Friday, April 3, 2009

During Atticus’s speech, Scout sees him do two things she has never seen him do before. What are they, and what do they reveal about how Atticus...

During his speech, Atticus loosens his clothing, and he sweats (two things Scout has never seen Atticus do before).


Before he addresses the court, Atticus loosens his tie and unbuttons his vest and collar. He also takes off his coat. Prior to this, Scout has never seen her father loosen his clothing; the only time he does so is when he's getting ready for bed. Later, when Atticus takes off his glasses and wipes them, Scout notices that he's sweating. She has never seen her father sweat before.


In loosening his clothing before he speaks to the jury, Atticus is letting the jury know that he feels comfortable addressing them as equals and friends. His uncharacteristic action demonstrates his belief that all men should be equal in a court of law.



“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..."



In his speech, Atticus tries to debunk the widespread belief that all African-Americans are untrustworthy or immoral human beings. He argues that immoral people can be found in all sections of society, irrespective of color. During his speech, Atticus sweats, something Scout says she's never seen her father do before; this is a strong indication that Tom Robinson's case has greatly affected Atticus.


Atticus finds himself having to speak some unpopular truths in court. It is a difficult undertaking and an ambitious one at best. He knows that it will not be easy for the white jury to accept Mayella's guilt.




“She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old Uncle, but a strong young Negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards."




Mayella's infatuation with Tom is a controversial possibility, one that the jury may not want to entertain. This may be part of the reason that Atticus sweats as he argues for Tom's acquittal; he's taking a huge risk in exposing the ugly truths behind Mayella's rape accusation. This is one way his speech is different from others he's made in court in the past: he has to confront the ingrained prejudices and biases of the society he is a part of.


Despite the risk, however, Atticus is willing to do the right thing. He is willing to risk the condemnation and judgment of society in order to save an innocent, black man from certain death. Atticus' actions in court demonstrate his earnestness and integrity.

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