Mayella’s bruises were on the right side of herface. Tom Robinson’s left arm is useless due to an old accident, whereasMr. Ewell leads with his left. Given the evidence, Tom should go free,but after hours of deliberation, the jury pronounces him guilty.Jem has trouble handling the results of the trial, feeling that histrust in the goodness and rationality of humanity has been betrayed.Meanwhile, Mr. Ewell has been threatening Atticus and other peopleconnected with the trial because he feels humiliated. He gets hisrevenge on night while Jem and Scout are walking home from Halloweenplay at their school. He follows them home in the dark, then runs atthem and attempts to kill them. Jem breaks his arm, and Scout, whowearing a confirming costume, is helpless throughout the attack.However, the elusive Boo Radley stabs Mr. Ewell and saves them. Scoutfinally has a chance to meet the shy and nervous Boo. The sheriffdeclares that Mr. Ewell fell on his own knife so that Boo won’t have to betried for murder. Scout walks Boo home. He goes inside and she neversees him again. Each character in this novel, from Atticus Finch to Arthur Radley,gives the reader a message of some sort, but the most interestingcharacter is Jeremy Atticus (Jem) Finch. This character changesconsiderably over the course of the novel. At first this character is seenas Scout’s companion, playmate, and equal. Then Jem becomes moreaware of the difference in age between himself and Scout which makeshim not want to be embarrassed in front of his fifth grade friends. This isan example of sexual discrimination that is common in young children.At this particular part of the story Jem is seen as the wiser olderbrother. This change in Jem takes place when the Finch children beginschool. Tom Robinson’s trial and the attack from Mr. Ewell cause him tobe exposed to injustice and cruelty of human nature. This forces Jem toact almost grown up by the end of the st...
