The Trial of Tom Robinson

The Trial of Tom Robinson: Will He Be Declared Guilty?

      The current trial with news that is sweeping the town is the trial of Tom Robinson, a young twenty-five year old black man who has been accused of rape by 19 year old Mayella Ewell, a young white woman and the eldest daughter of Bob Ewell. Word around town is that Tom Robinson, who is married with three children, stopped to help Ms. Mayella Ewell, who offered him a nickel to bust up a chiffarobe for her. She allegedly went inside the house to get him the nickel, and then turned around and he 'was on her'. Ms. Ewell alleges that he got her around the neck and was cussing while she fought and hollered, while also alleging that he hit her again and again. On the other hand, Tom Robinson has a conflicting side of the story. He testifies that he always passed the Ewell house on the way to work, and Mayella had often asked him to do chores for her. He alleges that on the evening in question, she had asked him to come inside and fix the door, and when he got inside, there was nothing wrong with it. He then asked where the other children were, and Mayella said she had saved up some money and sent the kids to get ice cream. She asked him to lift a box down from a dresser. When Tom climbed on a chair, she grabbed his legs, making him jump down. She then hugged him around the waist and asked him to kiss her. Her father appeared at the window as she struggled, calling her a whore and threatening to kill her, leading Tom to flee. Tom Robinson's white employer, Link Deas, declared that in his eight years of work, he has never had any trouble from Tom.

    One of the main questions that has been asked frequently is why did Tom Robinson, a married father of three children, stop to help Ms. Ewell, whose siblings could have easily helped her? According to Tom Robinson, he felt sorry for the young Ms. Ewell, which is why he decided to help her, This statement brings up yet another question: why would a black man feel sorry for a white woman? If anything, Ms. Ewell should feel sorry for Tom, and not vice versa. At the trial, there weren't many colored people, with Reverend Sykes being one of the only ones. The defense lawyer of Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, is now considered a nigger-lover by most. Mr. Finch's children, Jean Louise and Jeremy Finch, were spotted sitting with the colored folks at the trial, as was their colored caretaker, Calpurnia.

   Mr. Ewell has completely denied Tom Robinson's allegations, claiming that Tom had raped Mayella and he was trying to save his daughter from him. Mayella has made her testimony, which is very powerful and extremely truthful, and the jury has made their decision-Tom Robinson has been declared guilty in the trial for the rape of 19 year old Mayella Ewell.