To Kill a Mockingbird

Why does it make sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson?

Why did he defend Tom? What are his beliefs as a lawyer?

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As Atticus has explained to Scout many times about this, He is doing this becasue he values equailty and justice. He believes that everyone is equal and therefore just because Tom Robinson is black, doesn't mean that he should not defend him. He says to Scout many times, if he did not defend this man, he could never tell Jem or her (Scout) not to do something. He has to set a good example for his children and if he expects them to do something or follow certain values, then he must display them first. In this case, he is displaying that everyone deserves a chance and that everyone is equal. He is also trying to make the town of Maycomb more accepted of this idea since this is a town of great discrimination. Even though he is only one man, he is hoping to cause a ripple effect and hoping that people will see the light and start believing that everyone is truly equal, no matter what their skin colour is. THe same reasons that Atticus defends Tom are what defines him as a lawyer and a person.

Source(s): http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/q-and-a/why-is-atticus-deffending-tom-robinson-in-court-41067/

It definitely makes sense for Atticus to Defend Tom Robinson, because hes only standing up for what he believes in and he believes that everyone deserves a chance and that everyone should be treated equaly. His beliefs are in Justice and Equality.So he did it to give and try to prove to everyone in Maycomb that everyone deserves a chance. This caused a minium amount of trouble for Scout when she was in school, because alot of people would call Atticus a negro lover and therefore Scout felt like they were wrong and she wanted to stand up for or help in some way Atticus. She (Scout) noticed that after court Atticus didnt feel threatened by Bob Ewell's threats and she was surprised, and Atticus at that time was trying to show his children that they should stand up for what they believe no matter what Consequences, but also do it in a calm matter.

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To Kill A Mockingbird- The Book

It makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson. It does make sense because Atticus believes in the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is "Treat all others the way you want to be treated". It does not matter if the person is white or black everyone one is equal. Atticus belives that everyone is equal. Atticus is defending Tom Robinson because he values equality and justice.

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To Kill A Mocking Bird written by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

You would find the book To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee very interesting. The book is kind of a mystery. The book will make you want to keep reading about it. The main characters of this book are Jem Finch, Scout Finch, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson. I honestly think that it does make sense for Atticus to take a stand for Tom Robinson. Tom is convicted, and some of the white folks are not too happy about Atticus accusing Mayella and her Bob of lying.

The first reason to support my claim is that Atticus believes in the Golden Rule. As Atticus has explained to Scout many times about this, He is doing this because he values equality and justice. The Golden Rule is “Treat all others the way you want to be treated”. Even though Mrs. Dubose is not respectful towards Atticus; Atticus still treats her with respect. Atticus treats all others with respect even if in return he gets rudeness or unkind actions or words. Atticus treats Calpurnia with respect even though she’s a “Negro”. This shows that Atticus treats everyone with respect even if he does not get respect in return.

Atticus has many good characteristics. Such as “Atticus went to the jailhouse to protect Tom Robinson”. This shows that Atticus is protective. Another detail is “Atticus hopes and prays that his children can get through life without bitterness”. This shows that Atticus loves his children and is a caring father. Also Atticus is determined. He tries to win the case even though he knows he’s licked before he begins. Atticus politely proves that Bob Ewell is a liar; he respectfully questions Mayella about Tom's crisis. This shows that he respects everyone. All of these examples show that Atticus has good characteristics.

Due to Atticus doing his job and what is right his children are put in danger and tortured. One example of the children being taunted and tortured is due to Atticus defending a black man, Scout and Jem find themselves whispered at and taunted, and have trouble keeping their tempers. One example is Bob Ewell is upset about the case and takes it out on Atticus’s children even though they had nothing to do with the case. Bob Ewell was out of his mind for attacking Atticus’s children, shown when he tried to harm Scout and Jem. Arthur Radley was the one who stabbed Bob Ewell. Bob Ewell was stopped before he had a chance to harm and or kill the children. Arthur Radley (Boo Radley) stopped Bob before he could harm Scout and Jem. In the end Bob Ewell was stopped and the children survived Jem's arm is broken, and Boo Radley is the one who carried Jem home. Atticus thinks that Jem killed Bob Ewell and he starts planning Jem's legal defense. Atticus believes in justice and the justice system.

It really does make sense for Atticus to stand up for Tom Robinson. Atticus does what is right even if his children are put in harm. He defended Tom Robinson even though he knew he was licked before he even began. My views are worth consideration toward the reader because it gives the reader better understanding of the book. Also it lets the reader understand my perspective of the book.

