What does Atticus say to scout about defending Tom Robinson?
Atticus tells Scout he’s defending Tom Robinson for several reasons. Among other things, he has a good character reference: “He’s a member of Calpurnia’s church, and Cal knows his family well. She says they’re clean-living folks” (86). He knows and trusts Cal, so he takes her word as gospel.
Why does Atticus say it’s not time to worry yet?
When Atticus tells Scout it is not time to worry, he means that the trial will be difficult but they are safe now. Atticus’s sister and Scout’s aunt, Alexandra, asks him to impart upon his children the “facts of life” ahead of the trial.
What does Atticus say about Tom’s appeal?
I asked Atticus if Tom’s wife and children were allowed to visit him, but Atticus said no. “If he loses his appeal,” I asked one evening, “what’ll happen to him?” “He’ll go to the chair,” said Atticus, “unless the Governor commutes his sentence.
Why does Atticus say he is defending Tom Robinson even though he will lose?
When Scout asks him why he is defending Tom, Atticus replies that if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up among people. He also reveals that he knows they will lose, but he’s determined to try anyway.
How does Atticus show that Tom is not guilty?
Atticus then shows the jury that Tom is handicapped and his left arm is completely useless. In Atticus’s closing remarks, he proves Tom’s innocence by mentioning the lack of medical evidence, the Ewells’ conflicting testimonies, and Tom’s obvious handicap.
Did Atticus win his case?
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch does not win the court case. Tom Robinson, an African-American man, is found guilty of raping a white woman,…
Why did Atticus take Tom’s case?
Atticus accepted Tom Robinson’s case because he knew no one else would want to take the case, and if anyone else did, he wouldn’t put on a good case or care whether Tom was convicted. Atticus knows Tom is innocent, and if Tom was white, he would have been found innocent with the evidence Atticus presented.
How has Scout lose her innocence?
Atticus Finch Scout learns many valuable lessons from her father throughout the novel. Ultimately, the jury found him guilty, despite Atticus’s seemingly bulletproof defense. This resulted in a major loss of innocence for Scout when she saw firsthand that life isn’t fair and sometimes innocent people can lose.
Why does JEM call his dad Atticus?
He was essentially emotionally detached. Sure, he was nice and all, but he didn’t really show his affection that much. Later in the book, patting Jem’s head was a “rare display of affection”. Because he treated them like everyone else, it only made sense for them to call him like everyone else called him: Atticus.
Who really beat Mayella Ewell?
Mayella Ewell lies on the witness stand because she is afraid of her father, Bob Ewell, and because she is humiliated by her own attraction to Tom Robinson. She tells the jury that Tom beat and raped her when, in fact, it was her father who beat her when he saw her hugging and kissing an African American.
What side was mayella beat?
right
What evidence proves that Tom absolutely did not hurt Mayella Ewell?
Atticus is condemning racism, effective because the jury knows tom is innocent. what evidence proves that Tom absolutely did not hurt Mayella Ewell? that mayella had bruises on her right side which means a left handed person beat her and tom has a crippled left hand.
Who thinks Tom Robinson is innocent?
Atticus presents numerous pieces of evidence during the trial that prove Tom Robinson is innocent. Tom’s handicapped is the most compelling piece of evidence that indicates he did not assault or rape Mayella Ewell.
What evidence is there that mayella is lying?
During the trial, Mayella’s testimony, combined with other evidence, proves that she is lying, and more importantly, that Tom Robinson is innocent. At the trial, Mayella testifies under oath that Tom Robinson attempted to strangle her with both hands and punched her in the face.
Why couldn’t Tom hit the right side of mayella’s face?
Heck Tate, the Sheriff, shared that Mayella Ewell was beaten all on the right side of her body. Atticus showed that Tom Robinson could NOT have raped or beaten Mayella because his left arm is useless. If the bruise is on Mayella’s right eye, the person who hit her would have hit her with their left hand.
What is wrong with Tom Robinson?
Tom has a physical handicap from a cotton gin. His left arm is 12 inches shorter than his right and he cannot use his left arm! (Could he physically commit the crime?)
What does Tom Robinson struggle with on stand?
In Chapter 19, Tom Robinson takes the witness stand and describes his background and interactions with Mayella Ewell. Atticus begins by questioning Tom as to why he was convicted of disorderly conduct. Tom explains that he got into a fight with a man and went to jail because he couldn’t pay the fine.
Is mayella like her father?
Mayella is different from her father in the fact that she attempts to rise above her situation by remaining clean and trying to bring beauty to her home with the flowers. She is similar to him in that she lies on the stand and attempts to manipulate the jury. What might be the reason for Mayella’s crying in the court?
Why is mayella afraid of Atticus?
When Mayella takes the stand in the Tom Robinson case, she is afraid of Atticus. Because Mayella is devalued as a woman and person by her father and also by the community, she feels that Atticus is making fun of her. In fact, as readers, we know that Atticus respects everyone, and he is trying to show her some decency.
Why does scout think mayella is the loneliest person?
Scout thinks that Mayella must be the loneliest person in the world because she spent a year saving money to send her brothers and sister out of the house just so she could spend a few hours with Tom.
Why does Dill become sick?
As was mentioned in the previous post, Dill becomes sick when he sees how Mr. Gilmer is disrespectfully speaking to Tom. In the middle of the cross-examination, Dill begins to cry. Scout does not get a chance to hear the rest of Tom’s testimony because Jem makes her take Dill out of the courtroom.
Why does Dill cry and feel sick at the end of Chapter 19?
Dill cries because he was so horrified at the treatment of Tom Robinson at the hands of Mr. Gilmer. The behavior of Mr. Gilmer was extremely disrespectful and rude, calling Tom Robinson “boy” and giving him dirty looks, but the crowd was so used to this course of action that they just took it for granted.
Why did dill cry at the trial?
Dill starts to cry in the courtroom in To Kill a Mockingbird because he is disgusted and upset with the way Mr. Gilmer blatantly disrespects Tom Robinson during his cross-examination.
What is Tom actually guilty of?
Tom is found guilty of raping Mayella although reasonable doubt and Tom’s handicap is proven, HOWEVER, the jury deliberates for a few hours, which implies that they are considering the defense’s testimony.