Quinton Dodge
May 22, 2013
Block B
To Kill a Mockingbird Essay
In life people go through many obstacles that can have an effect on them. In To Kill a Mockingbird, just about every character goes through an obstacle that changes them in at least one way, shape, or form.The character that goes through the most obstacles in the book is Tom Robinson.
One of the many obstacles is racism. He lives in a small town with lots of racist people! Because of this, he is accused of doing things that he doesn't do. One example from the book that shows racism is on page 49 when Scout says "Calpurnia says that's nigger-talk"
Another obstacle that Tom Robinson goes through in the story is the court case. During the court case he is accused many times for raping Mayella and giving her a black eye. The evidence however was on his side because Mayella's black eye is on her right side and Tom's left arm is crippled so therefore he couldn't have done this to her. Mayella's dad is left handed so he could've easily done this to her. The jury still convicts Tom guilty or raping her because he is black and a white jury isn't going to convict a white man of raping a white girl. One quote from the case on page 241 is "Who is ‘he'?" Mayella pointed to Tom Robinson. "I'll have to ask you to be more specific, please," said Mr. Gilmer. "The reporter can't put down gestures very well" "That'n yonder," she said. "Robinson"
A third and final obstacle that Tom goes through during the story is being crippled. His left arm causes him many difficulties because it is 12" shorter that his right. He isn't able to do the things a normal person would be able to do because of it. In order to move it, he has to pick it up with his right arm.
Those are three of the biggest obstacles in the story that Tom Robinson goes through. Because of these obstacles, Tom has changed as a person and learned to deal with them.
