Skip to main content

What does Atticus explain about the jury system?

The answer to this question can be found in Chapter 23 of To Kill a Mockingbird. Everyone is still very upset about Tom's conviction, and Jem makes the comment that the system would be more fair without juries. Atticus does not go this far, but he says that "people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box." In other words, juries are reflections of the societies from which they draw...

The answer to this question can be found in Chapter 23 of To Kill a Mockingbird. Everyone is still very upset about Tom's conviction, and Jem makes the comment that the system would be more fair without juries. Atticus does not go this far, but he says that "people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box." In other words, juries are reflections of the societies from which they draw their members. Even though a courtroom is supposed to be a place where justice is blind, the reality is that they are prejudiced and sometimes unfair. The conversation turns to a broader discussion about race, and Atticus gets highly animated discussing the racial prejudice that is rampant in Maycomb. The broader point, however, is that a black man cannot get a fair trial in Alabama or anywhere else in the Deep South, and this is the point that Atticus raises: Until people's mentalities change, true change is unattainable. He does suggest, in light of this reality, that perhaps judges should be responsible for fixing the death penalty in capital cases.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...