How does Harper Lee use the character of Tom
Robinson to expose the injustices of the legal and
political systems in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Harper Lee uses the character of Tom Robinson to expose the injustices of
the legal and political systems in To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson, a black
man, is wrongfully accused and convicted of raping a white woman, Mayella
Ewell, despite evidence proving his innocence.
Throughout the trial, it becomes apparent that the legal system is biased
against Tom Robinson because of his race, and that the truth is irrelevant.
The prosecutor, Mr. Gilmer, relentlessly questions Tom and attempts to paint
him as a liar, even though Tom’s testimony is consistent and convincing. The
jury, made up entirely of white men, ultimately finds Tom guilty, even though
there is no concrete evidence against him.
Tom Robinson’s wrongful conviction exposes the systemic racism and
injustice inherent in the legal and political systems. The trial highlights the
inequalities and prejudices present in Maycomb, and demonstrates how the
legal system can be manipulated to serve the interests of the privileged and
powerful.
Overall, Harper Lee uses Tom Robinson’s character as a vehicle to critique
the flawed legal system and larger societal inequality present in the South in
the 1930s.
References:
Lee, H. (1960). To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: HarperCollins.
Morrison, T. (2010). Introduction. In H. Lee (Ed.), To Kill a Mockingbird (pp. vii-ix). New York:
HarperCollins.
Shields, C. J. (2013). Mockingbird: A portrait of Harper Lee. New York: Henry Holt and
Company.