Another theme that is bought out in the trial of Tom Robinson is the theme of racial prejudice. The black people treated the trial as a serious occasion whereas the white people did not. The difference in approach to the situation shows the difference in attitude between the black and white people, and also represents the difference in their racial status. “They waited patiently at the doors behind the white families”. This quotation shows that the black people know that their status is under the white people and they are aware that they are disrespected. Tom Robinson says, “Mr Finch, if you was a nigger like me, you’d be scared too,” which puts emphasis on the fact that it is very hard to be a black person in this situation.
Tom Robinson faces racial prejudice from Mr Gilmer, “You felt sorry for her”. The words ‘sorry’ and ‘her’ are in italics to suggest the emphasis on them, which stresses the point that Mr Gilmer thought it absurd for a black man of a lower class to feel sorry for a white woman. The reader feels sympathy for Tom as he clearly has done nothing wrong, for a modern day black man to feel sorry for a white woman would be completely acceptable but here you can see the strong racial prejudice, and is hard for the reader to comprehend. There is additional racial prejudice in the way Mr Gilmer refers to Tom Robinson as ‘boy’ when Tom Robinson refers to him as ‘sir’. The dialect Harper Lee uses for Tom Robinsons shows the language barrier between black people and white people, expressing to the reader the racial prejudice.
Another theme in the book bought out by the trial of Tom Robinson is the theme of courage. Tom Robinson has the courage to stand up to Mr Ewell and tell the truth. Even when Tom is asked about his previous convictions, he is not afraid to say the truth and show that he has nothing to hide. Tom responds to the questions he is asked, contrary to Mayella Ewell. When Mayella was asked “Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father?”, she doesn’t respond suggesting that she is unsure about her answer that she gives, saying that Tom Robinson was the one who took advantage of her. The pause before she makes her statement suggests thought and that she had to make a decision. Atticus shows courage in defending Tom Robinson even though he knew that Tom would be found guilty. Atticus shows courage also because he was the first person to defend a black man. The next morning, Atticus was sure that “there’ll be an appeal, you can count on that” when most lawyers would have given up and others would be pleased to not have to defend a black man any longer.
Innocence and growing up are themes in To Kill a Mockingbird that are portrayed throughout the trial. During the trial, it is the maturing Jem who explains to Scout what is going on and why, although he is deeply distressed by the outcome. His face “streaked with angry tears”, he is having difficulty coming to terms with the reality of the adult world facing him. Scout, Jem and Dill grow up when they meet Dolphus Raymond. They are led to believe that Dolphus Raymond was “an evil man” and when he kindly offered to give Dill and drink, Scout suspected that he was only doing it because he was “evidently taking delight in corrupting a child. Dolphus Raymond shows Scout, Jem and Dill that they rumours around Maycomb about him are not true.
A large theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is the theme of Mockingbirds. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the bird symbolises innocence and natural goodness. Tom Robinson is like a mockingbird, partly because he is physically disabled. He is also socially ‘disabled’, his real weakness. Mockingbirds make music for people to enjoy and do not receive anything in return, just like Tom Robinson would chop up furniture for Mayella Ewell, and did not accept any payment. Tom Robinson was innocent, just like Mockingbirds are innocent, however he was charged with being guilty as people could not accept that a black man could have done something right.