Tom Robinson is an important character in mockingbird because Harper Lee uses him in a way to express her beliefs towards the injustice displayed in a southern racially segregated era, and how far justice can go based on skin color. We can see what tom represents when he say “Yes sir. I felt sorry for her. She seemed...”At this point Tom truly and deeply feels sorry for Mayella sort of a point of pity. He represents a human figure without vice or evil that looks beyond color or what society believes and conforms. He acknowledges the circumstances and pressure which she endures due to her father and her social-economic status. When Atticus talks of the evidence he says “it has relied instead on the testimony of two witnesses... whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross examination but was flatly contradicted by the defendant” This powerful statement presented by Atticus clearly shows that Tom is an innocent negro man the evidence is not blatant enough to convict Tom but due to society's ills they would rather condemn a negro to jail rather than set them free to be with family happily, causing upsetting disapproval and injustice clearly displayed. Lastly when Atticus says that Mayella has “committed no crime, she has broken a rigid and time honored code of our society” showing that her temptation for a negro man was a simple code that she broke nothing major, but at the hands of an innocent man's life , freedom and happiness. In conclusion, the strong conformity of society caused Tom to be convicted of a crime which he didn't commit and just shows how societies ills and the color of your skin in that era was crucial. Although, Tom did not care for color he still helped Mayella through the sincerity of his heart going against what society think.
Adding on to Catherine, Tom represents innocence as well as the deeply rooted racism in the south.Tom was clearly innocent and Mayella was obviously guilty. Even though the jury reconigzed this, the "ill" of racism overpowered the jury's sense of justice in the decision they made to convict Tom. Just as it was clear to see that Tom's conviction was wrong, the situation represents how clearly segregation is also wrong but racism blinds the morality of it.
I agree with the statement "due to society's ills they would rather condemn a negro to jail" since the book was based in 1930 Maycome which is in the south where racism has always been the strongest the white southerners regardless of what the case would have been and all proof was set that the black man was correct the white women would have won the case regardless since whites viewed themselves as superiors then blacks during that time period they were always right.
Exactly Catherine, I agree. How crazy is it that even with the facts Atticus explained, Tom Robinson was still found guilty. This shows the strength racism had over people, society and even the law. It also proves that the Jury didn't even care what about what Atticus stated. All they saw was that Tom Robinson was black, therefore he was wrong and guilty. Also, imagine what the jury thought of Atticus- a white southerner, defending a black man. To other white southerners in that time, that was almost disrespectful. It's possible that Atticus defending Tom Robinson may have affected the outcome of the trial.
I agree with both Catherine and Kaitlin, the ending of the book really shocked me in that even though all the evidence was stated proving Tom's innocence, he still was plead guilty. People were ignorant in the 1930's. It is true when it was said that Tom was condemned as soon as ms ewell spoke against him, right when she said she had been abused by a BLACK man.
I want to address the statement that "Tom did not care for color he still helped Mayella through the sincerity of his heart going against what society thinks", because I think it was brilliant the white southern jury most likely neglected this fact he had stated, because their closed minded thought refused this to be acknowledged. However this doesn't change that Tom helped Mayella because he felt sorry for her. unfortunately This was his downfall, for a black man to feel sorry for a white woman was not to be heard of, racism encourage this prohibition.
Also it shows that even though he was under the oath of god people still chose not to believe him. They believe he was lying and themselves were lying too because they know what was true but the social consequences were thought to be more important.
I think Tom is my favorite for that exact reason that he was nie enof to help a white woman for no charge without hurting or taking advatage of her. He was a great example of a good will man , that was negro. I am really upset that they were ignorant enof to ignore the obvious evidence and convict tom :[
Tom Robinson received my deepest sympathy. As a man with one working arm, and to be falsely accused of raping a white woman with the non-working arm must be indescribable. To add on to Daniel^ this shows just how serious the oath was taken against the word of a white woman accusing a black man of a crime. In addition, the lack of substantial evidence made the situation ten times worse. Ultimately portraying Harper Lee's feelings toward racism and how people even managed to contracdict the constitution to take a white womans word.
In history, including novels, there's always an argument between opposite, such as good and evil, or in this case, black and white. Tom, in my opinion, had no rights to be put into jail. Why jail a black man? For being different from white? Aren't black and white people created under the same Man who had given them, or us, rights, freedom, and especially life? To see how Tom was shot was very depressing because it shows how life in the past were always about blaming or accusing the black people. Like Boo, Tom is another character who I also respect because they both symbolize innocence. Tom had done no crime or action, but as rumors or especially being a different skin color was the major issue to being aware of in the past, Tom, as a one and only good hand man, was convicted guilty.
