What are some quotes about Tom Robinson's trial and justice from To Kill a Mockingbird?

The other answers have covered this topic well, but I can provide a few more quotes about Tom Robinson, justice, and equality.

First, after the trial, Mr. Underwood, the Maycomb newspaper editor, speaks out angrily about the injustice done to Tom Robinson in a newspaper editorial in which he states, in Scout's summation of his ideas,

Mr. Underwood didn’t talk about miscarriages of justice, he was writing so children could understand. Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children.

Mr. Underwood calls out the murder of Tom Robinson as a slaughter of an innocent man—a sin.

The hypocrisy and injustice of the white townspeople supporting putting Tom Robinson in his "place" while criticizing Hitler's treatment of the Jews comes clear in Scout's concerns about her teacher, Miss Gates. Scout says to Jem,

Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was—she was goin‘ down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her—she was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ’em [the blacks] a lesson, they were gettin‘ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an‘ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home—

In his final argument defending Robinson, Atticus appeals to the jury to consider the notions of equality on which the United States was founded:

We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe—some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity because they’re born with it, some men make more money than others, some ladies make better cakes than others—some people are born gifted beyond the normal scope of most men. “But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal—there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court.

Atticus says in the above quote that equality before the law is the foundation of justice in the United States, and he asks the jury to respect this ideal.

What are some quotes about Tom Robinson's trial and justice from To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are a number of quotes after the trial when the children are talking with Miss Maudie and Atticus. Miss Maudie tells the children,

"I thought Atticus Finch won't win, he can't win, but he's the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long in a case like that." (pg 216)

Later Jem and Scout are talking with Atticus. Jem tells Atticus that he doesn't think it is fair that Tom Robinson was given a death sentence for his crime. Atticus replies,

"Tom Robinson's a colored man, Jem. No jury in this part of the world's going to say 'We think you're guilty, but not very' on a charge like that. It was either a straight acquittal or nothing." (pg 219)

Atticus tells Jem that if the jury was made up of him and eleven other boys like Jem that Tom Robinson would be a free man today. He compliments the fact that nothing has interfered with Jem's reasoning. He says,

"There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads --they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life." (pg 220)

He tells Jem and Scout that they will see as they get older that,

"The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box. As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it -- whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash" (pg 220)

When Tom is shot down during an attempted prison escape, Aunt Alexandra says that it is the last straw. Atticus says,

"I told him what I thought, but I couldn't in truth say that we had more than a good chance. I guess Tom was tired of white men's chances and preferred to take his own." (pg 235-236)

These quotes are from my edition of the book, but the page numbers should be in close proximity.

What are some quotes that describe Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Harper Lee is at pains to make sure Tom Robinson comes across as a sympathetic character. We learn he is 25, has a withered arm, and has three children to support. Everything in his testimony makes him seem upright and honest, but the system is stacked against a black man accused of raping a white woman.

In Chapter 19, Atticus calls Tom Robinson to testify. Robinson talks about helping out Mayella. We note that he comes across as a decent and compassionate person who won't even accept money for his work, though we know he has a family:

“She’d call me in, suh. Seemed like every time I passed by yonder she’d have some little somethin‘ for me to do—choppin’ kindlin‘, totin’ water for her. She watered them red flowers every day—” “Were you paid for your services?” “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time. I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help her none, and neither did the chillun, and I knowed she didn’t have no nickels to spare.”

As Tom Robinson is testifying about helping Mayella, Scout thinks:

Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her. But she said he took advantage of her, and when she stood up she looked at him as if he were dirt beneath her feet.

Scout, watching Tom Robinson testify in court, also notes that:

Tom was a black-velvet Negro, not shiny, but soft black velvet. The whites of his eyes shone in his face, and when he spoke we saw flashes of his teeth. If he had been whole, he would have been a fine specimen of a man.

In Chapter 19, Finch lays out for Scout the double-bind Tom Robinson is in as a black man who has happened to find himself alone with a white woman, in this case, Mayella:

Until my father explained it to me later, I did not understand the subtlety of Tom's predicament: he would not have dared strike a white woman under any circumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run—a sure sign of guilt.

Once he got caught up with Mayella, there was no move Robinson could make that wouldn't get him into trouble.

