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Examples Of Atticus Finch's Rape Trial

Decent Essays

The Tom Robinson rape trial is about to turn Maycomb upside down---will it all be worth it in the end? In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is faced with a choice: whether or not he will defend a black man in a rape trial. Atticus Finch should not represent Tom Robinson because he is ruining his good reputation and his poor children are being harassed. Atticus is ruining his reputation by defending Tom Robinson. “He liked Maycomb, he was Maycomb County born and bred; he knew his people, they knew him . . .” (Lee, 6). Scout describes Atticus’ attitude towards the town he has grown up in; this description emphasizes how well known and highly thought of Atticus Finch was before deciding to defend Tom Robinson. It is made very apparent …show more content…

Everywhere the Finch children go, they are met with sharp criticism. This could’ve been easily avoided if Atticus had simply thrown the case or not taken it at all. At school, Scout’s peers---especially Cecil Jacobs--- target her and her brother as a result of her father’s poor judgement. Cecil torments Scout in the schoolyard, and calls her father racial slurs. This provokes Scout, and causes her to act out and become violent. The harassment is relentless, and doesn’t stop after the school bell rings at the end of the day. Simply walking down the sidewalk becomes a burdensome task. “Your father’s no better than the ni**ers and trash he works for!” (Lee, 135). This quote from Mrs. Dubose is a prime example of the harassment the children receive due to the backlash from the trial. When they walk into town, they hear whispers (mainly from old farmers) about their father and the case. Scout and Jem can’t even peacefully attend their own family Christmas without hearing about the case. “Now he’s turned out to be a ni**er-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again. He’s ruinin’ the family name, that’s what he’s doing” (Lee, 110). This statement from Francis describes how the family feels about the decision, and emphasizes how Scout can’t even spend Christmas free from the stress of her father’s case. It may be true that Atticus Finch is making a statement within his community, but his

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