Thursday, April 10, 2014
Tom Robinson A Closer Look
Why do you think the audience in the courtroom was upset about Tom Robinson's comment about feeling sorry for Mayella?
Why isn't it okay for Tom Robinson to call Mayella a liar? What does this imply about the social position of blacks at that time and place?
How are the Ewell's and African Americans perceived similarly and differently by whites in the town of Maycomb?
Why was Dill so upset that he had to be removed from the courtroom and what is about his perception of the treatment of Tom Robinson during his testimony?
Does the fact that Tom Robinson ran from the Ewell's home indicate that he was guilty? Why or why not?
Answer any/all the questions that you are interested in exploring...
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I think that the audience was upset with Tom Robinson(a black man) for feeling sorry for a nineteen year old miss Mayella Ewell(a white woman)
ReplyDelete(This is a response to angelwilliams)because Tom is black and Mayella is white so the mostly white audience think that Tom has no right to feel sorry for Mayella
DeleteI agree because that doesn't make since why would he feel sorry for a white girl .
DeleteI agree with you because the audience doesn't understand why a black man feel sorry for a white women.
DeleteI think that you are right but you should get some evidence from the text to support your answer
DeleteI also agree but you should get some evidences and reasoning to help my your argument stronger.
DeleteGreat idea, Angel, but without evidence, it's not an evidence based claim!
DeleteHow are the Ewell's and African Americans perceived similarly and differently by whites in the town of Maycomb?
ReplyDeleteThe Ewell's and African Americans are similar because they both are looked down on by Whites. So much so that they but the blacks by the Dump and also put the Ewell's by the Dump even though they are white.
They are different because the Ewell's are white and not African American and also even though the Ewell's are looked down on by other whites and they are just as bad as the blacks the whites that don't live by the dump will still defend the Ewell's no matter how dirty they are. And another difference is that the Ewell's are dirty and the African American are not yet proclaimed to be dirty like the Ewell's. In the early chapters when the Ewell's were first introduced in Chapter 3 it was like
"I was just walking by when it crawled out of his hair.... Just crawled out of his hair----"
"There ain't no need to fear a cootie, ma'am. Ain't you ever seen one."
Then it said the cooties host showed the faintest interest in the furor he had wrought. He searched his scalp above his forehead, located his guest and pinched it between his thumb and forefinger.
His name was Burris Ewell.
(Thomesha Campbell)
So in terms of their social status and/or position, are they they same? Does one have more status than the other?
DeleteIn addition, I understand what you're saying about the Ewells being dirty. It seems to me, you could wash up though and quickly avoid that comparison. Would it be as easy for the blacks to gain the respect of society? Think through this response more deeply.
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ReplyDeleteDoes the fact that Tom Robinson ran from the Ewell's home indicate that he was guilty?
DeleteI agree with you Joshua
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DeleteI agree with you Joshua that just because Tom Robinson is running for the Ewell's house doesn't mean he guilty.
DeleteThe fact that Tom Robinson ran from the Ewell's home indicate that he was guilty because it made it seem like he had raped Mayella Ewell then ran home. My reason for this is in the text it states "he would not have dared strike a white woman under any circumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run-a sure sign of guilt.(pg.261)" But I also feel like Tom Robinson wasn't guilty because he didn't want to be in no trouble and he thought it was best for him to go home.
ReplyDeleteMy reason for this is, in the text it states "I say Miss Mayella lemme outa here an' tried to run but she got her back to the door an' i'da had to push her. I didn't wanta harm her, Mr.Finch, an' I say lemme pass...(pg.260)"
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DeleteI agree with you because you have basically the same thing I did and said
DeleteI agree with you but then I disagree because I have half of the same thing it does indicate that he is guilty but I say it doesn't .
DeleteI do not agree because there is a logical reason to why he ran he was scared
DeleteThe Ewell's and African Americans perceived differently whites in the town of Maycomb because the whites live by the stores and markets while the blacks and the Ewell's live by the dump. They are very much poor then the other whites in Maycomb.
DeleteI don't think there are any similarities between the blacks, the Ewell's, and the whites in my opinion except that the Ewell's and the whites are the same race.
Remember, an argument of judgment requires you to pick one side and one side only...you are representing both sides of the argument....can't have it both ways. Whites perceived he was guilt because he ran. As a black man, he felt he had no other choice to run. Your argument could've been, despite what he would've decided, it could have been perceived negatively. In other words, he really had no choices.