Tom Robinson is an important character in mockingbird because Harper Lee uses him in a way to express her beliefs towards the injustice displayed in a southern racially segregated era, and how far justice can go based on skin color. We can see what tom represents when he say “Yes sir. I felt sorry for her. She seemed...”At this point Tom truly and deeply feels sorry for Mayella sort of a point of pity. He represents a human figure without vice or evil that looks beyond color or what society believes and conforms. He acknowledges the circumstances and pressure which she endures due to her father and her social-economic status. When Atticus talks of the evidence he says “it has relied instead on the testimony of two witnesses... whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross examination but was flatly contradicted by the defendant” This powerful statement presented by Atticus clearly shows that Tom is an innocent negro man the evidence is not blatant enough to convict Tom but due to society's ills they would rather condemn a negro to jail rather than set them free to be with family happily, causing upsetting disapproval and injustice clearly displayed. Lastly when Atticus says that Mayella has “committed no crime, she has broken a rigid and time honored code of our society” showing that her temptation for a negro man was a simple code that she broke nothing major, but at the hands of an innocent man's life , freedom and happiness. In conclusion, the strong conformity of society caused Tom to be convicted of a crime which he didn't commit and just shows how societies ills and the color of your skin in that era was crucial. Although, Tom did not care for color he still helped Mayella through the sincerity of his heart going against what society think.
ReplyDeleteMargaurite , Ana , Daniel
Adding on to Catherine, Tom represents innocence as well as the deeply rooted racism in the south.Tom was clearly innocent and Mayella was obviously guilty. Even though the jury reconigzed this, the "ill" of racism overpowered the jury's sense of justice in the decision they made to convict Tom. Just as it was clear to see that Tom's conviction was wrong, the situation represents how clearly segregation is also wrong but racism blinds the morality of it.
DeleteI agree with the statement "due to society's ills they would rather condemn a negro to jail" since the book was based in 1930 Maycome which is in the south where racism has always been the strongest the white southerners regardless of what the case would have been and all proof was set that the black man was correct the white women would have won the case regardless since whites viewed themselves as superiors then blacks during that time period they were always right.
ReplyDeleteExactly Catherine, I agree. How crazy is it that even with the facts Atticus explained, Tom Robinson was still found guilty. This shows the strength racism had over people, society and even the law. It also proves that the Jury didn't even care what about what Atticus stated. All they saw was that Tom Robinson was black, therefore he was wrong and guilty. Also, imagine what the jury thought of Atticus- a white southerner, defending a black man. To other white southerners in that time, that was almost disrespectful. It's possible that Atticus defending Tom Robinson may have affected the outcome of the trial.
DeleteI agree with both Catherine and Kaitlin, the ending of the book really shocked me in that even though all the evidence was stated proving Tom's innocence, he still was plead guilty. People were ignorant in the 1930's. It is true when it was said that Tom was condemned as soon as ms ewell spoke against him, right when she said she had been abused by a BLACK man.
DeleteI want to address the statement that "Tom did not care for color he still helped Mayella through the sincerity of his heart going against what society thinks", because I think it was brilliant the white southern jury most likely neglected this fact he had stated, because their closed minded thought refused this to be acknowledged. However this doesn't change that Tom helped Mayella because he felt sorry for her. unfortunately This was his downfall, for a black man to feel sorry for a white woman was not to be heard of, racism encourage this prohibition.
ReplyDeleteAlso it shows that even though he was under the oath of god people still chose not to believe him. They believe he was lying and themselves were lying too because they know what was true but the social consequences were thought to be more important.
ReplyDeleteI think Tom is my favorite for that exact reason that he was nie enof to help a white woman for no charge without hurting or taking advatage of her. He was a great example of a good will man , that was negro. I am really upset that they were ignorant enof to ignore the obvious evidence and convict tom :[
ReplyDeleteTom Robinson received my deepest sympathy. As a man with one working arm, and to be falsely accused of raping a white woman with the non-working arm must be indescribable. To add on to Daniel^ this shows just how serious the oath was taken against the word of a white woman accusing a black man of a crime. In addition, the lack of substantial evidence made the situation ten times worse. Ultimately portraying Harper Lee's feelings toward racism and how people even managed to contracdict the constitution to take a white womans word.
ReplyDeleteIn history, including novels, there's always an argument between opposite, such as good and evil, or in this case, black and white. Tom, in my opinion, had no rights to be put into jail. Why jail a black man? For being different from white? Aren't black and white people created under the same Man who had given them, or us, rights, freedom, and especially life? To see how Tom was shot was very depressing because it shows how life in the past were always about blaming or accusing the black people. Like Boo, Tom is another character who I also respect because they both symbolize innocence. Tom had done no crime or action, but as rumors or especially being a different skin color was the major issue to being aware of in the past, Tom, as a one and only good hand man, was convicted guilty.
ReplyDelete