The final line of chapter twenty-one defines respect at the
time when Atticus just lost his case. As the jury was reading out the guilty
verdict, Reverend Sykes, leader of the African American community, tells Scout
to stand up because her father is passing by. In fact all of the African
Americans in the courtroom were standing to show Atticus respect, despite his
loss in the case to defend Tom Robinson. Most people in Maycomb gain respect
from doing things like hunting or playing football. Earlier, Scout noticed that
her father, Atticus, doesn’t seem to do what other fathers do, saying, “Atticus did not drive a dump-truck for the
county, he was not the sheriff, he did not farm, work in a garage, or do
anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone” (Lee 118). In
fact Atticus gained respect by trying his hardest even when he knew he would
fail. This reminds the reader about Mrs. Dubose, who also tried her hardest
until the end. Atticus gains respect from the African American community and
Scout by what he did, namely giving dignity and honor for all.
This line is also important because it gives us a better look at Atticus's character. Before the trial,Scout was rather ashamed of Atticus and thought he was nothing special. She couldn't have been more wrong. Atticus is one of the most courageous people in Maycomb County, even more so than Ms. Dubose. Ms. Dubose was only fighting against herself, while Atticus was fighting against the entire racist white population of Maycomb. Atticus explains to Scout early in the book that "simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to not to try to win, (Lee 101). Atticus then not only talks the talk, but walks the walk. He goes through with defending Tom Robinson, much to the disgrace of the white community. Atticus stays true to his own morals, and even though he did not win the case, he earned the respect of the entire black community of Maycomb.
ReplyDeleteThe African American community stood up for Atticus to show that they thanked and respected him for opposing the racist community in Maycomb. Even though Atticus says that the jury, “would go along . . . on the assumption – the evil assumption . . . that all Negroes are basically immoral beings” (Lee 273), he still tried his hardest to acquit Tom Robinson. This was the hardest case Atticus has ever done, and it was one that cost him many friendly connections in the town. By standing up, at the end, the African American community was trying to say that it was worth the struggles, even if he lost. He was still able to bring out the injustice in the court and jury system in the south.
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