Question

In his closing arguments, Atticus argues that there is one institution in the U.S. where “all men are created equal” and where the poorest person is treated the same as the richest: the court of law. How does Tom’s trial support this point of view? How does Tom’s trial contradict this point of view? Is there evidence that Atticus doesn’t believe in the equality of the courts that he proclaims? How does Tom’s race force him to take extra measures to avoid guilt in the eyes of the jury? Support your analysis with evidence from the text, as well as your own inferences.

Answer 1

Atticus Finch's belief in the equality of the court system is depicted as both an ideal and a stark contrast to Tom Robinson's racially prejudiced trial in 'To Kill a Mockingbird', revealing the systemic inequalities in the legal process of the era.

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch's assertion that the court is the great equalizer is both supported and contradicted by Tom Robinson's trial. Atticus's belief in a just system where all men are created equal is challenged by the racist and biased treatment that Tom endures during his trial, highlighting the discrepancies within the judicial system of that era. These contradictions are evident in the selection of an all-White jury, the community's predetermined judgment, and the lack of impartiality displayed during the trial proceedings.

Tom's race directly impacts the trial, requiring him to navigate a complex system set against him due to deeply entrenched racial biases. He must take extra measures to appear non-threatening and overly respectful, which still proves insufficient in the prejudiced court. Although Atticus's rhetoric promotes equality, the reality of Tom's trial and the societal context reveal a system fraught with inequality, especially for a Black man in the segregated South. Instances from history, like the Scottsboro case, and the commentary on the rights of the accused, underscore these themes.

While the ideal of the court upholding equality for all is noble, the evidence presented within and outside the text indicates that systemic racism and inequality pervaded the courts, often leading to unjust outcomes for minority defendants like Tom Robinson.

Answer 2

“But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal—there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the ignorant man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court.