A lot happens in the 15th chapter that is related with Atticus and Tom Robinson. The mob forms outside of the Maycomb jail. It is the night before Tom Robinson's trial. That night Atticus goes to the Maycomb jail to defend Tom Robinson because he knows people are going to be coming that night to try to hurt Robinson. He is sitting in front of the jail door reading the paper when cars pull up. "In ones and twos, men got out of the cars. Shadows became substance as lights revealed solid shapes moving toward the jail door. Atticus remained where he was." (pg. 202). This mob of people was created because of Tom Robinson's trial. Since Atticus is Tom Robinson's lawyer and he wants to defend Robinson, he defends him by coming to the jail and risking his own safety against the men for Robinson. The children (Jem, Dill, and Scout) are all seeing this happening in a hiding spot near Atticus and the men. The mob eventually disperses because Scout talked about Walter with Mr. Cunningham about how Walter was a nice kid and a good friend to be with.
People do things while in a mob they would not do mainly because they want to do whatever the majority wants to do. Some people could have a different opinion than the rest of the mob, so since the majority of the group wants to do one thing, the minority might feel afraid to express their opinion, because they might be called out or people would not respect them anymore for not doing what the majority wants. Harper Lee wanted this scene in the book to show Atticus's loyalty and willing to sacrifice for Tom Robinson, and to show how Atticus treats everybody equal. No white person in Maycomb would have risked their life for a black man who was in jail, except Atticus.
What do you think is the reason people do things differently when in a group then alone? Why do you think Mr. Cunningham told his men to go home after Scout told him to say hi to Walter for her? Does this mob incident change the way you view Atticus?
The reason people do thing in groups differently that alone is they feel more powerful. When people feel more powerful they are unkind, and may be more courageous. But Harper Lee makes Atticus courageous against the group of men who largely outnumber him. After this I view Atticus as someone who is not only courageous but stands for human rights because he is defending Robinson and is stopping these men from harassing him.
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