Tom Robinson's Power In To Kill A Mockingbird

This novel takes place in the South in the 1930s, a time and place where racial prejudice is very strong. Mayella is a poor white woman, but her race gives her power to manipulate Tom Robinson, since he is a negro. Her word is given precedence over Tom Robinson’s in court simply because of her skin color. In this time period, women,

Imagine being treated with no dignity. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee creates a town where people judge each other harshly. Boo Radley is an example of a person who was misunderstood as an evil, frightening man because of rumors that he killed his father. The character, Tom Robinson was also judged as being a criminal based on false interpretations made about him. In addition, Raymond Dolphus, a wealthy white man, pretends to be a drunk so that the citizens of Maycomb will have an explanation for his odd behavior. The way that these characters were treated, relates to the ideas portrayed in the article, Racial Microaggression in Everyday Life. Therefore, false judgements are displayed through the characters, Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Raymond Dolphus.

The residents of Maycomb are extremely racist, so the treatment of African Americans is undeniably cruel. When Scout talks about going to school, there is no mention of any colored children in the classroom. Also, Scout says that African Americans walk on the other side of the street when passing the Radley house out of fear. The most inhumane example of racism in the book is Mr. Ewell falsely accusing Tom Robinson of raping his daughter Mayella. Mr. Ewell is the second least honorable white man in Maycomb, next to Dolphus Raymond. Although, the townspeople still believe Mr. Ewell’s fictitious accusation over a kind hearted African American man, despite knowing Tom’s true innocence. The treatment of African Americans in Maycomb is the most ruthless for no sincere reason aside from skin color. Finally, the last ring of the social hierarchy of Maycomb is the mixed populace. These are the children of an African American person and a white person. More specifically, Mr. Raymond and his female partner’s children are mixed. Jem explains to Scout that mixed children do not belong to the white community or the African American community, or are known as

In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” Scout Finch is the narrator (DBQ Project, p.7). She tells about the different things that happened in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s (DBQ Project, p.7). She also talked about the people in the town. Scout talked about a specific trial that completely rocked the town. The case involved a white girl named Mayella Ewell and an African American man named Tom Robinson (DBQ Project, p.7). Mayella Ewell had no friends, she was poor, and because of her gender was not looked at as superior, although under those circumstances she was able to have influence within the case based on her class, gender, and race (DBQ Document A, p.13).

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee introduces the racial injustices of the 1930’s. The book takes place in the quiet and tedious town of Maycomb, Alabama. Then comes a trial, where a black man by the name of Tom robinson is falsely accused of raping a white woman. The family who accuses Tom Robinson of rape is Mayella Ewell and her father Bob. When asked “Who is responsible for the death of Tom Robinson?”, Bob Ewell is the one to blame.

In Alex LaFosta’s article called “Racism in the 1920s & 1930s,” “Signs told African-Americans where they could and could not go.” These signs are apart of the Jim Crow law, which affected many African Americans during the 1930s. The rise of the KKK have came into effect causing more racial problems in the southern states such as Maycomb Alabama. In the novel Harper Lee writes “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on Mayella!” (Lee 231). Tom Robinson had racist people against him since the start of the trial, the lies that Mayella’s dad was saying are harsh. Racism played a large role in the people of Maycomb’s

Maycomb Alabama 1933 has lots of bad qualities including equality. Atticus is defending Tom Robinson, a black man who is being accused of raping Mayella. Black people in 1933 never had a chance of winning something like this, it was always there fault. Atticus has a strong feeling that Tom did not do this, so he's going to find out the truth. “Atticus was trying to show, it seemed to me, that

One woman in Maycomb even said, “I wouldn’t want to get mixed up with all those Italians and Puerto Ricans. In a drugstore one day I looked around and there was a Negro woman eating her dinner right next to me, right next to me” (Lee 181). This shows how Maycomb has changed since she was a little girl in Maycomb and how different it is from New York City. When she returns to Maycomb, she is forced to stand up for herself and what she knows is right because no one else believes the same thing. Even her father has fallen into the trap of feeling like he is superior to African Americans despite the fact that when Jean Louise was growing up, he was known for his “Integrity, humor, and patience” and for being fair and equal (114). Because the town has become so racist and segregated, everyone is becoming involved, even the most unsuspecting

