Tom Robinson shows courage simply by taking the witness stand in chapter 19. But the most specific moment when he is faced with the most prejudice is when Mr. Gilmer cross-examines him. Mr. Gilmer speaks so disrespectfully to Tom that it actually makes an innocent child cry (Dill). For example, when Tom says that he felt sorry for Mayella Ewell's situation, Scout explains what followed:
"'You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?' Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to raise the ceiling. The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson's answer. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let it sink in" (197).
Mr. Gilmer continues questioning Tom and Tom does a great job holding his head high and answering the questions. Mr. Gilmer tries to twist the way Tom presents his testimony by asking if he's saying Mayella is lying, which puts Tom in another sticky situation. But Tom says respectfully and courageously, "I don't say she's lyin', Mr. Gilmer, I say she's mistaken in her mind" (197).
Tom is convicted and sent off to prison, even if he was courageous at the trial, because there's no beating racism in 1935 Alabama. But his one last ounce of courage is spent running for his life as he tries to escape. He tries to outrun the prejudice of the judicial system because he doesn't believe that he will win with an appeal like Atticus does. Atticus explains Tom's bravery in chapter 24:
". . . the guards called to him to stop. They fired a few shots in the air, then to kill. They got him just as he went over the fence. They said if he'd had two good arms he'd have made it, he was moving that fast. Seventeen bullet holes in him. They didn't have to shoot him that much" (235).
In the end, Tom's courage wasn't enough to stop bullets, but he did what he thought was best at the time. He gave the judicial process a try and stood up for himself against a whole town of prejudiced white people and that's true bravery.
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