What mistake did Tom make in saying he felt sorry for Mayella?

Answer 1

She accused him of rape under the pressure of her father (BOB EWELL). At the end, he tried to escape but did not succeed. He was shot dead.

There wasn't much chance for him to win the case anyways because of his skin color.

Answer 2

the significance is that a black man; tom rob. is saying that and the jury obviously is blinded by the racism and stereotyped attitude that what tom says "i felt sorry for her sur" it clearly indicates the different stand point of the whites and the blacks in tkamb

Answer 3

Because in those days, blacks were considered second class citizens, and for a black to feel sorry for a white person, even those of low means such as the Ewells, was considered arrogant, or "uppity" in those days. It was a time of racial ignorance.

Answer 4

black people were never supposed to feel sorry for whites

Answer 5

The whites in the courtroom felt a black man, such as Tom, should have no sympathy for a white girl. They felt he was implying he was better or in a higher position than them.

Answer 6

because she was the loniest woman in the world