Tom Robinson Trial Essay

THE INTRODUCTION Good afternoon my name is Brooke Sauer, and it is my pleasure to represent the State of Maycomb and to serve as a prosecutor on this crucial day. On August 26, 1936, the defendant didn’t try the best he could to convince the judge that Tom Robinson was innocent. At the end of the conclusion of the case, and after you heard all the evidence, we are confident that you will return a verdict of guilty on the three charges of failing to give all he could to give Tom Robinson his freedom.

THE THEME AND THEORY

Ladies and gentlemen, this case is about a man who failed to do enough to win Tom Robinson’s case. This man, Atticus Finch gave up hope and failed to give Tom his life back because he gave Tom little hope after he got found

Atticus Finch was assigned Tom Robinson’s case because he was the only one that Tom had a chance of getting his life back and getting back to his family. Atticus’s daughter, Scout Finch may have saved Atticus's life and even Tom’s life at the jailhouse. Atticus was at the jailhouse to make sure his defendant wouldn’t be murdered but still gave up after Tom was found guilty at the courthouse the next day when Atticus knew Tom’s case could have been easily appealed. Atticus should have brought more people and fought harder to keep his client from not being found guilty. Atticus accepted being Tom’s lawyer so Tom can be found innocent and he knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but he still gave up when he could have done something when he heard the word guilty come out of John Taylor’s

One reason Atticus should be found guilty is “Atticus put his hand on Tom’s shoulder and whispered. Atticus took his coat off the back of his chair and pulled it over his shoulder. Then he left but not by his usual exit” (Lee 282/283). This evidence shows that Atticus gave up and didn’t give Tom any hope after he walked out. Another reason Atticus should be found guilty is that the judge asked “How many witnesses do you got” “One” Atticus replied (Lee 253). This piece of evidence shows that Atticus didn’t bring anyone else to the stand. Atticus could or should have brought more people to the stand even if they weren’t witnesses to prove what kind of man Tom is. Another reason is “His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his right” (Lee 248). This is proving that Tom’s arm couldn’t have beaten or choked Mayella but Atticus never said that. Atticus should have said that there was no possible way Tom could have raped, beaten, and choked Mayella without her getting away. “All right. He choked you, he hit you, then he raped you, that right? It most certainly is” is another example of evidence (Lee 250). Atticus never asked Mayella how Tom could have done all that with one hand. Atticus didn’t question Mayella’s questions after she answered him and if he did he could have gotten more of her mixing up the truth with the lies. “We had