Thursday, April 28, 2011
#6: Introduction to the Central Conflict: The Tom Robinson Trial
In reference to the case against Tom Robinson, Atticus tells Jack the situation couldn't be worse. "The only thing we got is a black man's word against the Ewells'....The jury couldn't possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson's word against the Ewells'." Later he says, "You know I'd hoped to get through life without a case like this..." (Even though earlier he told Scout every lawyer gets a case like this...that would affect him personally). Finally, Atticus defends, "Do you think I could face my children otherwise (without taking the case)? You know what's going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb's usual disease. Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a negro comes up is something I don't pretend to understand." What do you think Atticus means by "Maycomb's usual disease"? Do you agree with Atticus that he is "obligated" to take this case if he wants to be able to be respected by his children? Would you have taken the case? Do you agree that he has most likely LOST before the trial even begins? Why or why not? Do you agree that all lawyers (as well as just about EVERY profession) has one "case" in thier life that will essentially "define" them?
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I believe that Atticus means by “Maycomb’s usual disease” that everyone in Maycomb has this feeling that Whites are better than Blacks, and they think that they can do anything and blame anything against them. Atticus doesn’t want his children to thinking that way because he wants them to know it is very wrong and incorrect. I do believe that Atticus is “obligated” to take this case because if he wouldn’t, then everything he believes and taught his children to believe in would be wrong. Just the fact of knowing that you were probably going to lose a case even before your started it, would make it very hard to even take the case. If I was in Atticus’s position, I would like to say that I would have taken the case, but honestly it would be one of the hardest decisions ever to make because I feel that I would go through a lot of hard work and end up nowhere. I do agree with that fact that Atticus has basically lost the trial even before it began because almost everyone is against the Blacks, and if they can get away with blaming them for something, then they will. I agree and disagree that all lawyers as well as just about every profession has one difficult case that they have to go through. I agree because almost everyone has something really difficult that they have to go through while working in their job. I disagree because things are different now days so they may not have to go through something that was as difficult as what Atticus had to go through, and they also may not have to make as many difficult decisions.
ReplyDeleteBy "Maycomb's usual disease", I think Atticus means the way the town people act and think towards blacks. I think he is talking about how they all spread rumors and have a hatred towards blacks. I do agree with Atticus that he is obligated to take this case because it give him a whole new respect level. I love how he knows this case is the right thing to do, even though he knows he will be talked bad about, he does it so he can feel good about himself. I do not think I would have taken this case, even though I knew it would have been right. I think I would have been too scared and care to much about what people would have thought, unlike Atticus. I someewhat agree that he has "lost" before it has even started because during this time, it is going to be very hard to get the jury and the judge to believe and support the black person even if they know the truth. Because of the hatred towards blacks, they usually wont stand a chance in a trail against a white person. I think that every job will provide the chance to tell who you are, or challenge your own character. I think that some are more noticable than others, but you will always have hard times that will define who you are, and give you the chance to prove yourself, and give you the chance to respect yourself.
ReplyDeleteI think that Atticus means by saying 'Maycomb's usual disease' is all the gosiping about the town and just spreading lots of rumors. In a way yes I agree with Atticus in that he was obligated to take this case. Even though othe family members disagree with his doings, i think he is doing it for a good reason. I believe Atticus is a person that doesn't like to give up on things. I honestly don't know if i would have taken the case. If I was in his exact situation, I wish i could say i would take it, but I don't really think i would have. I would have thought it was a waste of time because Tom is black i have no case.Because of segration and the Jim Crow laws, i think that Atticus pretty much has lost the case without even going to trail. Unless some big miricle happens that we won't expect to come. Yes i think even career has at least one case that defines that. I think it is the case that touches them personally and hits them in the heart.
ReplyDeleteI agree with alot of Katlynn's points she is making, but i don't think that the times have changed to drastically since Attuic's time. Atticus already predicted his outcome, so he knew what was going to happen, and all he could do was argue. In today's world, i think that people will still face that one case. It doesn't matter the challenge, but how the case affects the person personally.
