Evidence and details from the text
In this quote, Scout wants to highlight how difficult it was for a black man to get access to justice at the time. She tells us that Tom Robinson had been given "due process of law." This implies that Tom Robinson was treated fairly in the eyes of the law because he had had a lawyer and a trial.
However, Scout also highlights the fact that, besides these advantages, Robinson's trial was definitely not fair and just. In fact, he was harshly judged because of his skin colour, which many people took to be almost evidence of Robinson's guilt. Therefore, as Scout highlights, Tom had "lost" in front of his peers, and he was never able to gain support from people who were against him from the beginning. Tom had lost the case in the "secret court of men's heart."
Although using the POV of a story can be helpful in determining the
author's point of view (especially in light of who the main character is
in the story), it also helps to consider the background details of the
author and the story itself. Things like knowing where the story takes
place and what the climate (political and social) where like as at the
time, can add to the background and understanding of the author and his
viewpoints.
Answer: After reading the short story "I Stand Here Ironing," <em>I do believe that Emily's mother is a reliable narrator</em>, because of several different things that she states to the person that the school sent.
Emily's mother can speak of the things that Emily experienced as a child and let the person she is speaking to understand more about Emily and the way that she is. She obviously can't speak for Emily or even tell the person from the school what Emily herself is thinking, but is useful in helping see how Emily herself has been treated by her family.
In the story, the mother states that <em>Emily had to leave the family after the birth of her sister because Emily had contracted red measles and could not see her mother or sister for a couple of weeks. </em>Emily <em>had already suffered from her father leaving, her family suffering from money problems, and being alone before the birth of her sister since the mother had to work to support the family. </em>This begins the part of the story about how the measles left Emily sickly and had lost a lot of weight. Since her mother was not there to comfort her when she was sick, she no longer wanted her mother to comfort her, after this period. Emily had to be sent away again to regain her health but never did fully recover. <em>The mother states in the story that the convalescent home Emily went too was not good, and Emily never regained the weight since the food was bad, she got to come home after 8 months. </em>After returning, Emily no longer wanted to attend school and become reclusive.
The mother is the only person who can relate these things from Emily's life to the person from the school. This can help the school to understand why Emily may be having issues with school work or problems with others.
