CHAPTER+19

In chapter 19 of //To Kill a Mockingbird//, Tom Robinson is a witness, “He guided his arm to the Bible…Tom took the oath and stepped in to the witness chair.”(190). Tom is questioned by Atticus about what he had been helping Mayella with and what he had done on the night of November 21st he year before. Tom had done many chores for Mayella, “She give me the hatchet and I broke up the chiffarobe.”(191) “Seemed like every time I passed by yonder she’d have some little somethin’ for me to do---choppin’ kindlin’, totin’ water for her.”(191). Tom, on pages 192-194, describes his last big encounter with Mayella, “I was goin’ home as usual that evenin’, an’ when I passed the Ewell place Miss. Mayella were on the front porch, like she said she were (192)…Mr. Finch, I was runnin’ so fast I didn’t know what happened (194).” For the rest of the chapter Mr. Gilmer cross examines Tom. He examines tom’s generosity towards Mayella and further examination of what Tom supposedly did. On page 197 Mr. Gilmer says, “That was mighty generous of you, you had chores at home after your regular work, didn’t you?” On 198 a conversation between Tom and Mr. Gilmer, – “Didn’t Mr. Ewell run you off the place, boy?” Mr.G – “No suh, I don’t think he did” Tom – “Don’t think, what do you mean?” Mr.G – “I mean I didn’t stay long enough for him to run me off.” Tom – “You’re very candid about this, why did you run so fast?” Mr. G – “I says I was scared, suh.” In this chapter I think the point of view is mostly Scout as a kid, but some of it is her as an adult. This could be a close up scene of the trial going on

– Katherine