The first time we read about the trial of Tom Robinson is when Scout eavesdrops on a conversation between her father, Atticus and his brother Jack. They discuss the trial, and the possible outcomes of it. However Atticus’ main concern is shown through the comment:
“ I hope and pray that I can get Jem and Scout through it (the trial) without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disesase. Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don’t pretend to understand… I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town”.
This comment shows that, because of peoples prejudices, Tom will be found guilty. Atticus takes a realistic view of the trial but he doesn’t understand how people can’t see past a person’s skin colour and find the truth. He also worries that his children may be persecuted for his beliefs and that they don’t adapt their neighbour’s racist views.
An important part of the novel were we are shown true racial hatred is in Chapter 15 when Tom Robinsons and even Atticus’ life is put under threat. A Lynch mob, made up of farmers from Old Sarum, who live close to the Robinsons, go to Maycomb Prison to dispense their own form of vigilante justice. They want Tom Robinson killed, not only because they think that he was guilty, but also because they are so angry that the case even went to court as normally if a black person was involved, the case would have been dismissed. One of the Cunningham’s was a member of the lynch mob and he makes his intentions clear Atticus.
“You know what we want… Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch”.
The mob become more aggressive and Tom would have been murdered if it weren’t for an innocent interruption from Scout, who unknowingly reminds the men that, although they were a mob, they were also human beings. This shows that opinions may change later in the novel.
After the trial, a disappointed and disillusioned Jem, is taught an important and valuable lesson by his father, Atticus. Atticus isn’t bitter about the outcome of the trial, as he expected Tom to be found guilty and he reminds Jem that before anything changes, people’s attitudes have got to change. He claims that there is hope for change in the future as it took a longer time than usual for the jury to convict Tom as guilty, and reveals that the cause in delay was down to a Cunningham, whose relative was a member of the lynch mob who wanted Tom killed before the trial. And we notice a change in other people’s attitudes. Aunt Alexandra doesn’t label a persons family because of their faults and becomes less prejudiced.
However there are still some characters who continue to display prejudice views. The missionary circle tea group show such double standards. They sympathise with the poor Mruna tribe in Africa, but then go on to complain about their black servants for moping and being sad because of their dissatisfaction of the trial. And when Tom Robinson tries to escape he shot, not only once but seventeen times. The racist townspeople react to his death with disgust and apprehension. They say ‘Typical of a nigger to cut and run’ and ‘Nigger always come out in them’. Comments and attitudes like this mean that change in Maycomb will be impossible.
In conclusion, I do think that the author does convince the reader that some white’s attitudes and prejudices against blacks are beginning to lessen. Yet, these partial changes of attitudes mean nothing until the whole community begin to assess their views so that justice can finally be done and so that another innocent man won’t have the same fate as Tom Robinson.
