In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird there are multiple plot lines within the novel this includes the plot of a trial of a black man Tom Robinson. Before going into the details of the trial it is important to understand the setting. The story takes place in Maycomb Alabama through the Great Depression at this time racism is still running rampant in the small town. Perspective of the story is mostly told in the third person but highlights the kids and their friends of the lawyer defending Tom. By doing this Lee is able to establish innocence of adolescence inside the novel which played a fascinating role throughout. When announced that Atticus would defend Tom a black man in the upcoming trial the town erupted given that Atticus is the best lawyer around. The news led to the kids of Atticus being bullied for him defending a black man. Tom is accused of raping and beating a white woman by the woman’s father Bob Ewell. After months of preparation Atticus had found plenty of evidence against this claim the strongest being the placement of the bruises on her neck. When considering Tom didn’t have a left hand at the time due to an accident earlier in life it would have been impossible for him to slap the left side of her face where the bruises appear. Going off this piece of evidence Atticus comes up with a theory that the had consensual sex and were caught embarrassed Bob beat her daughter when Tom fled the scene. With all the evidence presented the case should’ve been ruled not guilty but racism in the jury found him guilty of the crime. Later a mob forms outside the jailhouse wanting to lynch Tom when escaping Tom is shot to death by a guard.
A theme that can be pulled from the novel is racism isn’t a natural instinct people are born with it is taught. Atticus teaching his kids well has a group of innocence within his kids to the point where they are confused why it’s a big deal that their dad is doing this. When compared to the rest of the racist town that have taught their kids roots of racism these kids bully Jem and Scout. The extreme racist virtues in this town almost ends in death for Jem and Scout on Halloween as they are attacked by Bob who is embarrassed for the trial Atticus. Morals taught by parents within the town is a huge motivate in the story. As Scout grows frustrated with her peers for showing no sympathy at points in the novel. In conclusion, the innocence of adolescences is only taken away from bad parenting rubbing off their negatives onto their children.