report the crime.

Real version: Later on, we find out that this is not what happened. Upon witnessing Mayella kissing and forcing herself upon Tom Robinson, Mr Ewell calls her a "wh*re" and assaults her. This is how she has gotten the bruises and black eyes, which Atticus had pointed out were on the right side of her face. He had asked Mr Ewell to write, discovering that he is left-handed where Tom Robinson is crippled, proving that it was actually Mayella's father who had beat her. We find out that it was after this that Bob went after the sheriff so that nobody would discover what had happened and their reputation would not be spoiled any further.

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It is clear that Jem has matured a lot. This is shown as Calpurnia now calls him Mr. Jem instead of addressing him just by his first name. He now more deeply understands the intricacies of Maycomb Society. Through Chapters 12-15, Jem learns of a whole different facet of Maycomb through the First Purchase Church and their way of practicing their religion; how they sing even while not knowing how to read. There, he also learns how the black people look out for eachother when they all donate money for Tom Robinson's family. He also starts acting more like a man when he helps Calpurnia carry up Alexandra's luggage.

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Although he has grown up a lot, it is clear that he has nowhere near the wisdom of Atticus. Jem starts to understand Atticus, why he does what he does, why he defends Tom Robinson. However, just before the verdict of the trial, Jem remarks that they are going to win because they provided the evidence of Tom Robinson's innocence. This comment indicates that he still retains his childhood innocence, to some effect, from the first part. Atticus comments on this with his intricate knowledge of the legal system as well as Maycomb's deeply intrenched racism that it's still unlikely that Tom Robinson is going to be judged as a man and not as a black.

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1. "So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take."

Chapter: 23

Context: Atticus says this after Bob Ewell spits in his face and threatens him. It highlights Atticus's empathy, as he assumes Bob's anger is an attempt to defend his daughter (even though Bob is actually abusive).

2. “I seen that black n*** yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!”

Chapter: 17

Context: Bob Ewell testifies in court, falsely accusing Tom Robinson of assaulting Mayella. His crude and racist language shows his ignorance and the deep-seated prejudice in Maycomb.

3. "Mr. Ewell was a veteran of an obscure war; that plus Atticus’s peaceful reaction probably prompted him to inquire, ‘Too proud to fight, you n***-lovin’ bastard?’"

Chapter: 23

Context: After losing in court (despite Tom's conviction, Bob knows the truth was exposed), Bob tries to provoke Atticus. This shows Bob's insecurity and need to maintain his sense of superiority.

4. “Mr. Ewell was as forgotten as Tom Robinson. But Tom was dead and so was his family’s reputation. He had lost it all, but Atticus had shown him up, and he would get Atticus if it took him the rest of his life.”

Chapter: 25

Context: The narrator explains Bob Ewell’s hatred for Atticus, foreshadowing his later attempt to attack Jem and Scout.

5. “He thought he’d be a hero, but all he got for his pain was... was, okay, we’ll convict this N*gro but get back to your dump.”

Chapter: 27

Context: Miss Stephanie Crawford explains that Bob Ewell thought his accusations would make him a town hero, but instead, people still see him as trash. This adds to his resentment toward Atticus.

6. "She was as sad, I thought, as what Jem called a mixed child: white people wouldn’t have her because she lived among pigs; Negroes wouldn’t have her because she was white."

Chapter: 19

Context: Scout reflects on Mayella's loneliness. This shows that, despite being white, Mayella is rejected by everyone due to her family's low social status.

7. “She took offense to routine courtesy. What on earth was her life like?”

Chapter: 18

Context: During the trial, Mayella reacts aggressively to Atticus calling her "ma'am" and "Miss Mayella." This suggests she is unaccustomed to respect, hinting at her rough home life.

8. “She says she never kissed a grown man before... what her papa do to her don’t count.”

Chapter: 19

Context: Tom Robinson’s testimony suggests that Bob Ewell abuses Mayella, which adds another layer of tragedy to her situation.

9. "Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world."

Chapter: 19

Context: Scout realizes that Mayella has no friends and lives in extreme isolation, making her false accusation against Tom an act of desperation rather than pure malice.

10. “He does tollable, ‘cept when—” (Mayella suddenly stops speaking)

Chapter: 18

Context: Mayella nearly reveals that Bob Ewell beats her but quickly changes course, likely out of fear. This moment strongly suggests that Bob, not Tom, was the true threat in her life.

11. “The Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. None of them had done an honest day’s work in his recollection.”

Chapter: 3

Context: Atticus explains to Scout who the Ewells are after her first day of school. This establishes the Ewells as a family that lives in poverty and refuses to follow societal rules.

12. “They were people, but they lived like animals.”

Chapter: 3

Context: Atticus tells Scout that the Ewells are allowed to break the law (like not attending school) because no one expects them to behave any better. This highlights their low social status.

13. “Every town the size of Maycomb had families like the Ewells. No economic fluctuations changed their status—people like the Ewells lived as guests of the county in prosperity as well as in the depths of a depression.”

