Post by annalandolfi on Jul 17, 2016 14:52:19 GMT
To me, it was not Atticus who ultimately loses in the trial of Tom Robinson: it was the white community and culture of Maycomb. The too brutal, and too ugly reality of racism and predjudice of the town, and the nation as a whole, is a main theme in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Scout, the young protagonist, in the second half on the book is clearly being thrown from the safe, happy bliss of childhood to the brutal world of adults, and all that comes with it, racism included.
Scout is first introduced to the stark reality of the two different lives, black and white, that exist in Maycomb, when Calpurnia takes her to visit her church. The black community of Maycomb is portrayed in such a positive light to the reader, as well as to Scout, as she sees the passion, community, and loyalty this church represents. This is contrasted later to the harsh, hypocritical Missionary Club of her own church. Calpurnia herself used a different dialect and manner, far from what she was used to in Scout's household: "That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one". (Lee 167). Scout is so stunned and intrigued by this obvious division of culture that she wants to visit Calpurnia at her home, "'Cal, can I come see you sometimes?"' (Lee 167) It's interesting that Lee chooses to introduce Scout to the richness of black culture when she does: it places the black community in such a positive light, in harsh contrast to the white population of Maycomb, and the hate and hypocrisy that comes with the explosion of the Tom Robinson case.
As the novel continues, Scout is continually introduced to the vastly different lives of blacks and whites, as well as the stereotypes and expectations of both. Primarily, when Aunt Alexandra (the main symbol for Southern womenhood and hospitality in the book), clashes with Calpurnia, and refuses to let Scout visit her house or her church again,"You may not" (Lee 181). Scout also begins to see all the opinions of blacks held by the whites, and the stereotypes that go with them. Mr. Raymond, although a friend to the black community, doesn't try to fight the discrimination: "Wh-oh yes, you mean why do I pretend?...Some folks don't like the way I live...It ain't honest but it's mighty helpful to folks. Secretly, Miss Finch, I'm not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that's the way I want to live" (Lee 268). The white folks could fathom no other reason for a white man to be sane and want to spend his time with blacks other then be a drunk, so that's how Mr. Raymond acts. The truth is, he actually enjoys their company. Tom also knows where the blacks stand, with statements like, "If you were a nigger like me, you'd be scared, too" (Lee 261), and "Like I says before, it weren't safe for any nigger to be in a-fix like that...No shu, I's scared I'd be in court, just like I am now" (Lee 265). Atticus is also fully aware of these views of blacks, moreover, which allows him to wisely choose words in court to help prove Mr. Robinson a free man: "You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negros lie, some Negros are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women-black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men" (Lee 273).
The conviction of an innocent man solely because he's black, furthermore, is the most grossly capturing view of blacks, and example of racism Scout encounters. Atticus says, "To begin with, this case should never had come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white" (Lee 271), and I could not agree with him more. Tom Robinson was innocent. Atticus knew that. The Judge knew that. Bob and Mayella Ewell knew that. The townspeople and the jury knew that. And yet, an innocent man was convicted, because how could they believe a black man's word over a white man or woman's? Jem was just as enraged by this as I was, and begged his father to explain this cruel injustice . Atticus responded, "I don't know, but they did it. They've done it before, and they did it tonight and they'll do it again, and when they do it-seems only the children weep" (Lee 285). These words, in light of the lost trial at hand are heartbreaking, but in light of what has been happening in our world, become even more gut wrenching. We want to say that things have changed, but have they really?
The last year in our nation would argue no. From the shooting of young Trevon Martin in Florida, to Ferguson, Missouri, where Micheal Brown was shot and killed, to Freddie Grey in Baltimore, to Eric Garner, strangled to death in New York City, to St. Paul Minnesota, where Philando Castile was shot sitting in his car, to Baton Rouge Louisiana, not long ago, where Alton Sterling was shot and killed. What all these men have in common is their skin color, being killed by white authority, and apparently killed for little to no reason. After these deaths, it's a lawyer defending the white killers, and one defending the dead black man -- who has been permanently silenced. Atticus said it well: "There's something in this world that makes men loose their heads-they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man's always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life" (Lee 284).
