I think Tom Robinson is saying what he thinks in a ironic way because at this time in Maycomb he cannot say it in any other way. Irony is saying something that is implying the opposite, of what was said. Tom Robinson is telling his version of what happened on November twenty-first which is very different from what Myella said. It was ironic when Tom Robinson said “I don’t say she’s lyin’, Mr. Glimmer, I say she is mistaken in her mind. ” (Lee 264) . This was ironic because Tom is saying that Mayella Ewell had it mixed up in her mind, that she was saying what she believed was true. This implies that she was not saying the truth. This is significant because Tom cannot say straight out that she is lying. Harper Lee included this moment in the trial to show the prejudice in Maycomb. At the time in Maycomb, it was not allowed for a black person to offend a white person. Black people had few rights and even the Ewells word was believed over theirs. Tom’s trial symbolizes the ideals of the community and their ideas about race. This court case is really about racism and overcoming it.
I completely agree with how Harper Lee is showing the prejudice that is happening in Maycomb. Tom Robinson is a very respectful man and understand that he is seen as a "someone under" or not equal to people that had white skin. Mr. Gilmer made that very obvious because when Tom said he felt bad for her because she didn't have any help around the house, Mr. Gilmer acted like he said something against her. " "You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?" Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling."(Lee 264) Since Tom was the suspect and an African-American male, everyone was waiting for him to slip up so they could take advantage. Mr. Gilmer was trying to make Tom look like a rude dangerous black man, even though he was a complete opposite.
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