The Death of Tom

In chapters 23,24, and 25 we find out Tom Robinson has been killed. He was hanging on, still hoping that even though the whole jury was white and racist he would make it through. He didn't the jury's final statement was that Tom was guilty. That last little dwindling fire died and Tom Robinson hope of getting out of his predicament was gone with it. There was some foreshadowing of Toms death when he told Atticus , "Goodbye Mr. Finch there ain't nothin' you can do now," right before going off to jail. He had given up and from what he say the verdict had been made and he was going to die no matter what Atticus did. Tom was unjustly accused and shot on purpose when he tried to escape because he was black.

In the book, Jem and Scout are both stunned at the verdict. Being young and growing up in a house where blacks are treated as equals and are always expected. They cant believe that Tom was charged guilty, "Now it was Jem's Turn to burst into tears," Jem sees the racism and he cant take it. He breaks down and Scout tries to comfort him. Seeing the false verdict impacted both Scout and Jem. It showed them the racism at its finest and taught them that blacks and whites weren't born equal because of one difference, their skin.

When Tom was shot in chapter 24, the jailers say they warned Tom to back down and get away from the fence. He did not comply. They then shot Tom 17 times! That is total overkill and the guards should be punished. Even Atticus acknowledged this in the book saying,"They didn't have to shoot him that much." But, Tom was black, so no one cares. All the whites think he got what he deserved for supposedly "raping a white girl." Tom had a sad unjust and not right ending. He deserved better for respecting the rules and helping out white people free of charge. Instead, he got, "Seventeen bullet holes in him."

(Chapters 19-20) Why is Tom Robinson already in trouble when Mayella tries to kiss him and why in court is he not favored to win?

Most of chapter nineteen is Tom Robinson being questioned by Atticus and the plain tiff's judge. When Atticus asks Tom his questions, he is respectful, calm and never racist. When Mr. Gilmer questioned him, he was disrespectful calling Tom a boy and even saying the outrageously racist word nigger. During the trial, Mr. Gilmer asks Tom why he ran. Tom replied,"it weren't safe for any nigger to be in a--fix like that."Tom is talking about interracial interactions witch is not only unaccepted but is also not legal. Tom being black would be physically punished or maybe killed while Mayella just becomes unaccepted by everyone black or white. When Mayella asked Tom to come inside the fence, Tom kindly obliged because he had been let into the fence prior to when Mayella was beaten. But when Mayella tried to kiss Tom, he instinctively backed off knowing what the consequences would be. He runs as fast as he could but not before Mayella's father Mr. Ewell witnessed everything that happened. I believe that Mr. Ewell beat up Mayella. If he had beaten her up he could have easily gotten away with it. Tom was at the scene and who would believe a black man when a white man says otherwise.

When this issue of Tom being inside the Ewells property came up, Mr. Gilmer attacked him for supposedly not being aloud inside the property. Mayella and Mr. Ewells both testified to this being true and as I said before, what is a black man's word against a white mans word. I believe that Tom is being tried unfairly judged, and at this time in history, is being racially targeted by racist whites.

(Chapter # 12 - 13) What do you learn about Aunt Alexandra in chapter 13 in general, and what do you learn about her influence over Atticus and his family?

Aunt Alexandra visits Jem and Scout in Maycomb from the Finch’s Landing. “PUT MY BAG in the front bedroom, Calpurnia, was the first thing Aunt Alexandra said. Jean Louise, stop scratching your head, was the second thing she said (169). Throughout this passage, it is quite clear that Aunt Alexandra is moody and stuck-up. Aunt Alexandra wants the kids to do what she says and act in a certain way that she thinks is appropriate for the Finch’s since she declares “What Is Best For The Family.” Aunt Alexandra takes too much control in wanting to set the right foot for the family.

“Well, your father and I decided it was time I came to stay with you for a while (169). We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence (170).”  Aunt Alexandra comes to Maycomb so she can straighten out Jem and Scout. After the incident at the Finch’s Landing, when Scout punched francis, Aunt Alexandra could see these children needed to be taught manners and good behaviour. One can infer that she talked Atticus into staying with the kids since Atticus is already a good parent and doesn’t need further help with the household. “Stop that noise, Atticus said. I felt myself beginning to cry, but I could not stop. This was not my father. My father never spoke these thoughts. My father never spoke so. Aunt Alexandra had put him up to this, somehow (178).” This passage shows that Aunt Alexandra is changing the ways of Atticus’s household and their living style. She wants to up their standards of life since Scout and Jem aren’t just anyone, they’re Finch’s. Aunt Alexandra isn’t even taking their thoughts into consideration; she is just enforcing rules and expecting for them to get follwed. This change of behavior by Atticus is making scout feel upset since she wants her old dad back. Scout knows Alexandra persuaded Atticus into this, and there’s no going back. Scout and Jem are depressed about the new way they have to act since they find it amusing to mess about and live a normal life.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why might you think Atticus agreed to let Aunt Alexandra stay with them?

2. Why else might you think Scout is upset about being told to behave in an orderly manner?