To Kill a Mockingbird Group

Question:

nikkinik
nikkinik
Teacher

What does Scout mean when she says, 'In the secret courts of men's hearts, Atticus had no case?'

Rate question:

Posted by nikkinik on Sunday January 28, 2007 at 10:45 AM and tagged with explanation, to kill a mockingbird.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Ah, a good but sad question. She meant that no matter how well Atticus made his case in a court of law, he was going to lose. Why? Because of the attitudes in the town. Because "in the secret courts of men's hearts," they were biased, and would not allow a case with a racial split like this one (Black male defendant, white female accuser) to be resolved fairly.
    Atticus took the case knowing he would lose, but with the hope of creating greater fairness in the long run.
    Greg

    Rate answer:

    Posted by gbeatty on Tuesday February 13, 2007 at 7:55 AM


  2. bmadnick Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Atticus has no case because of the racial prejudice toward blacks during that period of time, especially in the South. The "secret courts of men's hearts" refers to how a white person felt about a black person in his/her heart even if he/she didn't come right out and say they were prejudiced. Atticus presents an excellent defense for Tom Robinson, but he can't win because Tom is black. Had Tom been a white man, he probably would have been found innocent. This quote from the book captures the theme not only of racial inequality, but of conformity as well. Boo Radley is tortured because he is different also.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by bmadnick on Saturday April 21, 2007 at 5:48 PM

  3. revolution
    revolution Teacher
    Doctorate

    It means how long he had memorized all the facts of the law procedures and use all his criminal knowledge to defend Tom Robinson, sadly he was bound to lose.

    Also, can you see that the juries are white and most of the audience are white, so do you think who they were support. Even if the case is really not in their favor, they will support their own race. Even if a white man  commit murder, he will still be acquitted of the charge. In the other hand , if a black man commit a murder, he would be pronounced guilty as charge, so this shows racial discrimination at work.

    Atticus knows all the while he would lose the case but he still risked it just to show the fairness of justice and the law. He just want to have some integrity and fight for what he think is morally correct, not influenced by other factors.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by revolution on Monday July 27, 2009 at 6:39 AM