Racism hits home for numerous members of Harper Lee’s audience, creating feelings of anger, compassion, empathy, sympathy, frustration, etc.. The trial of Tom Robinson is the source of the majority, if not all, of these feelings. When a young, innocent Negro man is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Atticus Finch is called to serve as his defender during his trial. “‘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.’” (Lee 274-275). Atticus and everybody else in the courtroom know that Tom Robinson is not only innocent, but a good and honest man; although, the men that make up the jury are so severely racist that they cannot get past their belief that all Negroes are up to no good. Jem is an awesome character during these times because he reflects many feelings of readers. Watching Tom get charged with guilt literally brings Jem to tears because he knows it isn’t right. Furthermore, Lee was extremely brave to include the racism elements that she did in her outstanding novel, considering the time period in which it was written. The civil rights movement was just beginning to gain momentum, and Harper Lee took a stand to demonstrate correct morals and how truly wrong racism …show more content…
When Scout and her family go to visit some people, she is stuck dealing with the horrible Francis. He beings to tease her and nag her about the supposed fact that Atticus is a “nigger-lover”. When Francis has pushed Scout too far, she slips and breaks her promise to Atticus that she would not get into any more fights over this subject, even if she is only defending her father and his dignity. Regardless, Scout takes the punishment, and Francis lies and gets off with clean hands. Times like these when justice cannot be present frustrates and angers Lee’s audience, young and old. However, justice is clearly demonstrated by Heck Tate, when he finds out that Bob Ewell has been killed by Boo Radley. “‘...There 's a black boy dead for no reason, and the man responsible for it 's dead. Let the dead bury the dead this time, Mr. Finch. Let the dead bury the dead.’” (Lee 369). Bob Ewell is a horrible man who lied during Tom Robinson’s case and caused him to be sentenced to death. After another one of his attempts to do something horrible - in this case, take out Atticus’s children - Boo Radley stabs him with a kitchen knife. Instead of hurting Boo, Heck Tate realizes that this problem has indeed solved itself, and justice has worked its