1. HOW OTHERS SEE HIM
1.1. The Reader
1.1.1. -
1.1.1.1. In the early stages of the novel, Tom Robinson is not mentioned hugely until the court case. This is because Scout does not have a large enough bond with him to be able to mention him or meet with him. This was deliberately done by Harper Lee because it hides him in the time that the rape could have occurred. Making him appear as possibly guilty to the reader. However, due to Scout's descriptions and the fact that he has dark skin (which at the time gave him no justice) , the reader pities him, making him seem innocent.
1.2. The white folk of Maycomb
1.2.1. "It's because of what folks say Tom's done ... Folks aren't anxious to - to have anything to do with any of his family" - quote from Calpurnia (134)
1.2.1.1. In this excerpt, Calpurnia is explaining to the inquisitive Scout that the 'folk' (also known as white folk) disliked the Robinson family, and didn't hesitate to mistreat them.
1.3. Scout
1.3.1. "Tom Robinson was probably one of the only men decent to her" Page 209
1.3.2. "I found myself believing him... He seemed to be a respectable Negro, and a respectable Negro would never go up to somebody's yard of his own volition" Page 209
1.3.3. "It occurred to me that Tom Robinson's manners were as good as Atticus'" Page 212
1.3.3.1. In these scenes, Scout is in the courtroom and she is observing Tom Robinson. Being someone who doesn't easily draw to conclusions, she didn't see him as innocent. But after studying his actions, she can draw to the conclusion that he is indeed innocent and really a good man.
1.4. Mayella Ewell
1.4.1. “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson ... Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” Page 241
1.4.1.1. In this scene, Scout [the narrator] was in the court house and observing Atticus' hard work to win the case for the innocent Tom Robinson. However, the moment Mayella entered the room and screamed, he had lost the case. This was due to the racial discrimination of African Americans happening at the time. In the novel, Tom Robinson was the representation of racial injustice in every state in southern USA. In the novel it is evident that Mayella hates Tom Robinson due to her actions in the quote.
2. BELIEFS AND VALUES
2.1. Quality
2.1.1. Quote or Evidence (Including page #)
2.1.1.1. Explain
2.2. Quality
2.2.1. Quote or Evidence (Including page #)
2.2.1.1. Explain
2.3. Quality
2.3.1. Quote or Evidence (Including page #)
2.3.1.1. Explain
3. LOOKS LIKE
3.1. African American
3.1.1. "Tom was a black-velvet Negro, not shiny, but soft black velvet. The whites of his eyes shone in his face, and when he spoke we saw flashes of his teeth". (Ch19, pg210)
3.1.1.1. Explain
3.2. left arm is crippled
3.2.1. "He guided his arm to the Bible and his rubber-like left hand sought contact with the black binding. As he raised his right hand, the useless one slipped off the Bible and hit the clerk's table." (Ch19, pg207)
3.2.1.1. He couldn't bit Mayella's right side of her face
3.3. Quality
3.3.1. Quote or Evidence (Including page #)
3.3.1.1. Explain
4. CHARACTER LINKS
4.1. Atticus
4.1.1. Both Atticus and Tom Robinson are motivated by equality and justice. Atticus was defending Tom with his trial to raise his children to not be racist.
4.2. Boo Radley
4.2.1. Both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are the mockingbirds in the story. Boo's brother and father keep him away from other people and he was abused. Tom is handicapped because of his skin colour even though it shouldn't matter, he get wrongly accused.
4.3. Jem
4.3.1. Jem has learnt through Tom's situation how unfair the world is to black people. As Jem grows older he finds it harder to understand why people are cruel to black people but Atticus helps him with the sadness over this.
5. .
5.1. Explain
6. ACTS LIKE
6.1. Respectful towards others
6.1.1. "Until my father explained it to me later...he would not have dared strike a white woman under any circumstances and expect to live long." (Ch19, pg212)
6.1.2. "Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her." (Ch19, pg209)
6.1.2.1. Explain
6.2. Polite
6.2.1. "It occurred to me that in their own way, Tom Robinson's manners were as good as Atticus's." (Ch19, pg212)
6.2.1.1. Explain
6.3. Quality
6.3.1. Quote or Evidence (Including Page #)
6.3.1.1. Explain
7. MOTIVATED BY
7.1. Justice
7.1.1. Quote or Evidence (Including Page #)
7.1.1.1. This doesn't really need a quote as it's found all throughout the book. Tom Robinson is motivated by justice as he believes everyone should have a fair chance at freedom.
7.2. Racial issues in the community
7.2.1. Quote or Evidence (Including Page #)
7.2.1.1. This doesn't really need a quote either as it's found all throughout the book.
7.3. Emotion
7.3.1. Quote or Evidence (Including Page #)
7.3.1.1. Explain
8. TEXTUAL ISSUES OR CONCERNS LINKED TO THIS CHARACTER
8.1. Racism
8.1.1. "Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white." (Ch20, pg223)
8.1.1.1. It shows how white people don't trust black people.
8.1.2. "There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life." (Ch23, pg240)
8.1.2.1. White people were more powerful then black people in that time.
8.2. False accusation
8.2.1. “He got me round the neck, cussin‘ me an’ sayin‘ dirt—I fought’n’hollered, but he had me round the neck. He hit me agin an‘ agin—” (Ch18, pg197)
8.2.1.1. White people can easily tell someone black people did sth bad to them even if the evidence is wrong.
8.3. Not well payed
8.3.1. “Were you paid for your services?” “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time. I was glad to do it." (Ch19, pg208)
8.3.1.1. They either get only a little pay or they don't get pay at all because of their race.
8.4. Concern
8.4.1. Quote or Evidence (Including Page #)
8.4.1.1. Explain