The tensoinal trial.

During chapters 16 and 17 we are introduced to the main plot of the story; The Tom Robinsons case. The author creates a very on edge scene by using a range of techniques as well as highlights its importance by revealing how many people are volunteering to show up at the trial. However Mrs Maudies view is rather contradictory when compared to what seems the rest of Maycomb county, she approaches the case with a more dignified view.

"I have no business with the court." and "it's morbid, watching a poor devil on his trial for his life"

These are just some of the viewpoints of Mrs Maudie and from this we can tell that she is a very non-judgemental woman who is able to be fair to both sides of the divided county.

When in the courthouse it is clearly portrayed that there is prejudice tension by the way that black people are forbidden to the "coloured balcony", so the author is taking prejudice to another level and showing it physically by the seating arrangements. White people are seen to be more superior hence the fact that they have the best seat in the courthouse, yet at the same time the most disrespectful which is ironic as they seem to be everything that the coloured people are not.

"below us, heads turned, feet scraped the floor, babies were shifted to shoulders, and a few children scampered out of the courtroom." pg186 "whereas the black people simply "whispered softly amongst themselves."

Another way that tension is made present during the trial is by the revelation of evidence. The white people expect it to be an easy session whilst in the court however this idea deteriorates further into the trial. Atticus Finch expects to lose the case as no matter how much evidence he has prepared he knows its no match for such a discriminative society. In order to compensate he can only focus on the fact that Mayella Ewell who was so badly beaten up, was not tended to by a Doctor. Atticus then goes on to observe that Mayella was badly bruised in her right eye and coincidently Bob Ewell is left handed. Its is clear that this makes Mr Gilmer feel threatened shown by his facial expressions;

"Mr Gilmer looked rather desperate."pg192

One character that reflects how most of the courtroom is feeling is Bob Ewell, who belongs to one of the most poorest folk in Maycomb. However, "It was becoming evident that he thought Atticus an easy match". this is also backed up by his body language which is described as "ruddy", this is until He is implicitly accused by Atticus Finch that he was to blame for his daughters wounds. This is confirmed by Scouts narration, remembering that she is still only a child and is briefly able to understand what's going on, and it exaggerates how the anyone involved in the case must be feeling.

http://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/1843-to-kill-a-mockingbird  attached is a link to a quiz to check your understanding of the book so far!