<em>To Kill a Mockingbird </em><em> </em>is Harper Lee's novel which explores the theme of racial inequality present in the fictional town of Maycomb, during the Great Depression.
A.) a reasonable doubt
Answer: Atticus states that in the absence of eye-witnesses, such as in Tom's case, there is always a doubt (a possibility that the defendant is innocent).
Explanation:
When we say that the evidence must be <em>beyond reasonable doubt, </em>it actually means that the evidence the prosecution gives must be proven in a way that there is no doubt that the defendant is guilty.
In <em>Chapter 23</em>, Atticus discusses the trial with his children, and explains that there is no evidence to prove that Tom Robinson has physically assaulted Mayella Ewell. Moreover, there were no eye-witnesses in this case, which means that the evidence against Tom is not beyond reasonable doubt. Atticus points out that ''there's always a doubt, sometimes only a shadow of a doubt. The law says 'reasonable doubt,' but I think a defendant's entitled to the shadow of a doubt. There's always the possibility, no matter how improbable, that he's innocent"
B.) “when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s the white man always wins”:
Answer: In this line, Atticus explains that in a world where black men are constantly discriminated against, there is no chance that a black man would be found not guilty.
Explanation:
Jem fails to understand why Tom Robinson has been found guilty, as there is no evidence to prove his guilt. Atticus points out that the jury did not make a rational decision. There were twelve white men on the jury, and they, logically, believed Bob Ewell, who is also a white man. They decided that Tom must be found guilty at all costs, because he is black. Unfortunately, prejudices against black people are present in every aspect of society in Maycomb, and there is nothing Atticus could do about it.
C.) “people have a way of carrying their resentments right into the jury box”:
Answer: Atticus is certain that people are going to behave the same way in the courtroom as they do in real life.
Explanation:
During his conversation with Jem, Atticus says that, if people have prejudices outside the courtroom, they are also going to have them during the trial. <em>Racial inequality is always present in the society, and is thus reflected in jury's decision</em>. Atticus knew this from the very beginning, and is therefore not taken by surprise when Tom is found guilty.
D.) “it’s all adding up and one of these days we are going to pay the bill for it.”(what is this foreshadowing?)
Answer: This is foreshadowing that one day, people are going to face consequences of the racial intolerance they currently display.
Explanation:
Atticus is certain that white people's treatment of African Americans is unjust, and that they must eventually face consequences of their actions. Black people are not going to be deprived of equal rights forever, he suggests. Atticus made this prediction in the 1930s, while in the 1950s, at the time the novel was written, <em>the struggle for civil rights was taking place </em>and black people were moving closer to equal rights.
