Does the news about Tom surprise you? Why or why not?- Medina

Tom Robinson was wrongfully convicted of raping Maryella and even though Tom could’ve
appealed his sentence and had a good chance of winning that appeal, he decided to just give up. Tom was
put in jail and he believed the only way he could have his freedom back was by trying to escape, that
would be a grave mistake. It did not come as a surprise to hear that Tom Robinson was shot to death. The
last thing that Tom said to Atticus was, “Good-bye, Mr. Finch, there ain’t nothin’ you can do now, so
there ain’t no use tryin.”(267) Harper Lee wants to show how pessimistic colored people were during
Scout’s time due to the fact that their word would never go over a white person’s word, thus, giving
colored people no hope of equal treatment like in Tom’s case during the trial. The result of this is Tom not
having any hope left, which caused him to try and escape jail in which resulted in him getting shot 17
times to his death. Tom’s last words to Atticus foreshadowed what would end up being Tom’s fate and
it did not come as a surprise that he got killed. Harper Lee includes this to show how desperate people
had become because they had not been treated correctly, Tom was so desperate to escape that he was
willing to give up his life for the slight chance he had to escape the exercise yard with one hand with
guards watching. It was not a surprise that Tom got killed since he had no hope left even while knowing
he could appeal his sentence. Tom believed his life was already over the minute he got wrongfully
convicted of raping Mayella Ewell.
Questions;

  • What do you think the result of the appeal would be if Tom hadn’t died?
  • If Atticus had assured Tom that he would be free do you think Tom would’ve done what he did?
Why or why not?

  • How do you think Tom’s wife reacted to the news of Tom being dead?

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 1, 2019 at 5:10 PM

    I think that if Tom hadn't died he would have been sent to the chair as a result of the appeal. I think that Tom decided to take things in his own hands because he knew that racism was in almost everyones heart in Maycomb. These racist thoughts would not have let the jury realize he was innocent so Tom decided that his escape could go both ways. He was either able to escape or he would be caught and he would get shot. When Tom was shot and killed he was shot 17 times. This shows that he was thought of as an animal. He wasn't even considered a person if he was shot so many times. What makes us think he would have won the appeal if the law states " All men were created equal" when he wasn't considered a man much less a human.

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  2. AnonymousOctober 1, 2019 at 5:52 PM

    Even if Atticus had assured Tom that he would win, he still would have tried to escape. Deep down, Tom knew that they would lose the appeal, and he was more content with taking chances into his own hands than letting white people decide his fate. If he had lost, he would have been sent to the chair. Tom must have weighed his options, and decided that dying on his own terms were better. Although Atticus believed they had a good chance of winning, Tom knew that even though he was innocent, the people deciding his case had racist biased that would never let him go free.

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  3. AnonymousOctober 1, 2019 at 7:23 PM

    I think that if Atticus had assured Tom that they would win Tom would have ended up even more discouraged. Atticus doesn't want to give Tom false information because he knows that although all evidence points towards innocent, it is still a case mostly based upon race. Giving Tom false hope would only cause a larger let down if the verdict was to change. I think it is smart of Atticus to know that nothing with court cases can be certain and it is always important to consider the possibility of a change of outcome or verdict.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 1, 2019 at 7:28 PM

    What do you think the result of the appeal would be if Tom hadn’t died?

    If Tom Robinson didn’t try to escape and didn’t get shot I think the result of the appeal would still somehow end up with Tom Robinson dying. As for if the appeal got declined Tom Robinson would end up in the electric chair. If the appeal got accepted and Tom Robinson was freed due to racism some white people would attempt to kill him. Tom Robinson wouldn’t be able to pay for his family because no one would want to give “a rapist” a job. Making his whole family suffer. This would happen to him because of the way Maycomb operates based on race. Harper Lee decides to include his death because she knew that Tom Robinson would have to die someway and in some ways, this is a peaceful way to die compared to other ways.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousOctober 2, 2019 at 5:41 AM

    What do you think the result of the appeal would be if Tom hadn’t died

    During the trial Atticus pulled out all the stops to try and convince the jury Tom Robinson was not guilty. In his closing argument he says to the jury to do your justice under god. All the evidence is there to make it seem like Tom was not guilty. But because of the time period and because Tom is black, he is convicted of the rape case. Unfortunately Tom tried to get out of jail and jumped over the fence and ran. He was shot by the guards 17 times and was killed. In my opinion even if Tom had not been shot and Atticus appealed the case I think Tom would still be considered guilty. I think this because Atticus did all that he could do during the trial and now during the appeal I don’t think the appeal would have changed the outcome of the case.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousOctober 2, 2019 at 9:20 AM

    When Atticus had to say goodbye to Tom, Atticus said he thought Tom would be Let free. If Atticus assured Tom that he would be let free, I think Tom wouldn’t have run from the jail, resulting in him still being alive. Although Atticus should have told Tom that he was definitely going to be let free if Atticus didn’t keep his promise, he would have let Tom and his family down. I think that when Scout first heard what her father said, she didn’t know why Atticus didn’t know a definite answer. I think that throughout the chapters, Scout has grown to understand that in law, there is no definite answer. Why didn’t Atticus explain to Scout why he didn’t give Tom a definite answer? What would have happened if Tom didn’t try and run?

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousOctober 2, 2019 at 9:25 AM

    After the trial was over you could tell that Tom Robinson gave up because there was nothing else that could be done. Atticus had tried his best to tip the case in the favor of Tom but there was nothing else he could do. When a town or place is predominantly white and racist, it takes years and years for them to change their ways. Maycomb was a clear example of a racist place that would take a long time to change. Atticus was the first person in Maycomb to stand up and actively try to make a change. Atticus would not have tried to tell Tom he was going to be okay because Atticus knew he wasn't. He had done everything that was possible for him to do and nothing else would have changed the judges minds.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousOctober 2, 2019 at 9:27 AM

    If Atticus had assured Tom that he would be free do you think Tom would’ve done what he did?

    I think Tom Robinson would of done the same thing if Atticus had said he would be free. Atticus told Tom Robinson multiple times that they had a good chance of him being set free, so he already knew he had a good chance. Atticus said that he believes Tom did what he did because he was sick of leaving things up to chance, and that he wanted to decide his own life. I think that Tom's need to take his life into his own hands would not of changed if Atticus told Tom he would be free.

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