DeleteDoes the fact that Tom Robinson ran from the Ewell's home indicate that he was guilty? I would say he's not guilty for running away because he said he was scared he didn't know what was gonna happen because on page 260 it states "Why did you run Tom"said Atticus "Mr. Finch, I was runnin' so fast I didn't know what happened so to I think he was running away because he didn't want to get in any more trouble I probably would've did the same thing if I was in that same exact position and in my eyes I think Tom did the right thing to run away.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe audience in the courtroom was upset about Tom Robinson's comment about feeling sorry for Mayella because Tom Robinson was black and they wouldn't think he would be sorry because people in Maycomb think all blacks are trash. In the text it stated(On pg.264) "You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?" Generally speaking people in Maycomb are racist to blacks.
ReplyDeleteDill was so upset that he had to be removed from the courtroom because he didn't like the way Mr.Gilmer was treating Tom Robinson through the testimony.In the text it stated(On pg.265) "That old Mr.Gilmer doing him thataway, talking so hateful to him." Dill notice that Mr.Gilmer is talking to Tom Robinson like he's already guilty of raping Mayella. In the text it stated(On pg.266) "It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do em' that way."
When Tom Robinson Said he ran, to them it indicate that he was guilty because if she's a lady in real life ain't no men running from no lady because if a lady can talk like she's a men then they will treat her as if she was a men.
ReplyDeleteIn the text states " strong enough to choke the breath out of a women and sling her to the floor?"
"I never done that, suh."
"But you are strong enough to?"
"I reckon so, suh." (Pg 263)
From that it seem to them as if he rape her because if he was strong enough like he said he was he would have flip her, but he didn't because he did not want to harm her but there saying if he was not raping her and she was forcing him why didn't he hit her? To me I think he did the right thing because if he would have hit her they would have really thought he rape her and she was trying to fight back but he force her down and was hitting her that would have been the story but he didn't hit her and there is no evidence to support it but the bruises her father did to her on her back
A lot of people did this one so mostly everyone has the same thing and so do I and I agree with you.
Delete
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Why do you think the audience in the courtroom was upset about Tom Robinson's comment about feeling sorry for Mayella? The reason the audience in the courtroom was so upset with Tom Robinson saying he felt sorry for Mayella is because back then whites were a more higher class and blacks was a more lower class so if Tom Robinson would have said that even though the Ewells are white but, still a lower class it would have been arrogant to the white people and that might have been a weapon for the white people to use during Tom testimony.
ReplyDeleteIt's not ok for Tom Robinson to call Mayella a liar because, will I think it got something to do with Tom Robinson black and Mayella white so they looking at it as color wise which is very harsh and racist to me. In chapter 19 page 264 it states "She says she asked you to bust up a chiffarobe, is that right?"
"No suh, it ain't."
"Then you say she's lying, boy?"
"Atticus was on his feet, but Tom Robinson didn't need him. "I don't say she's lyin', Mr. Gilmer, I say she's mistaken in her mind."
They will take it as the Negros will be very rude and disrespectful to say you a liar because they are Negros but it doesn't matter when if a white person say anything like that. I think that is very racial because blacks couldn't do anything back then basically they couldn't live they life the way they wanted to. But as we act this chapter out Tom Robinson was very clever with the answers that he gave doing his testimony he was very general with it and basically had no problems answering the questions I think he was telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Running away from a scene doesn't always indicate that you are guilty because you could be running away from this scene for variety of reasons. By Tom running away from the Ewell house it doesn't indicate that he is guilty. In the text It says "then you ran?" Tom responds by saying " I sho' did, suh". From this you may think that already he is guilty but then it goes on to say " why did you run " Tom responds by saying " I was scared, suh "(261). I could see why Tom was scared because he already new that he would be in the situation that he is in now because of what Bob Ewell had witnessed. Generally speaking if a person is afraid of getting into any more danger than the danger that the are already in they would flee from the scene. This is what Tom did, he left so that things wouldn't get more hectic than they already was.
ReplyDeleteGreat use of a warrant. Strong argument.
DeleteDoes the fact that Tom Robinson ran from the Ewell's home indicate that he was guilty? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe Fact that Tom Robinson ran from the Ewell's home does mean that he guilty.I say that don't mean he are guilty because he had all the reason to ran anything could had happen to him. He are a nigga they could have kill him or he would have been accuser for raping just as he is now. On (Pg 261) he told Mr.Finch if you was a nigger like me, you be scared too. I understand why he was ran because he could have got hurt or anything worst than just raping Mayella. Like everyone would have been scared and ran if they was a nigger in MayComb, if they know something could have happen to them
I agree with you Ralphelle because I said the same thing it could mean that he is guilty but say no too that it don't mean he is guilty.
DeleteRalphelle...be careful in proofreading your response. You have strong ideas, but I found it a bit hard to follow.
