To Kill a Mockingbird

Ch. 18-21

Dr. Good

Arleta High School

English 10B

Mayella Testifies Mayella begins to cry before she is

even questioned. She says she is afraid of Atticus.

When Atticus calls Mayella “Ma’am,” she accuses him of making fun of her.

The judge assures Mayella that Atticus respects her.

“Mayella looked as though she tried to keep clean, and I was reminded of the row of red geraniums in the Ewell yard.” (239)

Mayella’s TestimonyAdmissions:

She has no friendsShe is responsible for the childrenHer father has a drinking problemTom Robinson passed by her house every dayShe asked him to “bust up a chiffarobe” for her

Her Testimony Continues… Denials:

Her father never hits her She never invited Tom

Robinson inside the fence before that day

At first she says that Tom did not beat her or choke her, then she says he did

Tom Stands Up When Atticus has Tom stand so that

Mayella can identify him, everyone in the court can see that Tom’s left arm is useless – he is crippled.

“His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side. It ended in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony I could see that it was no use to him.” (248)

THINK/PAIR/SHARE: Why is this so important to the case?

Mayella’s Conclusion Mayella knows that Atticus does

not believe that she was raped. “I got somethin’ to say an’ then I

ain’t gonna say no more. That n-word yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards, stinkin’ cowards, the lot of you. Your fancy airs don’t come to nothin’ – your ma’aamin’ and Miss Mayellerin’ don’t come to nothin’, Mr. Finch” (251)

Tom Robinson Testifies Admissions:

He is 25, married, with three children He was once arrested for being in a fight He knows Mayella Ewell because he has

to pass by her house to get to work. She often asks him to do small chores for her around the place

He says that Mayella hugged him and tried to kiss him. As this was happening, Bob Ewell looked through the window and Mayella screamed.

According to Tom, Bob Ewell said “You g-dam$ed whore, I’ll kill ya.” (260)

Tom’s Testimony Continues… Denials:

Tom denies that he raped Mayella or that he harmed her in any way

Mr. Gilmer (the prosecuting attorney) tries to get Tom to admit that he harmed Mayella, but Tom always denies it

Even though he ran away, Tom says that he was scared – he was not running because he had done anything wrong

Tom Feels Sorry for Mayella “Yes, suh. I felt right sorry

for her, she seemed to try more than the rest of ‘em—”

“You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?” (264)

THINK/PAIR/SHARE: Why does Mr. Gilmer pause for a long time to let (Tom’s answer) sink in?

Dill Breaks Down “For some reason, Dill had started

crying and couldn’t stop; quietly at first, then his sobs were heard by several people in the balcony.” (265)

Mr. Dolphus Raymond says: “Things haven’t caught up with that one’s instinct yet. Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry…Cry about the simple hell people give other people – without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too.” (269)

Dolphus Raymond’s Secret Mr. Raymond is not really drunk…he

drinks Coca-Cola from a paper bag to make people think he is drunk.

This gives the people in town an excuse to condone his lifestyle (living with an African-American woman)

“…folks can say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whiskey – that’s why he won’ t change his ways. He can’t help himself, that’s why he lives the way he does.” (268)

Atticus Lays Out the Facts The state has not produced one bit of physical

evidence to show that a crime took place Relied on testimony from Mayella and Bob Ewell

– their testimony has been questioned Tom Robinson strongly states that he is innocent

– and he could NOT have hit or hurt Mayella with his left hand

Atticus says that the real crime is that Mayella broke the “code” – she kissed a black man

Tom’s crime is that he had the “temerity to feel sorry for a white woman” (273)

Closing Argument Atticus begs the jury to remember

that “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.” (274)

“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.” (275)

At the end, Atticus says under his breath, “In the name of God, believe him.” (275)

Calpurnia in the Court Calpurnia comes to court

to tell Atticus that the children are missing.

Mr. Underwood tells him that the children have been in the court all day.

Atticus allows the children to come back after they have dinner.

Jem says “You think they’ll acquit him that fast?” (277)

THINK/PAIR/SHARE Do you think that Tom Robinson will be

acquitted, or found guilty? Write 2-3 reasons for each side:

Innocent: Guilty:

The Verdict The jury stays out until after 11 PM. “A jury never looks at a defendant it has

convicted, and this jury never looked once at Tom Robinson. The foreman handed a piece of paper to Mr. Tate, who handed it to the clerk, who handed it to the judge…” (282)

Tom is found guilty. The trial is over.

Atticus Leaves the Court As Atticus leaves, Reverend Sykes tells

Scout, “Miss Jean Louise, stand up, your father’s passin’” (283)

THINK/PAIR/SHARE: Why would the African-Americans in the balcony

stand up to watch Atticus leave? What does this say about their feelings for him?