Monday, September 16, 2013

In To Kill a Mockingbird, why is Tom's left arm crippled?

We first see Tom Robinson's arm at the trial after Heck
Tate, Mayella and Bob have all testified. The information they reveal contrasts against
Tom's testimony in many ways, but the first is the physical description of injuries and
the cold hard truth that your question begs to reveal. The person who injured Mayella
appears to have been able to lead strongly with their left
arm.


Tom's left arm got caught in a cotton
gin while he was at work on Mr. Link Deas' farm. 


Another detail that deals with this
arm occurs Mr. Gilmer's suggestion that Tom was a good fighter anyway and could have
done to Mayella what he did even though he is crippled. That argument was disproved by
Atticus.


Link Deas also stands up to testify (although he
wasn't asked) on behalf of Robinson from the middle of the courtroom. He insinuated that
Tom had always been a good worker for him.

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