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To Kill A Mockinbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Summary

The children are curious to know more about Boo, and during one summer create a mini-drama they enact daily, which tells the events of his life as they know them. Slowly, the children begin moving closer to the Radley house, which is said to be haunted. They try leaving notes for Boo on his windowsill with a fishing pole, but are caught by Atticus, who firmly reprimands them for making fun of a sad man's life. Next, the children try sneaking over to the house at night and looking through its windows. Boo's brother, Nathan Radley, who lives in the house, thinks he hears a prowler and fires his gun. The children run away, but Jem loses his pants in a fence. When he returns in the middle of the night to get them back, they have been neatly folded and the tear from the fence roughly sewn up.

Atticus decides to take on a case involving a black man named Tom Robinson who has been accused of raping a very poor white girl named Mayella Ewell, a member of the notorious Ewell family, who belong to the layer of Maycomb society that people refer to as "trash." The Finch family faces harsh criticism in the heavily racist Maycomb because of Atticus's decision to defend Tom. But, Atticus insists on going through with the case because his conscience could not let him do otherwise. He knows Tom is innocent, and also that he has almost no chance at being acquitted, because the white jury will never believe a black man over a white woman. Despite this, Atticus wants to reveal the truth to his fellow townspeople, expose their bigotry, and encourage them to imagine the possibility of racial equality.

Tom's version is that Mayella invited him inside, then threw her arms around him and began to kiss him. Tom tried to push her away. When Bob Ewell arrived, he flew into a rage and beat her, while Tom ran away in fright. According to the sheriff's testimony, Mayella's bruises were on the right side of her face, which means she was most likely punched with a left hand. Tom Robinson's left arm is useless due to an old accident, whereas Mr. Ewell leads with his left. Given the evidence of reasonable doubt, Tom should go free, but after hours of deliberation, the jury pronounces him guilty. Scout, Jem and Dill sneak into the courthouse to see the trial and sit in the balcony with Maycomb's black population. They are stunned at the verdict because to them, the evidence was so clearly in Tom's favor.

Usually, the decision would be made in minutes, because a black man's word would not be trusted. Atticus is hoping for an appeal, but unfortunately Tom tries to escape from his prison and is shot to death in the process. Jem has trouble handling the results of the trial, feeling that his trust in the goodness and rationality of humanity has been betrayed.

Mr. Ewell threatens Atticus and other people connected with the trial because he feels he was humiliated. He gets his revenge one night while Jem and Scout are walking home from the Halloween play at their school. He follows them home in the dark, then runs at them and attempts to kill them with a large kitchen knife. Jem breaks his arm, and Scout, who is wearing a confining ham shaped wire costume and cannot see what is going on, is helpless throughout the attack. The elusive Boo Radley stabs Mr. Ewell and saves the children. Finally, Scout has a chance to meet the shy and nervous Boo. At the end of this fateful night, the sheriff declares that Mr. Ewell fell on his own knife so Boo, the hero of the situation, won't have to be tried for murder. Scout walks Boo home and imagines how he has viewed the town and observed her, Jem and Dill over the years from inside his home. Boo goes inside, closes the door, and she never sees him again.

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grade saver

Does it make sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson? Should Atticus have stood up for tom if he knew his kids would get bullied. Atticus defends Tom Robinson because he knows it’s the right thing to do. So why should atticus have defended a black man in trial even if it put his kids life in danger? What would have happend if atticus declined toms case? Well tom would have been killed against his will because if atticus didnt accept the case he most likely would have got a crappy lawyer that woudnt try and he would lose and die. If atticus didnt take the case scout and dill would never get any wisdom from mr. raymond. The man who is white but hangs around black men. You see this on chapter 20 page 227 mr. raymond lets dill have a sip of his coco-cola in a bag. Lastly mayellas lie would have won without a fight. In chapter 18 pages 203-206 mayella is lying about everything to get a black man in jail for her father. How does atticus defending tom robinson effect his kids? On chapter 9 pages 98 through 101 scouts cousin calls her dad a nigger lover and says that scout and her father are a discrace to the family. Scout then punches her cousin out of pure anger for standing up for her father. Since Jems father is defending tom robinson this taught jem to be respectful and always do what he is told. By atticus defending tom it also teaches his kids to appreciate calpurina the cook for the family. Since she is black she would be treated poorly in another household. How does atticus defending tom effect the town? In chapter 19 the black community of the town was so grateful that they let jem and scout sit with them during the trials to watch their father. Then on chapter 22 bob ewell threatens atticus and says “ I will kill you if it the last thing i do.” this shows the town how bad of a guy bob ewell is. This also greatly effects miss maudie because it opens her eyes to the black community.