“Our kind of folks don’t like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don’t like the Ewells, and the Ewells hate and despise the colored folks” (Lee, P.239.) The African American community in Maycomb is considered the lowest of the social classes, even lower than the Ewells, who live by the dump, and are uneducated and are overall bad people. The unfairness shown to the lower classes is demonstrated in Tom Robinson’s case, When Tom was convicted just because he was in a lower social class than Bob Ewell, who happens to be considered human trash

Tom Robinson is an interesting character. He could be viewed differently from certain points of view. From the Bob Ewell views him as an animal and treats him terribly. Ewell believes that since Tom is a black man, he is worth less than himself, a white man. He says Tom is a rapist and a bad person. Ewell is disrespectful towards Tom. He threatens the accused. He treats him in accordance with the Jim Crow laws. From his own and Atticus’s point of view, Tom is a completely different person. Tom is kind to people. He takes time out of his day to help Mayella. He does not take money for his help either. There are people who claim Tom is a good family man as well. In court, Tom is quiet. He is respectful to everyone. He speaks of everyone as an

The people of Maycomb are racist, which is shown countless times in the book. The story takes place inside a southern town. Being in the south, it is normal for Racism to occur. Atticus a white lawyer fights for a black man that has done nothing wrong. The jury treat him differently because of his race. Atticus explains the racism in the town.

Within the town of Maycomb there are black and white people. One of the strong characters within the black community was Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was a 25 year old black man, he is a polite and helpful man. He does so because that is who he is, he does it out of kindness towards Mayella Ewell and other characters. Tom works in the fields and the only way to get there was past the Ewell’s house. Because tom is a polite man he greets her every morning he walks past on his way to work. One day Mayella Ewell, she offers him a nickel to bust up this chiffarobe for her. This was the first time she ever asked him to come inside her properties fence. He is happy to help so he goes on in and busts up the chiffarobe then he went on his way to work. He didn’t accept payment of any kind because he knew she had no spare nickels to part with. Since then he has continued doing the odd jobs for her. One day Mayella gets beaten up by her father, Bob Ewell after he sees Tom at his house. Who then proceeds to run to the sheriff and claimed that some nigger had raped his girl. "Mr. Ewell came in, very excited he was, and said get out to his house

Maycomb is a racist white community because a black man named Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white woman. Atticus agreed to defend Tom. One day Calpurnia, the Finches’ black cook, takes Jem and scout to the local black church. When Tom’s trail begins, a mob gathers to execute Tom at a local jail. Jem and Scout sneaked out of the house and saw the mob. Scout recognizes one of the men, and her polite questioning about his son shames him into dispersing the mob.

Maycomb County, Alabama presents itself as a slow, small county filled with a close and nice community.  Withal hidden is a mean, discriminating society who refuse to change their views. Dill is ashamed for having divorced parents, the whole town will think he's unloved and inordinate and he won't be accepted by the children.  The Cunningham's aren't known as just the Cunningham's throughout the town they are the poor, starving, hungry family.  Scout has been witnessing the gender stereotypes and inequality at a young age, she feels shame for being degraded for being unique.  Nevertheless, this is all on the side of the severe racism.  All people discriminate and give labels that for them, define the being.  If this society hadn't "refused

In Maycomb, the people in the town live differently than the rest. There’s the Radley’s who like to stay inside, there are the Ewell’s who live poorly, and there is Miss Maudie who loves the outdoors. These are examples of people who all live very differently. The black community is very poor, mostly illiterate, and have few rights which shows the reader a time before the Civil Rights Movement. This shows the reader the lifestyle of the south, and provides a deeper understanding of the characters and the story.