DeleteThe reason Tom Robinson really ran from The Ewells house or away from her was not that he was guilty or scared he was really trying to save his self from getting cought with her because if he did he would most likely go to jail. Also if he didn't run and the catch him he would be in a white girls house and he's black and everyone knows how that goes. In the text it states that he ran because he's scared of what would've happened to him but at the same time I know other people that was in this position would've ran away to and that's what Tom Robinson did. Plus why would you wont to stay with her with all the trouble she's trying to put you through?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because in the 1930s,down in the south, a black man could be in the wrong place at the wrong time and get blamed for anything.
Delete(Question): Why isn't it okay for Tom Robinson to call Mayella a liar?
ReplyDeleteI say that it's not ok for Tom Robison to lie on ms mayella because he is a black nigger doing ms mayella chores for her, so in they town there is more things to do around there for white people and I think he didn't lie on ms mayella because she said he raped her and he said that she jump on him in a hug type of way but he is a grown man and he could of push her of him if he didn't want to have her on top of him.
ReplyDeleteTom Robinson running from the Ewell's home doesn't indicate that he was guilty. In the text it stated(On pg.261) "Mr.Finch, if you was nigger like me, you'd be scared, too." Tom Robinson knows that people in Maycomb are racist to blacks so he ran from Ewell's home because he didn't want to go to jail even though he know he didn't do it. Generally speaking if blacks was in a place with segregation they would be scared to do anything because how they would be treated differently.
I agree with you because I used the same claim and reasoning and I had to take conservation of the time period during segregation
DeleteDoes the fact that Tom Robinson ran from the Ewell's home indicate that he was guilty?
ReplyDeleteIt depends on your own judge about the word guilty and scared because some would say yes because he ran he is guilty but some would say no it doesn't and apart of the some that say no.
I say it just proves what he said. He said he was scared and I believe him. In Chapter 19 it said
"Then you ran"
"I sho did, suh"
"Why did you run"
"I was scared, suh"
"Why were you scared?"
"Mr.Finch if you was nigger like me, you'd be scared, too.
But the people like Mr. Glimer would beg a differ.
People like him would beg a differ because Tom's a black person so they automatically thought that he was lying when he said he only ran because he was scared.
(Thomesha Campbell)
Umm I think he had all his right to ran cause anything could have happen to him. If he would have stayed he could have got hurt or anything like the problem he in now could have happen like it did
DeleteI think he ran because he was black and mr ewells was talking and on his way up while say imam kill you so he ran why he was scared
DeleteI agree with you Thomesha because everyone have different opinions.
DeleteThe fact that Tom Robinson ran from Mayella doesn't mean he should have any signs of guilt towards him. Tom Robinson reason of running away from Mayella isn't because he was scared he was going to get caught or go to jail, but he wanted to save himself from being in the predicament he's going through now, in court. In the text it says"why did you run, I was scared, why we're you scared, Mr Finch if you were a nigger like me, you be scared too (pg.261)". Tom Robingson is trying to get the jury as well as the public to understand, the time and setting that this situation occur, and that if this was you in the same predicament what would you have done? Generally speaking in a time doing segregation you wouldn't have stayed in a women house if your an black male. If you put two and two together it's easy for an white female to blame something on an black male of something he didn't do and get away with it. In this case Tom Robinson reason for running away is because of fear, Society norms, and the situation itself.
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DeleteI agree with you Joshua, because Tom didn't want to go to jail because he knew he didn't do anything.
DeleteJoshua I agree with you that does mean that he guilty, he could have been ran because he did not want them to accuser him for anything or anything could have happen to him. He is a nigger and if he would have got caught they could have did anything to him.
DeleteThe Ewell's and African Americans are similar in some ways because they're both poor and uneducated. They're different because they see the world and perceive things differently. I don't think African Americans back then would blame an innocent person for something they wouldn't do. The Ewell's(whites) overlook blacks while on the other hand blacks see whites as bullies.
ReplyDeleteIn the text it states " you felt sorry for her you felt sorry for her " I think that just because he black they don't expect for him to feel sorry for her .
ReplyDeleteWhy was Dill so upset that he had to be removed from the courtroom and what is about his perception of the treatment of Tom Robinson during his testimony?
ReplyDeleteI think Dill was so upset and he had to removed from the courtroom because he knew that Mr. Gilmer was trying to bring Tom Robinson down and he knew that Mr.Gilmer is white and Tom is black. Dill is very smart and clever to me because I see how he felt and that tell me that Dill is not racist. Dill perception of the treatment of Tom Robinson during his testimony is he feel that Mr.Gilmer is very rude and harsh to Tom because of his Skin color. Page 265 " That old Mr.Gilmer do in' him thataway, talking so hateful to him." So he think he hate Tom and he treat him that way because of his skin color.
I didn't do this post but I do agree with you because I think dill was upset about how Mr. Glimer was treating Tom and he thought it was unfair of him
DeleteGood ideas, Lashie!
