Kevin Dessimoz - External Reading 2

To Kill A Mockingbird is an excellent story that focuses on racism in the South. Atticus Finch is appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of rape. Defending this man will be no easy task in the state of Alabama, which is still very racist in this story. The Finch family is ridiculed for Atticus' willingness to defend a black man, but Atticus knows he is doing the right thing. The jury finds Robinson guilty, even though he is innocent, and Atticus is disappointed in the justice system. Tom Robinson tries to escape from jail and is shot and killed, this is not a just death for an innocent man. The main theme of To Kill a Mockingbird is doing the right thing, even if it goes against the social norm.