National Medal of the arts recipient Harper Lee, wrote the beloved and well known book To Kill A Mockingbird, to depict a vivid scene of daily life, and hardships in rural Alabama during the Great Depression, and the courageous actions of a few. Lee portrays Atticus Finch a righteous lawyer, and the father of the Main characters, giving his closing argument to the prejudice jury, to convince them of Tom Robinson’s innocence in the case. Lee passionately communicates to the reader that even in a court of law where every man is to be treated entirely equal, during this time period jury members, and most individuals held their prejudices against African Americans. Which in this incident leads to the conviction of innocent man, with the lack of …show more content…
At the end of his closing argument he uses his own opinions, to help convince the jury. “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal.” This relates to Atticus's belief that all people should be treated equally especially in a court of law, where people should not be convicted solely the race they are, but rather the evidence against them. Atticus uses this idea, to try to prove to the jurors, that not coming to decision based on the real evidence present, would undermine the true purpose of the courts, to seek justice based on truth. Atticus’s last plea to the jury, trying one final time to persuade them.‘I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty.” Atticus becomes very passionate during this last moments of his closing argument, almost pleading or even begging the jury to make the moral, and just decision; to actually analyses the evidence, and events. He does so because he is certain, what he proclaims won't be enough to sway the jurors’ minds, as if Tom’s conviction was set in stone, before he even began. Unlike many others in Maycomb, he strongly believes in a strict moral code, to treat everyone with respect and seek real Justice, not based one who the person is but the credible evidence of their
Atticus states, “I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty.” Him saying at the end to do your duty, tells the jury that you are doing your job and if you find this man innocent then he is, but you cannot find this man guilty because of who he is on the outside. Overall, he leaves the jurors to make the right decision in a professional manner.
Moreover, this strengthens the case because the Jury can now see that Atticus is fighting for the good of the county, which assures his credibility of judgement. Additionally, Atticus highlights his trustworthiness in the court system. The brilliant lawyer is nearing the end of his closing statement and strives to drive his point home. He shatters the barriers between color and white by mentioning the one place where all Americans are treated equal, the courtroom. To finally win over the jury in favor of his case Atticus uses ethos when he claims, “Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury.
For the closing statement of Atticus was moving speech that could not determine the fate of Tom Robinson’s verdict. Atticus used artistic proofs, anaphora, and multiple other persuasive tools to connect with his audience and to prove to the jury that Tom Robinson was innocent. Even with the substantial evidence against the Ewell’s testimony the prejudice and racism that was being shown to the black community in Maycomb overcame the truth. In Atticus’s closing statement he attempted to create people of all races equal in the court
Atticus most effectively uses emotionally charged language while being respectful in his final remarks to elicit emotions and sympathy to strengthen his facts to bring justice to Tom Robinson. Atticus identifies Tom’s human characteristics to garner sympathy from the jury. Throughout his final remarks on the case he uses certain words to make the audience see Tom as a human worthy of respect and justice. Here, Atticus provides the evidence where the court and jury have prejudice towards Tom.
All people are created equally, but all people are not treated equally. This statement is represented during the trial of Tom Robinson. Tom is black and black people rarely ever win trials because people are racist in the town of Maycomb. People are put into groups based on the Maycomb Caste System which is most often key divided by ethnic, racial, or financial lines. For example, the white upper class is represented by Atticus, while the poor black citizens are represented by Tom Robinson.
In Atticus’ closing statement at the trial his faith shines through the words he says, “I am confident that you Gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus’s closing argument was unsuccessful. In Atticus’s closing argument, he makes it so the jury will assuredly understand. The Jurors are all white and from out of town so they are biased and don’t know the townspeople and how they behave. Atticus tries to connect with the Jury but he was ineffectual. Atticus’s closing argument was not effective because of cognitive bias and he couldn’t persuade his audience.
Argumentative Essay “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”. Atticus Finch decided to defend Tom Robinson when he was accused of raping a white woman. I would’ve done the same thing as Atticus because I believe that back then it wasn’t a very fair world. As soon as a white person blamed a black person Police or the Judge would automatically take the word or the white person.
He uses this by saying “ there is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie =, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire.” By saying this Atticus is forcing the jury to feel compassionate because they realize their own fault. Atticus also says “All men are created equal, a phrase that the Yankees and the distaff side of the Executive branch in Washington are fond of hurling at us.” When Atticus says this it reminds the jury to have compassion because all men are created equal. Even the black
When one grows up, it is inevitable they will lose their innocence. Seeing the world through rose colored glasses can only take one so far, and eventually they will have to open their eyes to real issues in their lives. While this happens at different ages for everyone, Atticus in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee believes that his kids should not be sheltered from the real world. As Scout and Jem, Atticus’ children, grow up, especially in a time where Maycomb is so segregated, Atticus teaches his kids real life lessons and to not become like the rest of their town; racist and judgemental. This comes with a cost, however, as the kids “grow up” at an expedited rate.
Our whole lives growing up we are told to follow the “Golden Rule”. This rule is defined as to treat someone the way you want to be treated. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch a lawyer in a town called Maycomb in Alabama tries his best to be a role model for his two children. In the quiet town of Maycomb Atticus is given the job to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Atticus wants to teach his kids Jem and Scout life lessons at an early age so they grow up as respectable people.
Atticus took the case because he thinks that Tom deserves a fair trial, he wants to confront the prejudice of Maycomb, and because of his morals. Atticus wants to give Tom the fairest trial he can have. “There’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man” (Chapter 9, Page 100). What this implies is that Atticus is aware of the prejudice that is bombarding Tom, even before he enters the courtroom. Knowing that the trial’s outcome is nearly inevitable, Atticus takes the position to give Tom a chance and to ensure that he has the greatest chance of an innocent verdict.
If you were faced with an impossible feat would you give up or keep trying? The story of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is told through a young girl named Jean Louise Finch although she is more commonly known just as Scout. The book discusses heavy, real world problems such as racism and abuse through the eyes of a young girl. Atticus shows ambition throughout the book when he stands up for Tom Robinson and battles his case out to the very end. The first time we see the ambition of Atticus is on page 195.
Atticus is faced with many threats along the way and is shunned in the community for defending a man of such a heinous crime. During the trial Atticus makes many strong arguments and it is plainly
Atticus 's strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom with vigor and determination, giving it all he 's got with one mission in mind. He wants the people of Maycomb town, whether they believe it or