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteQuestion: How are the Ewell's and African Americans perceived similarly and differently by whites in the town of Maycomb? The Ewells were similar and different to blacks during that time because the Ewells were basically living in poverty and during around that time a handful of blacks were poor that's how there are similar. They are different because they are another race which changes the opinion of them.
Jacquis, I disagree that a handful of Blacks were poor. Blacks were denied access to opportunities (i.e. education, jobs, etc) which forced them into poverty. This affected most Blacks. To think otherwise doesn't really communicate the realities of racism in America.
DeleteThe fact that Tom Robinson ran from Mayella doesn't mean he should have any signs of guilt towards him. Tom Robinson reason of running away from Mayella isn't because he was scared he was going to get caught or go to jail, but he wanted to save himself from being in the predicament he's going through now, in court. In the text it says"why did you run, I was scared, why we're you scared, Mr Finch if you were a nigger like me, you be scared too (pg.261)". Tom Robingson is trying to get the jury as well as the public to understand, the time and setting that this situation occur, and that if this was you in the same predicament what would you have done? Generally speaking in a time doing segregation you wouldn't have stayed in a women house if your an black male. If you put two and two together it's easy for an white female to blame something on an black male of something he didn't do and get away with it. In this case Tom Robinson reason for running away is because of fear, Society norms, and the situation itself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because it did have a lot to do with segregation the different treatment between whites and blacks
DeleteNicely done, Joshua. You viewed Tom's running away from multiple dimensions: fear, societal norms, and the nature of the situation itself. Be mindful of proofreading before posting.
Delete
ReplyDeleteOn page 264 In the text it states "Yes Suh. I felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of em" "You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?" Mr.Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling. The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom robinson's answer. Mr.Gilmer paused a long time to let it sink in. The jury was appealed by this statement. The question is why?
The jury was so appealed by this statement because this coming from a black man shocked them. The jury as well as most whites up in that court room thought that blacks should be ashamed of them selves and because Tom even allowed that to come out his mouth made the white feel less powerful then they were. They took that as offense because the whites feel they should be sorry for them. The whites feel that because their skin color they are more important then others. No blacks should feel sorry for them because blacks should feel sorry for them selfs. This was the mindset they had back then. Race played the biggest part in the Case because Tom still was portrayed as the villain because he was black. They didn't think he was sorry because she actual had no help. They thought he was sorry for something he did to her. That begging raping and beating her. He dident mean to put himself in that predicament but because of his words the jury and the white man was able to twist the words in a negative way.
Good ideas expressed here...I want to see textual evidence and some more clarity in the construction of your argument. Fundamentally, the ideas you express are rich and are getting at the social positioning of both whites and blacks in the deep south during the 1930's. Good thinking!
DeleteQuestion- Does the fact that Tom Robinson ran from the Ewell's home indicate that he was guilty
ReplyDeleteI dont think the fact that Tom Robinson ran means he's gulity, Tom ran because he was scared that if he got caught that their would be consequences. In the text (pg.261) it says
"Then you ran?"
"I sho did, shu"
"I was scared, suh"
"Why weee you scared?"
"Mr.Finch if you was a nigger like me, you'd be scared to"
So Tom ran not because he was guilty but because he was scared of going to jail or the consequences if he got caught. Tom Robison knew if he got caught it would be a great chance that he would of got locked up because it easy for a white person to blame a crime on an African American and succeed.
Good CER chain, Brittani....Happy to see you finally got connected to the blog. I look forward to more of your responses and insights.
DeleteThe fact Tom ran away from the Ewell's home really doesn't indicate that he is guilty. Tom ran away from them because he thought that if he would've ran, , especially when you're black because blacks had a reason for running away. Most whites did not have sympathy for them. In the text, it states that, "'Then you ran?' 'I sho' did, suh.' 'Why did you run?' 'I was scared, suh.' 'Why we're you scared?' 'Mr.Finch, if you was a nigger like me, you'd be scared, too.'" From this it tells me that he scared that he was scared of going to court which is where he is now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Jordan..
DeleteSo Tom ran because he was scared, and he feared a trial....I wonder if you can create a warrant that may explain why some people would run if they got scared. That would strengthen the argument. Also, be mindful of sentence construction.
DeleteI think the audience is upset with tom because he feel sorry for mayella but she is accusing him for rape and they are prolly wondering why dose he feel sorry for some one that doesn't even give two cares about him because if she did she wouldn't try to lie on him just to protect her father who is really the one beating and raping on her but I wonder why is she covering for her father when he is hurting her and makeing her feel like she not none thing
ReplyDeleteYou have really strong ideas. Please be mindful of citing textual evidence and the grammatical construction of your response. Grammar is something you have to attend to, if you want your response to be compelling as possible.
DeleteI Agree With You Alexus...
Delete