TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. A QUESTION

From time to time, TCM runs the feature, "How to read a movie". In it, they talk about how a film is made and how you can "read" a film like a book. Inthis post, I want to talk about an aspect of this film that isn't spoken of, the trial of Tom Robinson.

Tom,accused of sexual assault on the "White Trash" Mayella, is defended by the noble Atticus Finch. Lawyer Finch does a masterful job of defending his client by showing in court that due to an accident to his left arm, Tom couldn't have attacked Mayella. And then Atticus departs from the facts and starts to talk about the reason for this case is because Mayella "Tempted a Negro".

I contend that in his summation, Atticus Finch helped convict his client. Finch, did not keep the juries attention on the Facts! By appealing to their emotions, he made them come to the defense of a "white woman attacked by a N*****". at that point, Tom may as well have bolted from the courtroom and started his last desperate run for freedom. Finch helped convict his client.

If you accept my opinion, Maybe Atucus Finch isn't the hero we thought of.



I await your Opinions and comments.