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Tristan Walton

Eng 101:11 - Miss Sullivan

12/11/09

Final Paper

Atticus’ Last Stand

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is an American classic, to say least. Many people and

generations have read and experienced the beauty and meaning of this novel. One of the most

memorable scenes from the novel is Atticus’ final speech. The honor of Atticus Finch lies within

this closing speech and he knows his speech must convince the whole court. The dialogue is

deeply moving, and invokes thought from the entire audience, including the reader.

When I first read the speech, my mind simply comprehended the facts stated initially.

These alone create a very convincing argument to prove the innocence of Tom Robinson. Later,

while reviewing the speech, I watched the scene from the movie and the speech was even more

rhetorically powerful. The final defense was prepared carefully and it contained many intricate

devices that forced and allowed every person to comprehend the argument, including the jury

and the audience in the court. Atticus stood up and strolled to the floor, which was dead center in

front of the courtroom, he looked around at everyone, just as they all settled down calmly staring

at him.1 He connected with every person in the audience, whether they were a lawyer or a farmer

or a shop owner or a black resident. He proved to everyone that Tom Robinson should be treated

fairly, and that this case should be respected. It should not be shrugged off like all of past cases.

Atticus’ defense is most definitely a piece that should be reviewed for the simple reason that this
1
Evelyn Waugh, “Brideshead Revisted”
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speech moves the entire audience on many levels. In an attempt to fully grasp Atticus’ words, I

placed myself in the packed courtroom and thought about every little aspect. This particular

speech is extremely delicate, and Atticus prepared it perfectly.

The entire speech is littered with rhetorical devices. Many of them are folded within the

speech and the audience must search for them. Atticus uses apposition to clarify the points he

wishes to get across to everyone. He states, “Tom Robinson now sits before you, having taken

“The Oath” with his only good hand he posses – his right,” and “The witnesses… have presented

themselves to you gentlemen – to this Court.” Atticus uses this to emphasize his case and to

instill a sense of honor to the Court – the jury especially. Anaphora is used in a similar way.

Atticus begins several sentences with “Tom Robinson” proving Tom’s humanity and the value of

a human life in an attempt to show the racist jury and audience that all men are equal. Another

device utilized is the rhetorical question; he states, “But, what was the evidence of her offence?”

and “Now what did she do?” This was used, again, to clarify the facts in the case, and to show

how ridiculous this whole trial really was.

As Atticus continues through his speech there is section that directly addressed the issue

of racism. He brings up the idea of the “assumption.” For this particular section, he used

amplification to stress how racism should not be a factor in the final decision. He further

concludes with challenge to jury by saying that he did not need to tell them this because it was

common knowledge. Atticus strategically places these devices in an attempt to persuade the jury

and the entire court that this trial is a waste.

Despite all of the expert uses of the many rhetorical tools, Atticus still had a huge

challenge ahead. He was not only trying to convince people that Tom Robinson was not guilty,
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but to throw out all preconceived ideas about blacks. Atticus Finch was arguing against a belief

that had been engrained within his society and culture for generations – racism. This alone is an

enormous mountain that he was forced to climb, and just like mountain climbing he had to be

cautious. Atticus recognized the challenge that was placed in front of him. He had to use ethos,

but at the same time walk a very fine line in order to convince the audience without outraging the

entire court. His social stature within the town meant that most, if not all, of the citizens already

respected and loved him. He said, very bluntly, that he did have pity for Mayella Ewell, thus

demonstrating to the whole audience with in the court room – including the jury – that he was

not just out to attack the poor trashy Ewell family. He was the same honorable and respectable

Atticus Finch that everyone knew, only enhancing his argument because now the courtroom

trusted him.

The next bridge that had to be crossed was the defense of Tom Robinson. Similar to issue

of racism, Atticus was aware that the entire case was a hoax. It was a feeble attempt by the

Ewell’s to make them appear as the victims, for once. Mayella, a white young girl, did not want

to be exiled from the town for breaking the “code.” Atticus straightforwardly states, “[T]his case

should never have come to trial.” This clear statement was the very first thing he said in his

address. How was Atticus supposed to defend a case that he believed should have never

happened? The evidence was not there to prove that Tom Robinson had beaten or even kissed

Mayella.

Atticus reviewed the logical facts and applies the use of logos. He tells the jury that there

is no medical evidence, and the case brought against Tom Robinson is strictly based off of the

testimony of two white people. Of course Tom Robinson’s story flatly contradicts the Ewells’

story, but the Ewells’ stories were questionable to begin with. Then Atticus tackles the issue of
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the beating very flatly. Mayella was most likely beaten with someone who led with their left

hand, but Tom Robinson, as everyone knows, has a limp left arm due to an accident. These are

all obvious facts that should have forced the trial to be thrown out; however, Atticus knew that

logic – logos – was no longer present in this racist courtroom.

All Atticus could do was emotionally sway the jury to buy into the truth. Pathos played a

huge role in this particular speech because he knew what the challenges were. Atticus knew he

was arguing against a group that believed in the “code.” He had to convince every single juror

that the outdated code was wrong, and what better way than by emotionally convincing. First,

Atticus showed everyone Tom was an innocent human being, not just some black person. Then

he uses pathos by challenging the jury’s knowledge. No one wants to be called dumb, so, of

course, Atticus called the jury dumb. Then he speaks ,about how the court is a “great leveler.”

And then he reinforces the humanity of Tom Robinson by saying, “In our courts, all men are

created equal.” By doing all this, Atticus instills within the crowd, especially the jury, a sense of

pride.

Pride is a very strong emotion that can drive people do the seemingly impossible. Pride

has united nations, started wars, and driven individuals to break the conformity. This is what

Atticus wanted. He knew that everyone in the court was an honorable human being at heart, but

he needed them to feel compelled to break their mold and do the right thing. Between people’s

natural honor and their sense of pride, Atticus believes there might very well be a chance to free

Tom Robinson – possibly the only chance.

As the reader finds out, despite Atticus’ valiant attempts Tom Robinson was charged as

guilty. The jury made the incorrect decision to falsely charge Tom Robinson only because of his
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race. There was no evidence to support the accusations, other than the sketchy stories made up

by the Ewells’. Atticus knew the chances were slim, but he also knew that the case was a

complete sham and should have never made it to the courts. Most court cases consist of

witnesses and defendants and prosecutors, and an honest judge and legitimate testimonies and a

fair unbiased jury stuck behind the wooden fence.2 But clearly this case was different. It is

impossible to defend a case that was not even a case to begin with. It was a defense of white

woman who made a “mistake” – Tom Robinson. All Atticus wanted to do was save a life, a life

that had the same value as every other person. He wanted to save a father, husband, and an all

around good person. All it took was one person on the jury to persuade the rest because this trial

was about a “code,” and if you did not honor or respect the “code” you would have been an

outcast.

After I carefully analyzed the speech, I realized how complicated this speech truly was.

Atticus had to walk a fine line in order not to become an outcast nor a stereotypical white

southerner of the time. He was progressive in everything he said. This speech should have

worked, but it is impossible to convince people to change who they were. Atticus tried with

everything he could to free an innocent man. He was a hero for the black people in the town, and

he definitely opened some people’s minds to the truth.

2
Ian Flemming’s sentence from “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”
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Works Cited

Harper., Lee,. To kill a mockingbird. 4th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2002. Print.