Chapter 19 Summary
Under questioning, Tom states that he always passed the Ewell house on the way to work and that Mayella often asked him to do chores for her. That day, Mayella asked him to help again, and tried to make a move on him, and is caught by her father and is beat by him. Tom states that he was scared, and he fled the scene. Link Deas, Tom’s white employer, stands up and declares that in eight years of work, he has never had any trouble from Tom, but Link is removed by the judge. The prosecutor then bullies Tom into answering his questions the way he wanted him to. And when asked, Tom states that he helps Mayella because he feels sorry for her, which suprises everyone because he is black and she is white.
Chapter 19 Analysis
Tom Robinson's trial is basically about white prejudice against African Americans. The black community pretty much have no power or say in anything, and were considered beneath them. So for an African American man to publicly admit feeling pity for any white person is overstepping societal bounds. Tom's testimony actually embarrasses the Ewells more, by showing how desperate Mayella, and how abusive Bob is. However, the rules are so clearly defined in favor of white people that Tom was literally doomed the moment Bob and Mayella Ewell decided to accuse him.
Chapter 20 Summary
Mr. Dolphus Raymond reveals that he is drinking from a paper sack that appears to have alcohol in it, but it only has Coca-Cola in it. He does this to have an excuse to spend time with black people. When they return to the court room, Atticus is giving his closing statements. He show them that the prosecution has produced no medical evidence of the crime and has presented only the testimony of two unreliable witnesses. He then offers his own version of events to show what happened.
Chapter 20 Analysis
Mr. Raymond's secret is that he just pretends to drink all the time because it gives other people an excuse for his bad behavior. His “bad” behavior is wanting to stay around black people, which he understands that they could be better than white people. Atticus made a personal appeal to the jury in order to guilt them into realize that a conviction would be unfair and biased. The judges had to decide between what is right, or their power.
Chapter 21 Summary
Calpurnia hands Atticus a note telling him that his children have not been home since noon. Mr. Underwood says that Jem and Scout are in the colored balcony and have been there since just after one in the afternoon. Calpurnia takes Jem, Scout, and Dill home, and they eat and return to find the jury still undecided. The twelve jury members file in and give Tom a guilty verdict. As Atticus leaves, everyone in the colored balcony rises in a gesture of respect.
Chapter 21 Analysis
Atticus knew that he was going to lose the case, and Tom would be convicted. That’s why he did not want his children to watch the injustice play out. He hopes that the jury would decide while they were gone so his children wouldn’t see the verdict, but that didn’t work. The entire Maycomb Community knows that Tom isn’t guilty, but they aren’t ready to break that social barrier. And because of Atticus’s lack of bias and his great defense, the black community respects him.
Chapter 22 Summary
That night, Jem cried, disbelieving of the injustice of the verdict, and the society in general. The next day, Maycomb’s black population delivers a ton of food to the Finch’s. Jem sees that his beliefs about Maycomb were unrealistic, because he thought that these people were the best in the world. So after he witnessed the trial, he doesn’t think so anymore. Miss Maudie states how the Judge appointing Atticus and the jury’s staying out so long constitutes a sign of progress in their society. Miss Stephanie later runs over to tell them that Bob Ewell accosted their father that morning, spat on him, and swore revenge.
Chapter 22 Analysis
The children are bitterly disappointed by the loss. Miss Maudie helps them see it in a new light. With that, the children begin to understand that in many ways, Atticus's defeat was a major victory. The children realize another form of bravery is standing up for what you believe in, even if you fail. Bob lost even more respect, and so that’s why he swore revenge against Atticus.
Chapter 23 Summary
Bob Ewell’s threats are worrisome to everyone except Atticus. Atticus tells Jem and Scout that because he made Ewell look like a fool, Ewell needed to get revenge. Atticus also explains how Tom may be pardoned, but if not, he will be sent to the chair. This prompts a discussion about the justices of the chair being used for rape. One of the Cunninghams wanted to acquit Tom, and so upon hearing this revelation, Scout wants to invite Walter Cunningham to dinner, but Aunt Alexandra forbids it.
Chapter 23 Analysis
Atticus expects no more trouble, because he believes that Bob got the revenge out of his system. The discussion about the electric chair helps assure Jem of his beliefs, as Atticus explains the morality. Scout’s view of the Cunningham’s change, as she once thought them as lesser. Aunt Alexandra is a polar opposite to Atticus, as she believes that Finches do not associate with trash, but Atticus accepts everyone.
Chapter 24 Summary
One day in August, Aunt Alexandra invites her missionary circle to tea. Scout helps Calpurnia bring in the tea, and Alexandra invites Scout to stay with the ladies. Scout listens to the missionary circle talk about how their black servants act differently after the case. Atticus tells Alexandra, Scout, Calpurnia, and Miss Maudie that Tom Robinson attempted to escape and was shot seventeen times. Alexandra asks Miss Maudie how the town can allow Atticus to wreck himself in pursuit of justice. Maudie replies that the town trusts him to do right.
Chapter 24 Analysis
Scout realizes that some of the community saw the case in a selfish way. The importance of respect is furthered when Atticus tells the children that having a Cunningham on the jury actually helped his case, mainly because Scout earned Walter Cunningham's respect at the jail. And, Atticus changes Jem's definition of bravery, equating it with integrity, by his reaction to being spat on and threatened by Bob Ewell.
Chapter 25 Summary
Scout notices a roly-poly bug and she is about to mash it with her hand when Jem tells her not to. Jem had convinced Atticus to let them accompany him to Helen Robinson’s house, where they saw her collapse even before Atticus could say that her husband, Tom, was dead. The residents of Maycomb agree that it is typical for a black man to do something irrational like try to escape. Bob Ewell is overheard saying that Tom’s death makes one down and about two more to go. Summer ends and Dill leaves.
Chapter 25 Analysis
Jem begins to grow up and his difference in maturity shows itself in the incident with the roly-poly bug. Wishing to go back into the childhood world of actions without abstract significance, Scout tries crush the bug. Jem, now understanding of the vulnerability of those who are oppressed, tells her to leave the defenseless bug alone. Jem is beginning to take after Atticus.