ReplyDeleteI think Atticus means about Maycomb’s usual disease means that he is talking about racism. Blacks and whites don’t get along very well in Maycomb because they don’t do a lot of stuff together. I agree with Atticus that he is obligate to take the case if he want to be able to be respected by his children because he is a mayor and he should take care of that kind of stuff. He is doing this so is children will respect him better. I wouldn’t have taken this case because it sounds like a tough case and situation to be in. I agree that he has most likely lost before the trial even begins because he is not even sure what he will talk about Tom Robinson. I agree that all lawyers has one case in their life that will essentially define them because one case will always be in there head and that’s all they will think about.
ReplyDeleteI agree with katlynn because i also think the whites are better than the blacks because they think they have more money than the blacks and they live in better houses. I think thats why the blacks hate the whites because the whites do alot better stuff thant the whites.
ReplyDeleteI think what he means by Maycomb's decease is that whites think that they are better than blacks and think that they deserve better, what i also think that it means is that people don't know how to keep there mouths closed and that their lives are so boring that they have to talk about someone else to stay entertained. Yes i do think that every lawyer should have a challenger case in their lives, because it keeps them on their toes and ready for the next one that comes because I'm sure that cases like this come around more than once... Yes i would take the case because everyone deserves a fare case, I think if someone got a case like this and didn't take it they would feel really bad if the person got a guilty verdict and they were innocent.
ReplyDelete"Maycombs Disease" to me is he is talking about racism. I think that Atticus is saying that whites are better than blacks and blacks don't belong in the town. I wouldn't have taken the case because it doesn't sound easy and he knows it's gonna be hard to win.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kyle because I like that he said that he wouldn't have taken the case because it was a hard one and it was a tough situation.
ReplyDeleteI think that the "usual disease" is the people of Maycomb gossiping about Atticus and how they feel towards black people. Maycomb to me is a very "gossipy" town, kinda like Sioux Center where one thing happens and instantly everyone knows. I feel that Atticus feels he is obligated to accept this case becuase he doesn't want to let down his kids and make them think he can't handle something, becuase kids look up to their parents so much that if they show weakness, they might not trust them in certain situations. I think that Atticus is smart enough to get out of the case for the protection of his kids, but he doesn't want everyone to think he is a "quitter." It would have been hard for me to accept the case, but in the end I would have probubly done it because people are people and everyone desearves a chance. Personally, due to the time period that they are in, everyone is against the black people and going in, Atticus feels that he doesn't have a chance because of that, and I agree becuase nobody wants to give the blacks a chance for a better life. I think that every lawyer will eventually have a case that will work them so hard they won't know what to do anymore. Some might have a case that will be so intence that it will change how they act towards people and even hit home and change how they act around their family, depending on the case.
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree with kyle when he said he's doing the case so his kids will have more respect in him. I think that his kids have full respect for him, and I don't think that you would be able to gain more respect for a father, at least i wouldn't be able to due to the level that i have now. I agree with him too because his kids will know that he is strong and can fight through everything.
ReplyDeleteI think Maycombs Disease is that no matter what a white person is correct of is better than a black person is. I think Atticus has to take this case because of his pride, he was chosen to defend him, and he didn't want other people to call him and his children wimps for backing out of the trial because he was defending a black person. I probadly wouldn't because I knew everyone in Maycomb and the South think a white person is correct no matter what else a black person might say. Yes I think Atticus has already lost because everyone in town also thinks he has lost. Yes every worker no matter what job they have. That task will cause them to think differently and show others who they really are.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordan that Atticus has lost the case because people will follow the Jim Crow laws and the jury won't think for themselves about how bad racism is.
ReplyDeletewhen atticus says the disease i think he means small town talk and how everyone knows everything about everyone and people go around gossiping to others about so and so doing sertian things. also if i was in atticus' situation i personally probably would not have taken the case on tom robinson, but since he did i give him a lot of credit and he is a good guy for diong that.
ReplyDeletei agree with ross about how atticus probably took this case for himself and no one else and for his pride like ross said. also about what they think about blacks and how they are always wrong in someway.
ReplyDeleteI agree a lot with Jordan in saying that Atticus is doing this case for the right reasons, and not just to get attention. I also agreee because she said that he is very strong for sticking with it even though his whole family is against it.
