To Kill a Mockingbird Part-2

Atticus does not want Jem and Scout to be present at Tom Robinson’s trial. No seat is available on the main floor, but the Rev. Sykes, the pastor of Calpurnia’s church, invites Jem, Scout and Dill to watch from the colored balcony. Atticus establishes that Mayella Ewell and her father, Bob, are lying. It is revealed that Mayella made sexual advances toward Tom, resulting in her being beaten by her father. The townspeople refer to the Ewells as “white trash” who are not to be trusted, but the jury convicts Tom regardless. Jem’s faith in justice is badly shaken. Atticus is hopeful that he can get the verdict overturned, but Tom cannot look at him in the face before being led away. Within 24 hours of the town’s attempt to lynch Tom and the close of the trial, it is reported that Tom had tried to escape from prison. He was shot and killed.

Despite Tom’s having been convicted and killed, Bob Ewell ends up feeling humiliated by the events of the trial. Atticus explains that he destroyed Ewell’s last shred of credibility. Ewell vows revenge, spitting in Atticus’ face, trying to break into the judge’s house and menacing Tom Robinson’s widow. Finally, when Jem and Scout are walking home on a dark night after a school pageant, Ewell violently assaults Jem. Jem suffers a fractured arm and is knocked unconscious in the struggle, but amid the confusion, someone comes to the children’s rescue. The mysterious man carries Jem home, where Scout realizes that he is Boo Radley.

Sheriff Tate arrives at the Finch home, after having discovered Ewell dead from a knife wound. Atticus believes that Jem was responsible, but Tate is certain it was Boo. The sheriff tells Atticus that in order to protect Boo, he will report that Ewell simply fell on his own knife during the attack. Boo asks Scout to walk him home, and she readily agrees. After she says goodbye to him at his front door, he disappears, never to be seen again by Scout. While standing on the Radley porch, Scout imagines life from Boo’s perspective.