Interview With Atticus Finch

1. The Maycomb Times Interview With Atticus Finch Atticus Finch on the Trial of Tom Robinson Miss Rudeen: Hello Atticus, I hope you don’t mind if I ask a few questions about your most recent case. Mr. Finch: I don’t have a problem with it. What would you like to ask? Miss Rudeen: I want to know if the case has affected you in anyway. Mr. Finch: Of course this case has affected me! Blacks are not respected in this town and I am defending one. People call me names. Not to my face though, to my children! Miss Rudeen: Do you mind telling me what kind of names you are referring to? Mr. Finch: Nigger-lover. How terrible is that? My children, especially my youngest Scout, gets so upset when she hears her dad bein’ called a nigger-lover. Miss Rudeen: I’m sorry Mr. Finch, but if this case caused all these issues, why did you agree to take it on? Mr. Finch: Every lawyer has at least one of these sorta cases in their career. The kind where they gotta do it to prove a point no matter the consequences. Miss Rudeen: I guess that makes sense. How do you feel about not winning? Mr. Finch: To be honest, I’d rather not answer. Miss Rudeen: Alright. Whose side of the story do you believe? Mr. Finch: I believe and always will believe Mr. Robinson’s side of the story. He was the only one who seemed truthful of his story. Miss Rudeen: Any other thoughts? Mr. Finch: Mr. Ewell is guilty in my mind! He will not get away with leaving an innocent man in jail. Miss Rudeen: You can’t just accuse anybody of being guilty. Besides, it was his daughter who got hurt. Why would Mr. Ewell want to hurt his own daughter?

2. Mr. Finch: Mr. Robinson had said that Mayella kissed him on the face. Maybe Mr. Ewell was upset because his own daughter kissed a Negro. Miss Rudeen: Did you have proof of this. Mr. Finch: I had Tom Robinson tell me himself. Miss Rudeen: How do you know what he said was true? Mr. Finch: I cannot know but I can believe what I want. Mr. Robinson had said that Mr. Ewell shouted at Mayella through the window. He had said he was going to kill her. Miss Rudeen: Did Mr. Ewell or Mayellea confirm this? Mr. Finch: Of course not. They sat quietly as I questioned Mr. Robinson. Miss Rudeen: And now Mr. Robinson is in jail? Mr. Finch: Yes ma’am and there was nothing I could do about it. Miss Rudeen: Well, I appreciate your time Mr. Finch. I’m sorry your trial didn’t go as you had hoped. Mr. Finch: It was my pleasure. I just wish that I could have done something to help Tom. Miss Rudeen: Sorry to hear that. Mr. Finch: I really thought I had good arguments. No matter the case, I do my very best because everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Mr.Robinson is loved. He has a whole family who knew he is innocent but the unfortunate events of blacks’ verses whites put him into jail. I had a feeling the fact he is a Negro was going to be a problem. Miss Rudeen: I don’t understand. Could you explain a bit more? Mr. Finch: Well Miss, Negroes don’t get as much respect or fairness as the others. That’s why I thought the trial wouldn’t go well. I did my best to prove Mr. Robinson was innocent but there just wasn’t anything else I could have done. Miss Rudeen: Mr. Finch, I’m sure the Negroes appreciate your thoughtfulness. When someone needs it, they certainly appreciate. It was nice seeing you. Mr. Finch: You too ma’am. Atticus Finch and the accused Tom Robinson