ReplyDeleteWhen Atticus says "maycombs usual disease" I think he means that whenever something comes up with a black person, everyone becomes racist and doesn't want anything to do with the black person. Yes, I believe Atticus is "obligated" to take this case if he wants to be respected by his kids because you want to teach your kids good morals. If Atticus doesn't take the case and his kids find out, he will essentially be teaching them to give up before they even start something difficult. I think I would take the case if I was in Atticus's position to teach my kids a lesson, and yes I do believe he has already lost before beginning the case because black people never get fair trials at that time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anna when she said Maycomb is a very "gossipy" town like sioux center. This is true because whenever something happens, EVERYONE hears about it. I also agree when she says you shouldn't be a quitter.
ReplyDeleteI think Atticus means by the "Maycomb usual disease" is that blacks are always under the whites know matter if the whites are poor. I do agree with the fact that Atticus is obligated to do this case because he knows it's wrong and that you can a least try. Also he'll teach Jem and Scout about rascim and how it's wrong. I don't think that I would have take the case because I knew that before I even tried that it would've lost. I knew it was the right thing to do but I don't think I could withstand the horrible judgements. Yes I think every lawyer has to have a case that defines them or else you'll never learn what they can actually do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordan when even if Atticus family doesn't agree with him. Atticus is even going to have to with stand judgements from his own family even though they should support him. When even your family doesn't support you, you still have to keep at it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that "Maycomb's usual desiese" is where you hate and despise black people because they are black. Atticus is also obligated to take the case so he can be respected by his children because he wouldn't feel that what he says to them would have any meaning if he didn't. If I had the choice, I would not take a case destined to lose because I would not want that loss to be on my record in the future where it might detract from my career. I do believe that he had lost before the trial had started because of what all the people of Maycomb thought of blacks. I agree that most lawyers will have a case that will "define" them because it will show how much they feel about a subject, and how hard they will work to win that case.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anna in that the desiese could be the gossip of Maycomb, and whatever come from the gossip.
ReplyDeleteI think that Atticus means by saying "Maycomb's usual disease" is all the blacks are not as good as the whites. I think Atticus was obligated, because his family could of thought of him different if he did not take the case. If i was in the same spot as him, I would of done the same thing and take the case. Because it could maybe change the minds of other black people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with james because i think the maycombs disease is the same thing
ReplyDeleteMaycomb's disease is talking about racism, and how whites are better than blacks. If i was in Atticus' situation I probably would not take the case because he made it sounds like he was going to lose before he even started. I also think Maycomb's disease is talking about how everybody in Maycomb knows what everybody else is doing, which leads to gossip and other bad stuff.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ty, because when atticus say "maycomb's unusual disease" it almost everytime involves a black person.
ReplyDeleteThe disease is prejudice against blacks. I agree with atticus because no whites stand up for blacks and I think he is doing a risky case that he may lose. Atticus is going for what he believes in and not going for the case. I do not agree that he lost the case even though every person in maycomb believe that tom robinson did rape a white girl. I would agree that every lawyers has a case that affects them in their life. Some lawyers risk their life in cases, some lawyers get shot when they aren’t around people doing a case that someone hates.
ReplyDeletei would agree with ty when he said that when something pops up everybody wants to know and that happens everywhere u go. Theres always something that happens and everybody always wants to know what happen.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think Atticus means by "Maycomb's usual disease"? people are prejudice agents blacks. Do you agree with Atticus that he is "obligated" to take this case if he wants to be able to be respected by his children? Yes because he wants to show his children a lesson and wants to be a model. Would you have taken the case? Yes because it is the right thing to do people are people and disserved to be helped. Do you agree that he has most likely LOST before the trial even begins? I do think he lost because he is going against wit erases people that do not want to change their minds.. Do you agree that all lawyers (as well as just about EVERY profession) has one "case" in their life that will essentially "define" them? In the life of all people their will com the time when they need to chows the rite or the cool thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordan in saying that Atticus does this to help out his career and to make his children understand things better even though they get made fun of by others. What would have happened if Atticus would have been too greedy to actually take the case? Would he and his children still have been made fun of because of Atticus really thinking that he was better than the Blacks? I almost feel like Atticus would have been hurt even more if he didn't take this case like he was doing.
