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Atticus Finch Trial

Decent Essays

‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee in 1960 is a novel set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. The story follows Scout Finch, the daughter of Atticus Finch, a well-respected lawyer who is defending an African American man against the charges of rape. The characters in this novel are constructed in such a way that through their actions, appearances and attitudes the issue of racism in the 1930s arises quite clearly. Harper Lee has used the contrast between characters in certain events to inform and shape the readers view of just how bad racial issues were in society during the 1930s. During the trial of Tom Robinson the subject of racism is predominant as despite the evidential case Atticus builds in defence of Tom Robinson, he is still found guilty by the complete white jury. Throughout the whole Trial, Tom Robinson is constantly looked down upon and discriminated against. Prosecutor, Mr Gilmore makes Tom appear inferior to him by continuously calling him ‘boy’. “Then you say she’s lying, boy?” This therefore reveals Mr Gilmore is a man that doesn’t treat African Americans with equality. …show more content…

This doesn’t affect Atticus because he knows he is doing the correct thing. However, Scout fall into a few fights due to numerous people her own age telling her that Atticus is a ‘Nigger lover’. Cecil Jacobs is an example of “He had announced in the school yard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers”. Later on she is taunted by her cousin Francis, “…It ain’t your fault Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover” These statements suggest

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