Essay on A Member of the Jury in To Kill a Mockingbird

The courthouse was crowded, all seats were taken and many were standing in the back. It was silent, no one spoke, not even a baby cried out. There was the Judge sitting in the front of the room, the defendant, the solicitor, and the jury. I was a member of the jury that day. Everyone knew the truth, the defendant was innocent, and the evidence that was established was supportive and clear. The jury’s decision however, was not based on evidence, but on race. A jury is supposed to put their beliefs aside and make a decision based on the information given during the trial. Jury members must do their duty and do what is right. I tried to do what was right, but all the other members of the jury were blind. They chose to convict because of skin†¦show more content†¦Ballet after ballet, I voted not guilty. It was the right thing to do and it became a small step toward a non-segregation movement between blacks and whites. This was my duty because jury members must always be o pen minded and not form opinions on the case. I also did not want that poor black man taken away from his wife and family and put in jail for something he did not do. The last vote however, I had to vote the defendant guilty. I felt terrible, but I could not change the votes of others. All of the other jury members all kept voting guilty and I was the only one standing for truth and fairness. It is in the human nature of white people to choose white people over black people. I tried to change that and make a difference. Every minute out of that courtroom voting on the verdict made each and every person in the courtroom think about what was right and what was fair. In the end, justice was definitely not given to the right person. Only the people who had vision could see that this decision was wrong. I felt horrible about myself that I had to make and commit to that decision. It was a small step of progress in that town of Maycomb and I will never forget that day. â€Å"A jury’s vote is supposed to be secret. Serving on a jury forces a man to make up his mind and declare himself about something. Men don’t like to do that. Sometimes it’s unpleasant.† (p297) This quote explains the situation the jury had to go through in To Kill a Mockingbird. Many of theShow MoreRelatedJustice In Reginald Roses 12 Angry Men1532 Words   |  7 Pagesjustice a person has however is not the only factor that comes into play, when establishing whether the defendant is guilty or innocent. The play, ‘12 angry men’, written by Reginald Rose, is a drama involved around a jury and a homicide case. In comparison, the movie, ‘To kill a mockingbird’, directed by Robert Mulligan, follows the tale of Atticus Finch, a lawyer, who defends a black man against fabricated rape charges, and the evils of racism and stereotyping. Both texts have strongly opposing beliefsRead MoreMoral Chaos in Harper Lees Maycomb Essay1134 Words   |  5 PagesHarper Lee argues in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, that the moral obligations of a court are thrown aside in favor of the law that lies in the minds of men. She describes her characters in such a manner that alludes to their inner thoughts. Through practiced repetition, the citizens of Maycomb force the existence of the social inequality that is white supremacy. Whether by following lead or by ignoring the problem altogether, it is the people alone who allow injustices to occur. In a public appealRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Persuasive Essay944 Words   |  4 PagesMy name is Samantha and I am a high school Freshman in the Bay Area. Recently in English class, we have finished the classic book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In the book, we looked at the symbolism and how it relates to modern issues. I quickly noticed that the book not only show the court system in the 1960s but also the court system standing today. By having a colored man convicted of a c rime he did not relates to todays issue of the colored community getting harsher and longer sentencesRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird Metaphor Analysis: It is a Sin to Kill Tom Robinson1531 Words   |  7 PagesSin to Kill Tom RobinsonMockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They dont eat up peoples gardens, dont nest in corncribs, they dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. Thats why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. (90) This quote is stated by Miss Maudie, underscoring the point of view of Atticus, who is a lawyer given an uphill job of substantiating a black mans innocence who is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewells. To Kill a Mockingbird is an inspirationalRead MorePrejudice in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essays1381 Words   |  6 PagesPrejudice in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Works Cited Missing In todays society men, women and children experience prejudice in their lives, either as victims themselves or being guilty of using prejudice towards others due to differences between them. Prejudice is a preconception of a person based on stereotypes without real facts and discriminationRead MoreRacial Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird848 Words   |  4 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in the 1930’s. The story stretches over a span of three years through the duration of the Great Depression. The Jim Crow laws â€Å"was a system of segregation and discrimination that barred black Americans from a status equal to that of white Americans,† as described by Tsahai Tafari (1). 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This system may originate from an â€Å"ancient right for an accused to be tried only â€Å"by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land†Ã¢â‚¬  (Thomas). In the United States, trial by jury is mentioned in Article Three of the Constitution and the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Amendments. For many people, the jury system seems to be the fairest system and most unbiased way of determiningRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird Essay892 Words   |  4 PagesLindsey Congdon Mrs. Peterson Period 7 December 1, 2009 To Kill a Mockingbird Essay The Dictionary defines prejudice as, â€Å"an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.† There has been prejudice known throughout history, mostly against the blacks during and before the time of Martin Luther King Jr. In The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee there is clear evidence of prejudice against the blacks. InRead MoreEssay on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee665 Words   |  3 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee To Kill A Mockingbird has several themes included in this classic novel. The theme of a book is defined by the dominating ideas in a literary work. It is an abstract concept that is made solid through the authors use of action, images, and characters. The main theme in this work is the reality of prejudice. Class, sex, and race are some of the prejudices present in the town of Maycomb.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prejudice concerning ones class in society is dominant in the