ReplyDeletei think that what atticus means is that this town is just full of people who hate on blacks. that they only care about what others say agenst them instead of with them. they always think that white are right and blacks are wrong. it dosnt matter if the black is right and a good person and the white person is dirty and rude. i think i agree with him. i think it would be hard for a person to take this much of a struggle for a case. but i do see what he means that he could not face his children. it would be hard not taking a case and then turning around and teaching your childern to treat others nicely and fair. it just wouldnt be right. im not sure if i could take the case. i would feel horrible but i dont think i could take the preasure of people always calling me names and being mad at me. so i dont think i would. no, i dont think he has lost yet. i think if he makes a good enough case he can convince the jury tom was inicant. it helps that the ewells are the other side, and everyone know they are dirty. but it will be a really hard to beat. yes, i do think that every lawer will have a hard case in their time that they will have to take to define who they are and what they stand for.
ReplyDeletei agree with anna because everyone should have a chance. i think that she was right when she said she would take it. but i still dont know if i could handle all the presure that goes with it. but i complement her on that
ReplyDeleteThe reference to "maycomb's usual disease" is the idea that the people of Maycomb have towards the blacks and the way that the act towards them. I think that Atticus's children would respect him no matter what but Atticus would be ashamed either way. Whether I would have taken the case or not I do not know. I can say that I would now but when it came down to it I probably wouldn't. In that I agree with Carrigan that it would be super scary. I think that it is true that the trial was over before it began due to the racism. I don't know much about lawyers but I would have to agree that most lawyers have severe cases that can show who they really are.
ReplyDeletei do not agry with carol the one case is the thing that will tell himself how and what he stands for. having the people you go to cort racis will make having a black persons case hard to win.
ReplyDelete"maycomb's usual disease" is talking about how like the "negros" aren't really accepted by the "whites" because really of skin color.I agree because his children should understand that he is doing the right thing and that they should still respect him for what he is doing. If i was white i probably would take the case cause treat everyone the same even though ur taking the risk of getting shot by a "white" person or being beaten to death. I agree somewhat because already right away their judging him cause of what he is doing.Yes, if your going to be a lawyer then be a "good" lawyer. Help anyone out, doesn't matter wat their race is.
ReplyDeleteI agree on wat denae said because the whole town does hate on the blacks. So if your kind to the blacks you could possibly get beaten to death. You never now what could happen to you when your hanging round blacks. I think also is some of the shite people may wanna be friends/nice to black but their scared for their life and safety so they don't wanna step outside the boundry's and take the risk.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion Atticus refers to(Maycomb’s usual disease)as rumors being spread around Maycomb. Atticus doesn’t want Jem & Scout to believe every word they are told in school or out of school about Tom Robinson's case. Because he wants Jem & Scout to be able to trust him on this. In my opinion Atticus is obligated to the case because if he wouldnt be then everything he taught Jem & Scout would have been wrong.
ReplyDeleteI believe "Maycomb's usual disease" is, as everyone else said, the unfair treatment of whites to blacks. But i also think that it goes deeper than that and he is referring to the disease as what was happening in the world at that time. Nothing was equal between whites and blacks and i think when he says "usual disease" he means the disease the world had and Maycomb had aquired. This can apply to today because when something happens in the world, everyone is affected by it and sometimes it is even unconsciously aquired.
ReplyDeleteI do think he was obligated to take the case because if he didn't, it would have been contradictory to all the good things he had been teaching his children up to that point. I would have taken the case even though it was lost before i would start, because i think i would have felt the same obligation.
I also agree with carri when she said that every job presents someone with the opportunity to define themselves and the show everyone what kind of person they are.
I think "Maycombs usual disease" means that once someone does something the whole town knows what that person did. I agree that he sould take the case becasue his kids need to know that he is doing a good thing helping someone out. I would have taken this case becasue I would help someone out by taking the case and it would probably cahnge the way whites treat the blacks. I do agree that every lawyer has a tough case and they would do anything to help the person they are helping. They would work forever to help.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jamie because even if the whites are poor it is true the blacks are still beneath them. It just isnt fair.
ReplyDeleteI think he means that the deases is hate negros for no reason and judging them before they even know them. Yes i think he was obligated to take the case because if he didn't his kids would think that he is a cowerd and was to scared to take the case. I think I would have. Yes he has lost the trial before it even began. I think that because in the south they hate all negros and they think they are gilty no matter what. Also yes I believe all lawyers have a case that defines him/her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with doubleaah29. In a small town things that some people do or say gets around fast. We have that here in Sioux Center.
ReplyDelete