Chapter: 17

Context: This description of the Ewells during the trial emphasizes that they remain at the bottom of society regardless of external circumstances.

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In chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird Miss Maudie shows a quiet kind of courage when her house burns down. She does not cry or complain but remains calm and even cracks jokes to reassure Scout and Jem. This shows Scout and Jem, along with the reader that courage does not have to be loud and powerful but is about not being destroyed in the face of adversity

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In Chapter 9 of To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus demonstrates moral courage by defending Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, despite knowing the of community's criticism. When Scout questions why he’s taking the case, Atticus explains that he couldn’t hold his head up or expect his children to respect him if he didn’t do what he believes is right. This shows Scout, and the reader, that courage isn’t about winning but about standing up for what’s right, even when it’s unpopular or difficult.

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In Chapters 12 and 13 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Calpurnia shows courage by taking Scout and Jem to her Black church, despite the racial tensions in Maycomb. This act is bold because it challenges the town’s social divisions and exposes the children to a different perspective on their community. Later Aunt Alexandra also arrives and tries to pressure Atticus to talk to the children about the importance of heritage, yet in the end he realises that he cannot as it goes against his values and refuses. These chapters highlight courage through Calpurnia’s willingness to bridge racial divides and Atticus’s quiet resistance to conforming to societal expectations, emphasizing that courage often involves challenging norms and standing by one’s principles.

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In Chapters 14 and 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is shown through Atticus’s actions as he faces a mob at the jail where Tom Robinson is held. Despite the danger, Atticus stands firm to protect Tom, demonstrating courage and a commitment to justice. Scout, unaware of the full danger, diffuses the tense situation by recognizing Mr. Cunningham and speaking to him with innocent kindness, reminding him of his humanity and causing the mob to disperse. This moment highlights that courage isn’t always about physical bravery but can also come from standing up for what’s right and appealing to the goodness in others.

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In Chapters 16 and 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is evident as Atticus begins defending Tom Robinson in court, fully aware of the prejudice and hostility he faces from the community. During the trial, the courage of Tom Robinson is also highlighted as he stands up to tell his side of the story, knowing the odds are stacked against him. These chapters emphasize the quiet, unwavering courage it takes to confront injustice, uphold one’s principles and fight societal norms.

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In chapter 18 and 19 of To Kill a Mockingbird, the theme of courage is explored through Mayella Ewell. As she does not have the courage to confront her society and father to tell the truth, yet it is clearly difficult for her to come on the stand and speak. We see how courage can be broken by years of abuse and neglect more specifically from her father. Meanwhile Tom Robinson remains steadfast in his morals and his calm and honest demeanour in the face of inevitable prejudice demonstrate great courage. These chapters highlight the importance of staying true to yourself and having the courage to speak up against oppression whether it be yours or others.

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In Chapters 20 and 21 of To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus delivers his powerful closing argument in Tom Robinson’s trial, showcasing his moral courage and unwavering commitment to justice. He appeals to the jury’s sense of fairness and exposes the flaws in the Ewells’ testimony, emphasizing that the case is rooted in racial prejudice rather than evidence. Atticus’s integrity and Tom’s dignity in the face of adversity remind the reader that true courage lies in standing up for truth and equality, even when the odds are insurmountable.

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Tom Robinson next appears in chapter 15 when a lynching party appears at the jail where he is being held and attempts to lynch him. The men who came to the jail were likely part of the Ku Klux Klan, white supremacist group who try to suppress any attempt of the black community at empowering themselves. Thankfully, Scout Finch persuaded the men to give up their attempt at Tom’s life by reminding them of who they were and showing kindness to them. Although this scene from the book includes Tom Robinson, he is not a major part of it and only speaks at the end asking Atticus if the men are gone.

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During the court case, Bob Ewell claims that Tom Robinson beat and raped his daughter Mayella. However, Atticus makes the case that Tom, who got his left arm caught in a cotton gin as a child, could not use it to strangle and beat Mayella. In his testimony, Tom stated that he walked past the Ewell’s house every day and, being a kind man, often helped Mayella with her household chores, even though he only had one good arm. One day, she told him she had something for him to do in the house. When he entered, she started hugging him and attempted to kiss him. Because of how racist people were at that time, if Tom had pushed Mayella or forcibly removed himself, he would have immediately been guilty. Although it made him look guilty, he chose to run instead of pushing Mayella. Even though there was an overwhelming lack of evidence against Tom, he was still convicted of rape. This action shows how extremely prejudiced and racist the people were in that community. Even though a court house is where all men are supposed to be equal, the jury still withheld justice from Tom because of his skin color. In prison, Tom became desperate to see his wife and three children again and made a desperate break for freedom. Sadly, he was shot and killed. Tom Robinson symbolizes the mockingbird because of his innocence and harmlessness. All he did was add beauty to his surroundings, just like a mockingbird. The quote by Atticus, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird,” shows how the community of Maycomb sinned when they killed Tom Robinson, an innocent man.