What are some quotes that describe Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are a few ways in which the book describes Tom Robinson. First, when Atticus introduces what he is about to do, to defend Tom Robinson, he says to Scout that Tom is a good man. He mentions that he is a "clean living man." Moreover, he is a member of Calpurnia's church. Most importantly, Calpurnia vouches for him and his family. Here is what he says:

 “I’m simply defending a Negro—his name’s Tom Robinson. He lives in that little settlement beyond the town dump. He’s a member of Calpurnia’s church, and Cal knows his family well. She says they’re clean-living folks.

Arguably the most important description of Tom Robinson comes in the trial when Atticus shows that Tom Robison could not have beaten Mayella, because his arm was injured as a young man. In addition, the wounds on Mayella's face were consistent with the beatings given by a man who was a lefty, namely, Bob Ewell. 

Here is what the text says about Tom Robinson in the courtroom:

His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side. It ended in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony I could see that it was no use to him.

“Scout,” breathed Jem. “Scout, look! Reverend, he’s crippled!”

Can you find a quote showing Tom Robinson's courage during his trial and death in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Tom Robinson shows courage simply by taking the witness stand in chapter 19. But the most specific moment when he is faced with the most prejudice is when Mr. Gilmer cross-examines him. Mr. Gilmer speaks so disrespectfully to Tom that it actually makes an innocent child cry (Dill). For example, when Tom says that he felt sorry for Mayella Ewell's situation, Scout explains what followed:

"'You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?' Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to raise the ceiling. The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson's answer. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let it sink in" (197).

Mr. Gilmer continues questioning Tom and Tom does a great job holding his head high and answering the questions. Mr. Gilmer tries to twist the way Tom presents his testimony by asking if he's saying Mayella is lying, which puts Tom in another sticky situation. But Tom says respectfully and courageously, "I don't say she's lyin', Mr. Gilmer, I say she's mistaken in her mind" (197).

Tom is convicted and sent off to prison, even if he was courageous at the trial, because there's no beating racism in 1935 Alabama. But his one last ounce of courage is spent running for his life as he tries to escape. He tries to outrun the prejudice of the judicial system because he doesn't believe that he will win with an appeal like Atticus does. Atticus explains Tom's bravery in chapter 24:

". . . the guards called to him to stop. They fired a few shots in the air, then to kill. They got him just as he went over the fence. They said if he'd had two good arms he'd have made it, he was moving that fast. Seventeen bullet holes in him. They didn't have to shoot him that much" (235).

In the end, Tom's courage wasn't enough to stop bullets, but he did what he thought was best at the time. He gave the judicial process a try and stood up for himself against a whole town of prejudiced white people and that's true bravery.

What quotes from Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird depict courage?

It is very courageous of Tom Robinson to even testify in court, as he is in a racist southern town in the 1930s. It wasn't customary at this time for African-Americans to think that they could defend themselves, as many were harmed or even lynched when they tried to stand up for themselves.

In Chapter 19, Tom tells the story of what happened between him and Mayella Ewell when he is testifying in court. He says, "She reached up an‘ kissed me ’side of th‘ face. She says she never kissed a grown man... She says what her papa do to her don’t count" (page numbers vary by edition). This statement is very daring on several counts. First, Tom admits that a white woman tried to kiss him. Physical contact between whites and African-American people was highly charged in the south at this time, and it was strictly forbidden. The truth is very dangerous for the jury to hear, but Tom tells it anyway, knowing that it will likely mean he is convicted. In making this statement, he also reveals that Mayella's father has been abusing her. It was not customary at this time for people to speak about sexual or physical abuse, and it was even more daring for an African-American person to accuse a white man of abusing his daughter. Therefore, this statement is courageous for several reasons.

Later, when the prosecutor is asking Tom Robinson why he helped Mayella Ewell, Tom says, “I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em—” (page numbers vary by edition). It is courageous of Tom to admit that he felt pity for a white woman, as it was almost forbidden for an African-American person to admit to feeling sorry for a white person at that time. 

What quotes from Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird depict courage?

In Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the topic of bravery is explored in different ways with different characters. First, the children first view bravery as a thing to be demonstrated by facing terrifying situations and then overcoming them. For example, Dill challenges Jem's manhood by daring him to get Boo Radley to come out of the house. Then Dill modifies the challenge, which requires Jem only to touch Boo Radley's house instead of making the man come outside. Jem fulfills this mission with a quick run through the yard and back, but he does it because he "wanted Dill to know once and for all that he wasn't scared of anything" (14). In this case, bravery is a matter of honor as demonstrated by an act of courage.

However, Atticus shows what calm, cool, and collected bravery looks like when he shoots a mad dog in chapter 10 and saves the neighborhood. As a result, the kids want guns for Christmas, but they are confused when their father won't teach his own kids how to shoot them. The answer to their confusion comes in chapter 11 when Atticus teaches Jem what he believes bravery really is--and that it isn't found using guns. For Atticus, bravery is found in people like Mrs. Dubose who overcomes her addiction to morphine before she dies. Atticus explains as follows: 

"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew" (112). 

This lesson from Atticus paints a different picture of bravery than what the children think. They discover that bravery is not about proving to others that a scary task can be accomplished; rather, it is facing fears or weaknesses and holding one's self accountable no matter what the outcome.

Finally, another example of bravery demonstrated in the novel is when Aunt Alexandra faces a room full of smug and self-righteous women after finding out that Tom Robinson has died while attempting to escape from prison. Moments before discovering the unfortunate news, these intolerant guests imply that Atticus defending a black man in court hurts the social status quo in Maycomb. It is overwhelming and intimidating for Aunt Alexandra to go back to her guests after discovering that Tom is dead. This fact may cause more problems in the community, and her "friends" might blame Atticus for it. Nevertheless, Aunt Alexandra must keep her head held high in the presence of these intolerant women. She must show them that she is strong, supports her brother's efforts, and is proud to be a Finch. Scout recognizes her aunt's personal resolve and courage by describing how Aunt Alexandra readies herself before facing her guests again:

"Aunt Alexandra rose and smoothed the various whalebone ridges along her hips. She took her handkerchief from her belt and wiped her nose. She patted her hair and said, 'Do I show it?'" (237).

This passage shows Aunt Alexandra preparing herself to be brave in front of the community's gossips. Scout is impressed and decides to follow Aunt Alexandra's example by saying, "After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I" (237). In this situation, Aunt Alexandra and Scout show social bravery by going back out to their guests and holding their heads high. They could have stayed in the kitchen and cried over the situation, or lost their tempers by yelling at their guests, but they decide to face life with strength--even if that means acting like a lady and not crumbling down into tears like a little girl.

What quotes in To Kill A Mockingbird show Tom Robinson's bravery?

Tom Robinson is depicted as a morally upright man who is convicted of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell on the evening of November 21st. Although Tom does not say much in the story, he demonstrates bravery by telling the truth during his testimony in chapter 19. Tom Robinson bravely testifies that Mayella tempted him in her home and says that he was forced to flee the house when she grabbed him by the waist. Tom Robinson's confession is shocking, and he understands the gravity of his testimony.

During Mr. Gilmer's cross-examination, he asks Tom Robinson why he continually helped Mayella Ewell complete her chores without receiving monetary compensation. Tom Robinson demonstrates bravery by telling Mr. Gilmer the truth by saying,

"I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em—" (Lee, 105)

Tom Robinson's confession that he pitied Mayella Ewell upsets Mr. Gilmer, the prejudiced audience, and the racist jurors. Unfortunately, Tom's truthful comment leads to his unjust conviction.

In addition to demonstrating bravery during the serious trial, Tom also reveals courage by attempting to escape from the Enfield Prison Farm. In chapter 24, Atticus explains the terrible situation to Aunt Alexandra, Miss Maudie, and Calpurnia by saying,

"He [Tom Robinson] was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over. Right in front of them—" (Lee, 125)

Tom's attempt to escape from the prison farm also demonstrates his bravery and determination. Although Tom had a chance to win an appeal, he no longer trusted the corrupt, prejudiced court system, which is what motivated him to climb the fence. Tragically, Tom is shot multiple times and dies. Overall, Tom Robinson demonstrates bravery by telling the difficult truth during the trial and attempting to escape from the Enfield Prison Farm.