Chapters 24/25: What is the content of the editorial published in the paper? Why is this confusing to Scout? What is the significance of this?

    In The Maycomb Tribune, Mr.Underwood writes an editorial about how Tom Robinson's death was pointless. "He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children."(Lee 323). This is the part of the editorial that Scout doesn't understand right away. She does not understand how Tom's death is pointless. He was given a trial, he was convicted, he tried to escape, so he was killed. Simple as that. But, it wasn't. Scout realizes that, "Tom was a dead man the moment Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed." (Lee 323) Because of his race, Tom never stood a chance in trial because of all the racism in the jury. He could not win, simply because he was black and the Ewells were not. His death was senseless because there was no point in it or Atticus trying his hardest, although it does show Atticus as one of the good people in Maycomb. He has no chance or choice, just like the songbirds.

Why does Mr. Underwood consider the killing of cripples a sin? How do you think Tom felt about the loss? Would he have been expecting it, or was Atticus a good enough lawyer to change his thoughts?

Chapters 8/9: Discuss Atticus' explanation of the case to Scout. What does Atticus mean by "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win?"

    When Atticus and Scout are talking about Atticus defending a Negro (Tom Robinson) at a trial, Atticus says that, "Just because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win" (Lee 101) to explain that just because something was basically decided already, doesn't mean that you shouldn't try and win it still. They were talking about this because Tom Robinson is a Negro accused of a crime, so the jury is going to be prejudiced and call him guilty just for the color of his skin. Even so, Atticus wants to try, for that small, small chance that they will win. The town of Maycomb thinks that Atticus should not try very hard to defend Tom, but he is still going to attempt to win, hence the insults thrown by Cecil Jacobs (Lee 102) and Francis(Lee 110 and 112). It shows that Atticus is a one of a few people that have no problem with others based on race. The rest of Maycomb is not so nonchalant about it though. But why do Aunt Alexandra and Francis, think differently? What is it that makes African-Americans so bad, that they shouldn't even be defended correctly?  And what did Tom Robinson do?