**To Kill A Mockingbird Chapter 19**
"Nobody liked Tom's answer" to the question of why he helped Mayella for no pay. Explain Mr. Gilmer's fury at Tom's feeling sorry for Mayella. Consider why this attitude itself might almost constitute a crime in Maycomb, and what might follow if such an attitude became common.
Answer (2)
Mr. Gilmer's anger toward Tom's feelings of pity for Mayella in 'To Kill A Mockingbird' was driven by the racial prejudices and societal norms of Maycomb. A black man feeling sorry for a white woman was seen as crossing societal boundaries and even perceived almost as a crime. If such an attitude became reality, it could potentially disrupt the social structure of Maycomb. ;
Mr. Gilmer's anger at Tom Robinson's sympathy for Mayella Ewell symbolizes the racial prejudices of Maycomb. Tom's compassion, seen as a threat to the societal order, highlighted the dangerous implications of emotions crossing racial lines. Mr. Gilmer's fury reflects the fear that empathy could disrupt the established racial hierarchy in this deeply segregated society.
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