Jem ,Dill , and Scout venture out one night to try to see into Boo Radley's back window.This adventure leads them to frightening consequences.As the summer comes to a close,Scout and Jem find more presents in the Radley tree. Their treasures include a watch and some sculptures. Unfortunately, their treasures come to an end when Mr. Radley seals up the hole in the tree. Winter comes quickly,bringing a rare snowstorm to Maycomb County. Miss Maudie's house is destroyed in a tragic fire and Scout has a eerie encounter with Boo without her even knowing. Scout begins to get bullied at school by people who taunt her about her father,calling him a 'nigger lover'.Atticus explains to Scout that he will be defending a black man named Tom Robinson on the charge of rape against Bob Ewell's girl,Mayella.
Even though the novel is set in the quiet town of Maycomb,the serenity is only superficial.The town comprises of three communities: the white folk, the black community, and the 'white trash'. Outwardly there is peace among the three,but underneath there is a combination of anger,racial prejudices and friendliness.Atticus serves as a good role model to their society as he is a neutral figure with no bias towards any one side.He protests when his children torment Boo Radley and he tells them not to upset him further.Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a black, against Mayella Ewell,part of the 'white trash' community.Atticus symbolizes decency and goodness while protecting innocence, Tom Robinson is the symbol of oppression,the town is the symbol of white prejudice and Atticus's two children symbolise the innocence of the novel.
Atticus leaves town ,and Calpurnia, the Finch's black maid, takes Jem and Scout to her church. They also learn more information about Tom Robinson,the man who Atticus intends to defend.As Tom Robinson's trial approaches, Atticus worries about the safety of his client. This fear that proves to be correct when a group of townspeople appear at the courthouse one night with their intention of harming Tom Robinson. The only person who stands in their way is Atticus. At first, the mob intends to push through him but the surprise visit from Scout ends their cruel intenetions.
When Tom Robinson's trial begins, the evidence that Atticus puts across shows to prove Tom's innocence.Witnesses further support his innocence and Atticus cleverly points out that a left-handed man must have beaten Mayella Ewell.He goes on the show that while Mr. Ewell is left-handed,Tom Robinson's left arm is crippled due to her farming accident. When Mayella Ewell takes the stand, it becomes obvious that her story is not as perfect as it seems.To Tom's poor luck, she begins to cry on the stand which does not allow Atticus to point out the wrongful accusations made by her.When Tom Robinson takes the stand ,the actual truth comes out. It is portrayed that Mayella Ewell's only crime was to kiss a coloured man. Her father ,Bob Ewell,beat her and raped her for this crime. Mr.Ewell then forced her to say it was Tom who had done it so that he would not get in trouble.
Scout and Jem closely follow the trial even after their father's strict instructions not to go to the courthouse.After listening to Atticus's closing statements in the trial,the verdict is announced that Tom Robinson is guilty and this leaves the members of the community to discuss the verdict.The case is simply lost because it was impossible during those times for a black man to gain victory over a white in the South. This supports our view of racial prejudices still seen among the white society ,which cannot give equal status to a black.
As Scout suffers through one of her Aunt' social affairs, Atticus brings home the news that Tom Robinson has been killed. He brings the news to Tom's family who were stricken by grief. Tom was killed while trying to escape, but he knew he never had a chance with his crippled arm. After a class discussion about the German conflicts, Scout is deeply affected by the hypocrisy of many of Maycomb's residents.
On their way back from a Halloween school pageant, Jem and Scout are attacked. Jem's arm is broken,and a stranger carries him home.Scout cannot see what is happenong due to the darkness.Afterwards, a search of the area concludes that Bob Ewell's dead body is found. Scout accounts the whole story including the part where the man had carried Jem home,who she realises is Boo Radley. Atticus assumes that it was Jem who stabbed Bob Ewell,but the sheriff tells him that he is going to report that Bob fell on his knife. Atticus thinks that the sheriff is protecting Jem but later realises that it was actually Boo Radley who had killed Mr. Ewell.Scout walks Boo home and then returns to see Atticus sitting by Jem,and this is where the novel comes to a close.
The story of the mockingbird which Atticus tells his children at the beginning of the novel is linked to the main theme of this novel. It is considered a sin to kill a mocking bird, since it is harmless bird which only sings to please others. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are also harmless people. By letting Tom die, the sin of killing a mockingbird is further emphasised.Tom's death is a defeat of justice and a support of the racial troubles of those times.
The times which pass show the maturity of Scout and Jem and show the character of Atticus,who is without racial prejudices. He chooses to fight against the old ways of his own community and this however does not lead to any success as the black people could not exceed the white people in the 1930's.I agree with Harper Lee on the aspect of the race issues in those times which are still prevalent in today's society. Innocence and childhood show the truth that does not seem to be successful in the end. The novel is a classic due to its fantastic characters and interesting trial . In conclusion, justice should be provided to an individual,regardless of their race or colour.
