The defendant in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is Tom Robinson.
Tom Robinson is a Black man falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. The story is set in the 1930s in the racially charged atmosphere of the American South, where prejudice and social injustice are prevalent. Tom’s trial serves as a central event in the novel, exposing the deep-seated racism and moral failures of society.
Atticus Finch, the protagonist’s father and an attorney, defends Tom Robinson, arguing that the evidence against him is flimsy and motivated by racial bias. Despite Atticus’s compelling defense, the jury ultimately convicts Tom, highlighting the systemic racism that permeates the judicial system and the community. This trial and its outcome are pivotal in shaping the narrator, Scout Finch’s, understanding of morality, justice, and empathy.