Harper Lee presents the trial and the controversial themes of the Tom Robinson case in a manner which builds suspense, ensuring the reader is constantly engaged. As a result, I found myself having multiple questions regarding the multitude of new characters which we are introduced to throughout Chapter 16 & 17.
Miss Maudie refuses to attend the public trial, and explains her reasoning by announcing that 'it's like a Roman Carnival'. She believes it is 'morbid, watching a poor devil on trial for his life' and expresses her distaste towards the almost festive atmosphere. From the reaction of the audience during the trial, I understand her arguments, as it appears as if they treat the court case like it's meant to be a dramatic performance. At first, the crowd are gravely disappointed with the lack of action and seem to expect an array of shocks and thrills. As a result of Miss Maudie's attitude, it is likely that she supports Tom Robinson in the case and respects Atticus for doing his job. She is one of the only residents of the village who appreciates the man's choice of defending Tom, therefore suggesting that she does not possess prejudiced views.
Despite previous suggestions that Jem had matured, the reader is yet again exposed to his naive and immature mind. During the trial, Jem passionately believes that Atticus will succeed, regardless of the prosecution's evidence. He is simply unwilling to accept the fact that Atticus may lose the case and believes that his Father has 'got him' (Bob Ewell) when he discovers Bob's hand preference. However, we are aware that the child is merely being optimistic and in the long run Atticus' efforts will most likely be futile; the outcome has already been decided.
The presence of racism in the Maycomb society is yet again highlighted by the seating arrangements in the courthouse. Whilst the whites are permitted access to the main level, the blacks are forced to remain on the 'coloured balcony' and are expected to give up their seats should any white people wish to sit down. When Reverend Sykes, Jem, Dill and Scout enter the balcony area, 'four Negroes [rise] and [give them] their front-row seats'. The children are willing to be amongst the blacks, as they do not maintain the racist views that the majority of the crowd freely express - (perhaps due to their age). I find it ironic that in a location where parties strive to achieve justice, racial discrimination is still widely evident.
Robert E. Lee Ewell is described as a 'little bantam cock of a man' with a 'shock of wispy new-washed hair', 'a thin, pointed and shiny nose' and 'no chin to speak of'. Much like his inconsiderate son, Bob is a rude, ignorant and short-tempered waste of space, living in poverty in a ramshackle hut behind the Maycomb rubbish dump. He has insufficient funds to pay for a doctor for Mayella, which is most likely a result of his excessive alcohol consumption. Despite being the father of many children (possibly as much as nine), he pays little regard for their well-being and continues to spend his life drinking and conveying his pure hatred for black people. Being obviously unacquainted with expected court procedures, he responds to prosecutor Mr Gilmer's questioning using blatantly racist language and an arrogant and sarcastic tone, causing an uproar amongst the audience. Since he is portrayed in such a manner, the reader has very little sympathy for the man and starts to consider the possibility that Tom Robinson may not be the person responsible for the crime.
I hope you enjoyed reading the above post. If you would like to test your knowledge of the novel, follow this link to a series of quizzes - (Just click the drop-down menu to select the next quiz). I found these quizzes to be particularly useful, as some of the questions focus on the themes and Harper Lee's intentions:
http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/quiz1/
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