1. LOOKS LIKE
1.1. useless left arm- 12inches shorter than his right and ends in a small shrivelled hand
1.1.1. "Tom Robinsons powerful shoulders rippled under his thin shirt... He looked oddly off balance. His left arm was fully 12 inches shorter than his right and hung dead at his side. It ended in a small shrivelled hand. As far away from the balcony, i could see it was no use to him." p 202
1.1.1.1. Toms arm has been disabled for many years. It shows some of the
1.2. Muscled from years of labour
1.2.1. Tom Robinson’s powerful shoulders rippled under his thin shirt. He rose to his feet and stood with his right hand on the back of his chair 199
1.2.1.1. Throughout the years of hard labour, Tom has gained himself some muscle
2. BELIEFS & VALUES
2.1. Hard-wordker
2.1.1. You're a mighty good fellow, it seems—did all this for not one penny?" p. 124
2.1.1.1. Tom works hard to do odd jobs for money because he has no real special talent in anything.
2.2. Respectful
2.2.1. "Mr. Finch, I tried. I tried to 'thout bein' ugly to her. I didn't wanta be ugly, I didn't wanta push her or nothin'. p. 76
2.2.1.1. Tom is a respectful gentleman who doesnt cause much trouble and is generally pleasant to be around.
2.3. Justice
2.3.1. "Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, p. 224
2.3.1.1. He fights for an equal chance of justice. he believes that Atticus can help him and that the jury will look at the facts rather than their pre-judgements
3. HOW OTHERS SEE HIM OR HER...
3.1. Most people in Maycomb view him guilty.
3.1.1. "Atticus had once told her that if the jury had convicted the defendant, they wouldn't look at him. No one in the jury looked at Tom Robinson." chapter 21
3.1.1.1. The people of Maycomb were used to having a black man to blame. Although all the evidence pointed to Tom being innocent, they saw him guilty.
3.2. Inferior
3.2.1. Atticus stepped back and looked up. "They've gone," he said. "Get some sleep, Tom. They won't bother you any more." p. 128
3.2.1.1. Tom Robinson is a black man so he is automatically viewed as inferior in the social hierachy
3.3. Atticus views him as an equal
3.3.1. "The main one is If i didn't, i couldn't hold my head up in town; i couldn't represent this country in the legislature, i couldnt even tell you or Jem not to do something again." told by Atticus pg 82
4. ACTS LIKE
4.1. A gentleman
4.1.1. “Why, yes suh, I’d tip m’hat when I’d go by, and one day she asked me to come inside the fence and bust up a chiffarobe for her.”
4.1.1.1. Tom has been recalled as tipping his hat and helping out Mayella when she needed company.
4.2. well-mannered
4.2.1. Mr. Link Deas rose from the audience and announced: “I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now. That boy’s worked for me eight years an‘ I ain’t had a speck o’trouble outa him. Not a speck.” p 104
4.2.1.1. He is a man who treats everyone with manners and does not cause lots of trouble.
5. MOTIVATED BY
5.1. Hope
5.1.1. "Mr. Finch, I tried. I tried to 'thout bein' ugly to her. I didn't wanta be ugly, I didn't wanta push her or nothin'. p. 76
5.1.1.1. Tom is hopeful enough to be able to get a fair trial in court so that he may be released of the accusations against him.
5.2. Family
5.2.1. “she just fell down in the dirt. Just fell down in the dirt, like a giant with a big foot just came along and stepped on her. Just ump—” Dill’s fat foot hit the ground. “Like you’d step on an ant.” Dill said Calpurnia and Atticus lifted Helen to her feet and half carried, half walked her “To Kill a Mockingbird to the cabin." p 128
5.2.1.1. He has a family that he treats well and provides for. When news of his death arrives, Helen is absolutely heartbroken
5.3. Frustration
5.3.1. "Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed." p. 224
5.3.1.1. Tom is so frustrated with the jury that failed to look at the evidence; His 'suicide' was proof of that.
6. TEXTUAL ISSUES OR CONCERNS LINKED TO THIS CHARACTER
6.1. Personifying the Mockingbird
6.1.1. "Shoot all the Blujays you want. But remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird"
6.1.1.1. Tom represents the mockingbird- He is being taken advantage of by a white person. It is a sin to take advantage of someone weaker than you
6.2. Justice
6.2.1. "They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it—seems that only children weep. Good night.”
6.2.1.1. Explain