Tom Robinson
shows courage simply by taking the witness stand in . 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,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 likedoes. Atticus
explains Tom's bravery in :
". . . 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.
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