Chapters 22 - 25 TKAM

In chapters 22 through 25 of  “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, many crucial events happen that illustrate the book main theme and social importance. In these chapters the mood is set as the characters are emotionally distraught by the fact that Tom Robinson was found guilty.  Atticus had represented him to the best of his ability, which was indeed superior as indicated throughout the trial.  Regardless of Atticus’ hard work Tom was still found guilty because he was black.  The outcome did not surprise me because it was the norm to discriminate against black people during this time period. But what shocked me was when Tom Robinson was shot.

When Atticus called everyone into the family room for an announcement, which was, “He was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started to climb over, right in front of them”(235). This statement tells us that Tom Robinson is dead and that he was going mentally insane from his confinement.  His attempt to run confuses me because if someone were trying to escape wouldn’t they try to run away and not towards the people who would prevent them from escaping? It also confuses me that he didn’t devise a plan to escape rather than randomly attempting to escape with many witnesses.  I understand that Lee may have been portraying Tom as mad with rage at how he was treated by society and his death represented what would happen if anyone speaks out against racism.   I was also curious why the guards didn’t prevent him from running and warn him not to rather than just shooting at him and killing him. The guards represent society and shows how non-empathetic and callous the world can be.  The death of Tom is very sad and Harper Lee shows us how revolting racism really is.  The use of the trial was a great way for the novel to show both sides of the race issue, but the end result, Tom’s death, illustrates how unethical social morals can ruin a society.  The town is torn between Tom’s innocence or guilt and people are arguing including Ms. Maudi and Ms Merriweather and the town paper backs Atticus’s defense and slams racism. Racism causes a lot of problems and death and unhappiness.