Atticus expresses his opinion that not all men are created equal. He notes that some people are intelligent, while others are not. Some people have talents that other people lack. Some are rich and some are poor, he notes. Despite his opinions on these matters, he sees the court system as an institution that grants equality to all. He calls the court system a leveler:
"But there is one way in this country in which...
Atticus expresses his opinion that not all men are created equal. He notes that some people are intelligent, while others are not. Some people have talents that other people lack. Some are rich and some are poor, he notes. Despite his opinions on these matters, he sees the court system as an institution that grants equality to all. He calls the court system a leveler:
"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. It can be the Supreme Court of the United States or the humblest J.P. court in the land, or this honorable court which you serve. Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal" (To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 20).
Atticus hopes that by pointing this out, the jury will feel the personal conviction to consider the evidence in Tom's case without bias. He wishes them to look at the evidence, and not let their notions about race cloud their judgement. Some of the evidence shows Tom's physical inability to commit the actions he is accused of doing, such as hitting Mayella with his crippled hand. Atticus wants the jury to not look at the case as a white woman's word against that of a black man, but as two people telling two different stories.
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