The evidence clearly stated that he was innocent. Atticus, Scout’s father, proved this when he pointed out that Mayella, the rape victim, right eye was blacken; therefore, a left-handed man hit Mayella. When Tom was a child, his left hand got caught in a cotton gin, and he was too poor to it mended properly. When Tom was being sworn in, his hand kept sliding off the bible. Atticus proved that Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, was left handed by having him sign his name on an envelope. Mr. Link Deas, Tom’s employer, stood up court and stated, “That boy’s worked for me eight years an’ I ain’t had a speck o’trouble outa him. Not a speck.”(Lee, 1960, pg.222). Another example of justice and fairness was when Boo Radley protected Scout and Jem from Mr. Ewell. The Sheriff, Mr. Tate, stated that Jem did not kill Mr. Ewell and neither did Boo Radley. When Atticus tried to argue with him, he stated, “God damn it, I’m not thinking of Jem!” (Lee, 1960, pg. 315). In court, Boo would have been found guilty because of his past and being an outcast. Mr. Tate said that Mr. Ewell fell on the knife and that neither Jem nor Boo killed Mr. Ewell, and if Atticus tried to fight it he would call him a …show more content…
A mockingbird mimics other birds. Tom symbolizes a mocking bird through the trial. After the trial, Jem was talking to Atticus about the unfairness of Tom’s verdict. Jem asked his father why Tom was found guilty, and Atticus replied discussed the injustice toward blacks. While Tom was in prison, he was shot trying to escape. A comment was made after Tom death, “Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have not plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw”(Lee, 1960, pg. 275). Boo also symbolized a mockingbird because he was the town scare. Everyone thought the Radleys were insane. At the end of the novel, Boo symbolized the mockingbird when the sheriff said that Mr. Ewell fell on the