This song tremendously represents the struggle for freedom of many kinds in this chapter. Scout and Jem are always being criticized by Aunt Alexandra because they don’t act like “common” folk. They just want to be left alone and live their lives free of strange etiquette and racism. Tom Robinson was put in jail for a crime he probably didn’t do ( he was accused by a Ewell, they don’t have much credibility) and Atticus had to defend him against a lynch mob that would have probably killed him if Scout and the other children didn’t come along. Tom Robinson just wants to be treated fairly and be free from a racist society. Finally, the trial begins in this section and so does Tom’s fight for freedom, and if he fails he loses his life.
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1 Response to “Song: Freedom (13-16)”
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Unfortunately, freedom is still a few decades out for these desperate souls in the South. I agree, that the children want to just live life the way they want to. This is a way better way of learning things than being told what to do by a strict mother. African Americans of this time period just want to live like this too – the way they want, with no absurd rules or racism. Tom Robinson is probably the scapegoat in some dastardly Ewell plot to gain something. What would they get though? Money, a rise in racism, or is it just a way to get their kicks in a era of depression? The opinion of the townsfolk toward Tom is probably swayed by the cruelty of the Ewells. If someone doesn’t agree, then they’ll probably get hurt. That means that Atticus may be a future target of a lynch mob like the one he just defended against. I’m anxious to see what happens along with you. That’s still like, half the book left in terms of the trial, so there’s gotta be a lot that will happen!