To Kill a Mockingbird
By Harper Lee, copyright 1960


Chapter 20

This chapter continues with Dill under the live oak tree outside the courthouse, being comforted by Scout and Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Mr. Raymond offers Dill a sip of what he is drinking out of a paper bag, to settle his stomach. Everyone in town has assumed that it is an alcoholic beverage Mr. Raymond carries in that bag since it is hidden and the man staggers around while drinking from it. Dill is surprised to taste it and find that it’s plain old Coca Cola. Mr. Raymond explains that he has created that suspicion on purpose to distract from what the townsfolk find truly offensive: his unconventional lifestyle as the father of biracial children. He figures that if they can blame it on him being the town drunk they will rationalize that he can’t help his ways because of the booze. They could never accept that he lives the way he does just because he prefers to. Mr. Raymond tells the children that as they get older, they will have more experience with the sad way of the world and the hell that people put other people through.

Scout and Dill go back into the courtroom in time to hear Atticus’ closing arguments to the jury. He removes his watch and loosens his clothing, something the children have never seen him do in public and it alarms them. Atticus states that there is no tangible evidence against Tom Robinson to have even justified bringing the case to trial, certainly no medical evidence to verify that Mayella was sexually assaulted..
He surmised that the alleged victim went along with the charges as she was put on the spot by her father and felt guilty. Her family and her community would not accept that she had tempted a black man, as it was unspeakably taboo. She had to cast the blame on Tom and by doing so had put his life on the line. Atticus also pointed out that Mayella’s beating pointed to someone having done it with the left hand. That ruled out Tom Robinson, whose left arm and hand had been rendered useless in an accident. Mr. Ewell was left handed.

Atticus reminded the jury that the American justice system was set up to see all humans as equal in a court of law, from the humblest local courtroom to the federal Supreme Court. However the workings of the court is no better or worse than the people sitting on the jury. He asks them “in the name of God, do your duty”.

The packed courtroom is surprised to see the Finch’s housekeeper, Calpurnia, making her way down the aisle toward Atticus.

Chapter 21

Calpurnia delivers a note to Atticus from Aunt Alexandra, alarmed because Scout and Jem have not been seen for several hours. It is pointed out to him that the children have been observing the trial from the Colored balcony of the courtroom all afternoon. Atticus orders them to go home with Calpurnia and have their supper. He is persuaded to allow them to come back to hear the verdict. Calpurnia scolds Jem for exposing Scout to the kind of things she would hear at such a trial. Aunty is upset to the point of stony silence when she finds out where the children have been and that they intend to go back after supper.

The children rejoin Rev. Sykes in the Colored balcony and find that after an hour the jury is still deliberating and the crowd appears not to have moved from their seats. Several hours go by, marked by the striking of the old courthouse clock. The bailiff brings the defendant in to stand by Atticus. Scout observes with a sinking feeling that the jury refuses to look at Tom, and that as a lawyer’s child she knows that this means a conviction.

The judge reads the guilty verdict; the atmosphere takes on a surreal quality for Scout. She sees her father gather his papers, speak to the defendant and take the short route toward the exit. Reverend Sykes nudges her to stand up and she sees that all of the observers in the Colored section have risen to their feet as a sign of respect to Atticus as he passes by.

Chapter 22

The children meet Atticus outside and they walk home together. Jem is beside himself with shock and anger at the conviction. Atticus indicates that he is just tired and wants to go to bed. Aunty has waited up for them and scolds Atticus for exposing the children to the trial. Atticus tells her “it’s just as much Maycomb County as missionary teas”.

Jem is still upset coming down to breakfast, but finds that his father’s morning routine is somewhat back to normal. Atticus tells him that he will begin the appeal process to overturn Tom’s conviction. Atticus is surprised and moved to tears to find that the defendant’s father and other black folk in the town have brought over a huge feast for their breakfast to show their gratitude for him trying to help Tom.

Scout, Jem and Dill go out to the porch and find that Miss Stephanie, Miss Maudie and Mr. Avery are in a heated discussion . Miss Stephanie calls them over and is full of nosy questions about them attending the trial. Miss Maudie brings the children over to her house and serves them cake that she was up early making especially for them.

Miss Maudie wants the children to understand that things are not quite so bad as they seem. She senses that they are not just disappointed that Atticus lost a case but they have also lost a child’s innocent faith in justice and the good of their neighbors. Jem admits he feels like he’d been enveloped in a warm cocoon asleep all this time and now his trust in Maycomb is shattered. Miss Maudie pointed out that the Judge tried to help Tom by appointing Atticus to defend him instead of the usual public defender and that the Sheriff also did his best. She pointed out that many of the townspeople wanted Tom to have a fair trial.

“We’re the safest folks in the world,” said Miss Maudie. “We’re so rarely called upon to be Christians, but when we are we’ve got men like Atticus to go for us.”

Dill tells the other children that he wants to grow up to be a clown, one that stands in the ring and laughs at the spectators.

Miss Stephanie calls the children over to tell them that Mayella’s father had confronted Atticus on the street, spit in his face and told him he would get him if it took the rest of his life.

Thanks for a terrific set of summaries, Aquagirl!
What an experience the trial and everything that has happened surrounding the court proceedings for the town and especially for the Jem, Scout, and Dill. They are learning more than they probably ever thought possible from the trial and surrounding activities, as well as learning so much of what Atticus does for a living. The way that Jem described the proceedings, by saying "we're winning" in Chapter 20, catching Scout and Dill up on what they missed, revealed his pride in Atticus' skills and the townspeople's confidence in him for trying to get the truth out as clearly as possible.

In this world of cell phones and IM's, texts and email, it surprised me to read that Aunt Alexandra had to send a note to the courthouse, concerned about where the children had gone off to, then remembered the year this was published *oops*, but then I digress. I wonder what she thought they were doing all day, it seems like it took her a long time to realize that they were gone. The way Atticus explained the courthouse proceedings as being typical Maycomb County, the first reaction I had expected would be that he would be upset that they had seen it, but then he has always been very practical in their upbringing. It was good to read that he had such an open feeling about their experience - there was no one better to explain what needed to be explained than him and Calpurnia, especially after the guilty verdict was read.

What a reaction from Mr. Ewell - wasn't expecting that!

When I saw that the story was set in 1935, I realized that my mom was the same age Scout was that year. She grew up in a small town in Missouri on the Mississippi River, near Hannibal where Mark Twain set many of his stories. She often told me of seeing young black men dragged out of their homes and lynched. She also told me that even when she was a little girl, if she was coming down the sidewalk black men would jump off the sidewalk and avert their eyes, so as not to be accused of coming near her or trying to make contact. What a frightening time! The "good old days" were not so good in some respects. Harper Lee wrote a masterpiece here, putting her heart and soul into getting this experience told.

Thanks for sharing aquagirl. The thing about this story is that while it shows a travesty of justice for Mr. Robinson, it also shows that there were people actively challenging the system. It also points to the whole issue of upbringing. Jem, Scout, and Dill are being tutored by Atticus who has a strong moral core. Like your mother, they recognized the injustice but were powerless to confront the situation. However, it still instilled in them the basis for future changes that developed because of these experiences and upbringing.