Early in the 1930’s there was a lot of controversy about African Americans and Caucasians being together or standing up for one another. Some just disliked each other so seriously that words were invented to call out each other. A word such as “Nigger” was used to say to African Americans. Lawyers such as Atticus from Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is a man who is defending an innocent African American male named Tom Robinson from abuse and rape charges that a white female has claimed he’s done to her. While some people are trying to get him to pull out if the case others are feeling a lot of hatred towards Atticus for defending Robinson and his children are now rude and defensive of their father due to the case.
To begin with, In the story Atticus has been faced with many words that are filled with hate such as the word nigger-lover. For example, “Atticus, I said one evening, what exactly is a nigger-lover? Atticus’s face was grave. Has somebody been calling you that?, No sir, but Mrs. Dubose calls you that.” (page 144). This proves that some people in Maycomb are against Atticus’s decision of defending an African American. In addition, because of Atticus defending Robinson it shows that Mrs. Dubose has absolutely no respect towards Atticus.
Secondly, because of the Tom Robinson case Atticus’s children have become rude and defensive. For example, “Jem, he said, are you responsible for this? Yes sir. Why’d you do it? Jem said softly, She said you lawed for niggers and trash. You did this because she said that? Son, I have no doubt that you’ve been annoyed by your contemporaries about me lawing for niggers, as you say, but to do something like this to a sick old lady is inexcusable”. (page 138). This proves that Atticus’s children have been rude and defensive of their father because of what was said to Mrs. Dubose. In addition, this proves that they are defensive of their father because he didn’t like what Mrs. Dubose have said about Atticus which made him react.
In conclusion, this shows that some people’s opinions of helping Tom Robinson is filled with hatred and that Atticus’s children intentions was to defend their father from people who are against him trying to save an innocent man’s life.
