Tom Robinsons Death
Tom Robinson’s DeathTom Robinson’s Death
Racism, sexism and economics were all factors leading up to the unfortunate and untimely death of Tom Robinson. The book takes place in the 1930’s and reflects a very segregated time in our country’s history. Jim Crow was well established in the south. White people had power over the black people. Tom Robinson had been accused of raping Mayella Ewell. There was a trial held for the crime, and he was found guilty. Although he was found guilty it was obvious that he was innocent. Racism was rampant.
Sexism existed everywhere during this time period. People at this time were unaccustomed to seeing a woman raping a man. This makes it hard for Tom Robinson to defend himself. The people were not able to see a girl being sexually aggressive. Ultimately, this ends up leading to Tom’s death.
At the time of this novel the great depression was also taking place. Many families were going through very hard times, the Ewells. The majority of the people were having financial problems, some worse then others. Society as a whole was not doing well at this time period.
There was a great amount of racism at the time that the book took place. Whites looked down upon all blacks. The Jim Crow laws made life difficult for Afro-Americans in the south. According to C. Vahn Woodwerd the Jim Crow segregation laws were, the public symbols and constant reminds of the Afro-American’s inferior position in the south. “The term Jim Crow came to stand for racial segregation was physically embodied in separate water fountains, eating places, bathrooms, Bibles in courtrooms, and signs stating “colored and white” that gave the term a concrete meaning for southerners”(Woodwerd, 214). This is saying that white people had it set in their mind what they thought of blacks already. According to Mary D. Esselman Atticus is different from many of the other adults in Maycomb County, (town where the book to place in) in that he fought for what he thought was right and what he believed in. Atticus did not believe in being racist. To the reader and Atticus it is obvious that Mr. Robinson did not rape Mayella, but the fact that he was black played a large role in the outcome of the trial and his death. “Tom Robinson is a humble good hearted black man, he is the victim of a racist white society’ (1372). Atticus, unlike society, is able to look past the color of a man’s skin in order to see that man’s real worth.
This trial and the outcome of the trial just show what the southern towns and people were like back at that time.
“Looking back on the beginnings of racial integration, it’s easy to make false assumptions. The average southern white...
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