Chapter 16:
Why do you think Atticus didn't tell Scout and Jem that he had been appointed to defend Tom Robinson?
Chapter 17:
If you were a juror in this trial, what would you be thinking at this point?
Chapter 18:
At this point in the trial, do you think Tom Robinson is innocent or guilty? What evidence do you have to support it?
Chapter 19:
Why was Dill so "sick?"
Chapter 20:
Why is Calpurnia walking straight toward Atticus?
5 comments:
I think Atticus did not tell Scout and Jem he had been appointed to Tom Robinson, because he did not want them to judge the situation.Atticus wanted them to see what others where saying about it and see for themselfs that is wrong what they where saying.
I think Atticus din't tell Scout and Jem that he had been appointed to defend Tom Robinson for several reasons. He could have not told them for fear of them being judged and judging themselves based on the situation they're in. Atticus may have wanted to hear his children's views on Tom Robinson case without them knowing that he was defending him.
I see both of your points, girls. I think that Atticus withheld the information from his children because he wanted to protect them in a way. He knew that his children would be harrassed by the public, and he probably thought that would give them reason to feel they had to "defend" their father. I think that Atticus did not tell his children that he was "appointed" because had he not been appointed, he would have defended Tom Robinson anyway. As you both said, Atticus wanted his children to have their own views about the situation.
I think that Atticus did not tell Jem and Scout that he was defending Tom Robinson because he knew that the rest of the town was against him already and it would only make it worse. As charisse said, they would be inclined to defend their father. As we know, Scout has a very violent way of dealing with things like that, so he was protecting her. By telling his kids how it was and why, they're minds would be preset to whatever Atticus told them. That doesn't allow them to anylyze the situation and decide how its handled for themselves.
If I was a juror at this point, my thoughts would still be against Tom just becasue in Maycomb, everyone is against him so I am obviously biased. In an almost all white southern town, the jury is going to be with the Ewells until Tom is completely proven guilty. If the trial ended right now, I would say guilty. But I have a feeling Atticus is going to pull through with some strong evidence and win my heart over to Tom's side. That's just how books work.
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