Tom Robinson Trial Essay Sample

Tom Robinson’s trial was one of sin and inequity; shall the consciences of the judge and jury forever be weighed down by their lack of mercy. Similar things have happened for as long as prejudice has existed in the human race: a ‘fair court’ has been compromised by those who refuse to look at the evidence presented before them. To Kill a Mockingbird, “The Hill we Climb”, and “How Poverty Can Follow Children into Adulthood”, all show evidence that those tasked with sentencing were undoubtedly swayed by the color of Tom’s skin. Tom Robinson’s history, his societal standing, and his familial relationships all prove that there is reasonable doubt of his guilt, indicating that his trial was one of bias and injustice.

Aside from physical evidence, the logic in his conviction is also absent; Tom was a respected man in his community who had never indicated he was capable of committing such a heinous crime. In To Kill a Mockingbird, after Scout inquires into the nature of her father's case, the reader and Scout Finch both get their first glance into who Tom is when Atticus answers: “‘He lives in that little settlement beyond the town dump. He’s a member of Calpurnia’s church, and Cal knows his family well. She says they’re clean-living folks.’” (Collins 77) As someone who is regarded by others as a humble, Christian man, it is improbable that he could have committed such a crime while in good conscience. No one in the black community would have suspected him of this, given his reputation as a good man. This information was unknown to the judge and jury; they were a part of a different community and thus, failed to look past his race for possible motivation. Without motivation or a criminal record, it would make absolutely no sense for Tom Robinson to ruin the lives of himself and everyone around him. Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” reminded America not only of its unity but also of the struggles faced by its people: “We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.” (Gorman, “The Hill we Climb”) Even though her words highlight the progress made, they also bring up the struggles of being black in America. Tom Robinson knew this all too well; his race cost him his life. This is a painful reminder that minority groups often have to work twice as hard, just as their ancestors did. Her speech emphasizes the real meaning behind the final decision: Generational teachings of fear and hatred. Due to his longstanding reputation as an admirable man, there is no logical reason that Tom Robinson was found guilty, and any opposing argument fails to see past the distorting lens of racial prejudice. 

Moreover, Tom was a beloved member of the Maycomb community and had a family to provide for; knowing the outcome, it is unlikely that he would have cast them aside for Mayella. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the church takes up a collection to help the Robinsons because “‘Helen can’t leave those children to work while Tom’s in jail.’” (Collins 123) Tom’s children and wife were the ones who suffered the most from his conviction: Helen was unable to work, causing the family to rely on their community for basic and monetary needs. Tom was a good man, and an important part of his life was his family; disregarding them for a young white girl he knew could ruin his relationship wouldn’t have aligned with his character. None of the charges make sense for the profile of a family man such as himself. The court failed to consider what Tom would be leaving behind because his family wasn’t considered of value to the white community. “How Poverty Can Follow Children Into Adulthood” provides resources for how early childhood impacts later life and informs the reader that “whether it’s because they didn’t have access to good schools, or their parents didn’t have the time or resources to help them, children who grow up in poverty often start at a disadvantage that can make it harder to achieve later in life.” (Boghani, “How Poverty Can Follow Children into Adulthood”) This is particularly pertinent to the Robinson children because they lost a caregiver and therefore were set up to have a harder time in life; something that Tom would not have wanted. While Tom cared for his family, the jury did not. They completely disregarded their civil duty to protect other citizens so they could act on behalf of intolerance. A man without any motive and everything to lose would never risk his family for an act such as this, concluding that Tom Robinson did not fit the crime and was innocent. 

In addition to the other evidence, the most important thing to note is that the crime simply lacks motivation and therefore cannot be traced back to Tom Robinson without physical proof. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem ask their father about Burris Ewell, the new kid in class, to which he answers that “-the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. None of them had done an honest day’s work in his recollection.” (Collins 30) The Ewells were obviously not very wealthy, nor were they educated. While not necessarily wealthy himself, a man such as Tom would have had no reason to go after someone of such a low socioeconomic status when he would be the first accused. If either party had something to gain from the trial, it would have been the Ewells, as Atticus brought up in court. The difference in treatment between Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson only further proves the injustice that took place in the courtroom. Later in the book, when stating the reason for church collection, Reverend Sykes tells the parish that Tom had been “a faithful member of First Purchase since he was a boy.” (Collins 122) Once again stressing Tom’s reputation, it is obvious that the Robinsons and the Ewells were very different families. Aside from this, there is no evidence of any quarrel between the two groups that could have led to this conclusion. The Ewells could have simply seen Mr. Robinson as someone who was an easy target to remove themselves from their own reputation. The Jury played right into this and took the word of a drunken white man against that of a hardworking black man. The nature of the crime requires generally requires familiarity and motive, something which Tom Robinson lacked and the Ewells took advantage of. 

In the end, without physical or logical evidence of Tom Robinson's involvement in the case, it is evident that he was wrongfully convicted by a biased court. This is evident because he showed no motivation, no history of violence or crime, and had a family who relied on him. Mr. Robinson was a compassionate man who wouldn’t have pleaded innocent if it was not the truth. Convicting this man of rape will do nothing to help Mayella or the community around her and will only bring pain and sorrow to the community of Maycomb.