So although it seems, when it comes to racism, we've come a long way from the time period in the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird, we still have a long way to go.
Scout is first introduced to the stark reality of the two different lives, black and white, that exist in Maycomb, when Calpurnia takes her to visit her church. The black community of Maycomb is portrayed in such a positive light to the reader, as well as to Scout, as she sees the passion, community, and loyalty this church represents. This is contrasted later to the harsh, hypocritical Missionary Club of her own church. Calpurnia herself used a different dialect and manner, far from what she was used to in Scout's household: "That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one". (Lee 167). Scout is so stunned and intrigued by this obvious division of culture that she wants to visit Calpurnia at her home, "'Cal, can I come see you sometimes?"' (Lee 167) It's interesting that Lee chooses to introduce Scout to the richness of black culture when she does: it places the black community in such a positive light, in harsh contrast to the white population of Maycomb, and the hate and hypocrisy that comes with the explosion of the Tom Robinson case.
As the novel continues, Scout is continually introduced to the vastly different lives of blacks and whites, as well as the stereotypes and expectations of both. Primarily, when Aunt Alexandra (the main symbol for Southern womenhood and hospitality in the book), clashes with Calpurnia, and refuses to let Scout visit her house or her church again,"You may not" (Lee 181). Scout also begins to see all the opinions of blacks held by the whites, and the stereotypes that go with them. Mr. Raymond, although a friend to the black community, doesn't try to fight the discrimination: "Wh-oh yes, you mean why do I pretend?...Some folks don't like the way I live...It ain't honest but it's mighty helpful to folks. Secretly, Miss Finch, I'm not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that's the way I want to live" (Lee 268). The white folks could fathom no other reason for a white man to be sane and want to spend his time with blacks other then be a drunk, so that's how Mr. Raymond acts. The truth is, he actually enjoys their company. Tom also knows where the blacks stand, with statements like, "If you were a nigger like me, you'd be scared, too" (Lee 261), and "Like I says before, it weren't safe for any nigger to be in a-fix like that...No shu, I's scared I'd be in court, just like I am now" (Lee 265). Atticus is also fully aware of these views of blacks, moreover, which allows him to wisely choose words in court to help prove Mr. Robinson a free man: "You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negros lie, some Negros are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women-black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men" (Lee 273).
The conviction of an innocent man solely because he's black, furthermore, is the most grossly capturing view of blacks, and example of racism Scout encounters. Atticus says, "To begin with, this case should never had come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white" (Lee 271), and I could not agree with him more. Tom Robinson was innocent. Atticus knew that. The Judge knew that. Bob and Mayella Ewell knew that. The townspeople and the jury knew that. And yet, an innocent man was convicted, because how could they believe a black man's word over a white man or woman's? Jem was just as enraged by this as I was, and begged his father to explain this cruel injustice . Atticus responded, "I don't know, but they did it. They've done it before, and they did it tonight and they'll do it again, and when they do it-seems only the children weep" (Lee 285). These words, in light of the lost trial at hand are heartbreaking, but in light of what has been happening in our world, become even more gut wrenching. We want to say that things have changed, but have they really?
The last year in our nation would argue no. From the shooting of young Trevon Martin in Florida, to Ferguson, Missouri, where Micheal Brown was shot and killed, to Freddie Grey in Baltimore, to Eric Garner, strangled to death in New York City, to St. Paul Minnesota, where Philando Castile was shot sitting in his car, to Baton Rouge Louisiana, not long ago, where Alton Sterling was shot and killed. What all these men have in common is their skin color, being killed by white authority, and apparently killed for little to no reason. After these deaths, it's a lawyer defending the white killers, and one defending the dead black man -- who has been permanently silenced. Atticus said it well: "There's something in this world that makes men loose their heads-they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man's always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life" (Lee 284).
So although it seems, when it comes to racism, we've come a long way from the time period in the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird, we still have a long way to go.
