In chapter 20, Atticus gives his closing argument which is very impressive and an important piece of writing. Atticus started off by saying that this case shouldn't even be in court and that the case is not difficult at all because the prosecution has not meet their burden of proof. They didn't show evidential evidence and they only had two witnesses. Mayella and Bob also looked shaky cross-examination and some parts of their testimonies did not match up. He also stated that they were all here because Mayella and Bob were embessed and wanted to cover up the truth. He said Mayella had not broken any law but had broken a societal code when she kissed Tom Robinson because she had feelings for him and Bob and Mayella made up this story to destroy the evidence which would be Tom. They want Tom dead because the embarrassment would go away and tom always went through the Ewells house and it would remind Mayella of the things she felt for him. But would it be fair? She is basically accusing an African American of something he had no power off, he didn't expect Mayella to have those feelings for her. Another key part he said was that Mayella and Bob didn't bring any evidence because they were relying in the assumption that the jury would find Tom guilty because he is African American and if a white woman said an African American is guilty of a crime then he was automatically guilty, no evidence needed. However, Atticus is nicer words says that if you believe in this assumption then you are equally stupid and ignorant like the Ewells and states that some people are bad, but that it was true for all races. And the most powerful point of his closing argument is that every one is not created equally, some of us have advantages over each other but that in court we are all equal. That the people in the court are the ones who make the court equal. Before finishing he tells the jury to do their job, that Tom is innocent and needs to go back to his family.
In my personal opinion this closing argument was great and it clearly stated the key points of the case. Atticus clearly stated what had happened, Mayella had interpreted Tom's actions and believed Tom loved her and decided to kiss him. her dad saw them and beat Mayella for breaking the societal code. I think the jurors know that Tom is innocent but might not plead him not guilty because of the time period they were in. That would change the way white people view African Americans, that's why the mobs wanted to get rid of Tom before trial, they already knew he was innocent but didn't want the truth to come out. And Atticus's closing argument probably made them think because Atticus said that if they believed the assumption they were as ignorant and stupid as the ewells and they don't want to be like them because they are at the bottom in Maycomb society. Overall I think this made them think but it wont be of a lot of use. I think Tom saying he felt sorry will affect the verdict more and Mayella's outburst too.
Reflections on Harper Lee's classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" from Blessed Trinity 8th graders.
I also think that Atticus's closing argument was great. He made the jury think a little bit by saying that if the jury makes Tom guilty, the jury will be as ignorant as the Ewells. Atticus made the jury feel a little bit bad for Tom because he pointed out things that were obvious in the case and he said that Tom should not be guilty for different reasons. Good job on your summary and your opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think that your summary was really good, espacially how you included your own oppinions and thoughts into it. I also beleive that Atticus's clocing argument was really good at summarizing the case and how there is no evidence. I also agree with what you said about the jury knowing that Tom is innocent, but saying he is guilty because of the time. I do think that what Atticus told them affected the verditd and that might be a reason that it took them so long to decicde on the case. I also do think that what Tom said and Mayellas out burst did affect the jury too, but I wish it would have affected them enought to find Tom no guilty because he really didn't commit any crime.
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