In chapter 24 we learn of Tom's death. After he was found guilty of raping Mayella, Tom is sent to prison. Atticus had reassured him that he believed he could win the appeal. However, Tom knew that being a black convicted of a crime against a white woman, that he stood no real chance of winning an appeal. Tom decided that escaping was his only way to freedom.
Atticus goes to get Calpurnia and tells...
In chapter 24 we learn of Tom's death. After he was found guilty of raping Mayella, Tom is sent to prison. Atticus had reassured him that he believed he could win the appeal. However, Tom knew that being a black convicted of a crime against a white woman, that he stood no real chance of winning an appeal. Tom decided that escaping was his only way to freedom.
Atticus goes to get Calpurnia and tells her, Scout and Aunt Alexandra what had happened.
"They shot him," said Atticus. "He 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-"
"Didn't they try to stop him? Didn't they give him any warning?" Aunt Alexandra's voice shook.
"Oh yes, 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. Cal, I want you to come out me and help me tell Helen."
The guards try to say that they warned Tom to stop but he didn't. The fact that they shot him seventeen times is a really good indication that what they guards were saying wasn't true. Tom was just another black person to them.
No comments:
Post a Comment