Tom+Is+Innocent

Ian Apgar Honors English 1 Tom Robinson Persuasive Essay Due April 5, 2011

Tom Is Innocent!

How would you like to be proven guilty, even though your not, jus because of your skin color? In //To Kill A Mockingbird//, by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Now the only thing that Tom doesn’t have in his favor is his race. Tom Robinson is not guilty because his left arm is handicapped, the plaintiff was inconsistent, and he wouldn’t harm any one. Despite what any body says, Tom Robinson is innocent! To begin with, Tom Robinson’s left arm was handicapped. This is important because with his left arm in this condition he couldn’t have been the one who beat Mayella’s right side of her face. “His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter then his right, and hung dead at his side” (Scout 186). He also couldn’t defend himself When Mayella tried to come on to him. He had no way to push her off or stop her. Also, Mayella, the plaintiff, was inconsistent. She would often change her story and would forget things that she already said. For example, “ ‘I did not, I certainly did not! Well i mighta, conceded Mayella’ ” (Mayella 184). She was also scared of Atticus because she was afraid that he would trick into telling the truth or changing her story more. Her answers were very very insecure, so she knew she could easily be tricked. Likewise, Tom Robinson would never harm anyone or anything. He knew Mayella very well and always did favors for her without making her pay him for his business. There is also no way that he can harm anyone because of his arm being in the condition that it is, as previously stated. He has to try and make a living by working on a farm and supporting his family, so he can’t afford to get in to trouble. “ ‘I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now. That boy’s worked for me for eight years an‘ I ain’t had a speck o‘ trouble outa him. Not a speck.’ ” (Mr. Link Deas 195). As he said, Tom Robinson has never cause any trouble. So as you can see, all of the evidence shows that Tom Robinson is not guilty of committing a crime, but guilty of associating himself with the Ewells. He couldn’t have done the crime because he is handicapped and he doesn’t have the strength to over power Mayella. Also, the plaintiff was inconsistent, which means that she was lying and making up her story. Finally Tom would never hurt anyone. So please hear me out and set Tom Robinson free!