To Kill a Mockingbird Group

Question:

alisaluvssos10
alisaluvssos10
Student
High School - 9th Grade

Why did Tom try to escape in chapter 24?

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Posted by alisaluvssos10 on Sunday February 8, 2009 at 5:49 PM and tagged with chapter 24, characters, to kill a mockingbird, tom.

Answers:

  1. kmullen
    kmullen

    Tom tried to escape because he knew that his situation was hopeless. Having been convicted of raping a white woman he knew that, having been convicted by a white jury, he had little or no chance for an appeal, regardless of what Atticus said.  In Alabama at that time the sentence for rape was death, so he, in effect, committed suicide by trying to escape.

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    Posted by kmullen on Sunday February 8, 2009 at 5:54 PM


  2. dbello Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    This is a really good question because on the surface it seems simple; however, it presents a real complexity. Exactly the kind of complexity Harper Lee wants the reader to contemplate. It could be argued that Tom Robinson tried to escape out of self-preservation, the human instinct to survive. Another argument could be he decided to take the chance, not human instinct but the luck of the draw mentality. Still another argument, although a man of integrity and honesty perhaps Tom redefined the meaning of those qualities to fit the jury's definitions of honesty and integrity. As sad as it sounds, Tom could only attempt his escape if he lowered his morality to that of the jury that convicted him.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/critical-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/themes

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    Posted by dbello on Sunday February 8, 2009 at 6:56 PM

  3. texasmade
    texasmade Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    Because he is an innocent person.

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    Posted by texasmade on Friday February 13, 2009 at 7:15 AM