Chapter 20/21: Explore Atticus’ words and actions in his closing argument. What makes his argument so effective? Why does Harper Lee do this? (Sharon)

When Atticus is telling his closing argument he made it effective by making it personal. "...he was talking to the jury as if they were folks on the post office corner." (Lee 271) With him doing this, Atticus is trying to make the jury feel like that they aren't in a court but a space that they're comfortable in. In the closing argument Atticus is trying to tell the men in the jury to look pass the fact that Tom Robinson is a black man. Look at the fact that he's a human being with a wife and kids. This in a way reminds me of the time when Scout made Mr. Cunningham realize that Atticus was almost just like him. Harper Lee does this because it shows Atticus' personality more, it shows that he really is trying to fight for Tom Robinson. Even if he was forced into it, he's still trying his best to win the case.