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Christabelle Intong

Mr. McConnell

English

23, January, 2017

Trial Analysis Essay

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, we know that it takes place in the early 1930s and

society back then was different. People viewed genders and race from a different perspective.

What we do know is how people of Maycomb, Alabama view African Americans and how

women are pictured as proper and lady like. The people of Maycomb County have their own

world or should I say, their own universe. Their universe of obligations affects the way they treat

others, for example Tom Robinson. Tom was charged of raping a girl named Mayella Ewell and

in the end the verdict was guilty. Comparing the jurys verdict from my verdict and based on the

evaluation of evidence found, I think Toms verdict should have been innocent and that the jurys

verdict was affected by their universe of obligations to think he was guilty.

The jurys verdict in the story was guilty. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: Guilty

guiltyguiltyguilty (Lee 282). In cases like this a white man was more likely to win

against an African American. The witnesses for the state, with the exception of the sheriff of

Maycomb County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical

confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go

along with them on the assumption-evil assumption-that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are

basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around other women, an
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assumption one associated with the minds of their caliber. (Lee 273). The jury and the people all

thought that any African American man was evil.

For my verdict, I would say Tom Robinson is innocent. Throughout the trial, I found

some evidence and I put the pieces together. From what I have read Mr. Ewell is the guilty one in

my opinion. Nobody called a doctor when Mr. Heck Tate found Mayella. He answered the

question three times, Atticus. He didnt call a doctor. (Lee 224). Mayella had a few injuries and

the one that stuck out the most was her eye. Mr. Finch. I remember now she was bunged up on

that side of the face. (Lee 225). The right side, Mr. Finch, but she had more bruises-you wanta

hear about them? (Lee 225). Mr. Ewell didnt think about calling a doctor. The witness said

he never thought of it, he had never called a doctor to any of hisn in his life, and if he had it

would have cost him five dollars. (Lee 235). Mr. Ewell did not t realize that Atticus had tricked

him. Youre left-handed , Mr. Ewell, (Lee 237). Atticus asked Mr. Ewell if he was

ambidextrous and Mr. Ewell said no, but really he was tricked. I most positively am not, I can

use one hand as good as the other. One had as good as the other, (Lee 238). Tom Robinson

couldnt have hit Mayella because his arm is crippled He got it caught in a cotton gin, caught it

in Mr. Dolphus Raymonds cotton gin when he was a boy like to bled to death tore all the

muscles loosefrom his bones- (Lee 249). Mayella Ewell even hesitated when Atticus asked who

had hit her and she says does not remember who did, No, I dont recollect if he hit me. I mean

yes I do, he hit me. (Lee 248). Mayella says that her father is tolerable except when he drinks.

Tom Robinson always passes by the Ewells home everyday from work. Shed call me in suh.

Seemed like every time I passed by yonder shed have some little somethin for me to do-

choppin kindlin, totin water for her. (Lee 256). According to Tom, Mayella saved up enough

money to get the kids out of the house for ice cream. I say where are the chillum he continued,
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an she says-she was laughin, sort of-she says they all gone to town to get ice creams. She says,

took me a slap year to save sebm nickels, but Id done it. They all gone to town. (Lee 258).

The jury was affected by Maycombs universe of obligations. Their universe of obligation

is like a list of people or group of people that are to the most important to the least. Women were

most likely to be the most important at that time because they were viewed as if they were

fragile. Criminals and African American men would be the least important in their universe of

obligations. Back then any white man could accuse a black man of raping a white woman,

because they were more likely to win.

In conclusion, the jurys verdict was affected by their universe of obligation. Tom was

falsely accused and nobody believed his testimony. Tom didnt rape Mayella because of his arm

and after the trial Mr. Ewell spat at Atticus. Mr. Ewell should have been charged, but people

would trust a white mans word than a black mans. Comparing the jurys verdict from my

verdict and based on the evaluation of evidence found, I think Toms verdict should have been

innocent.