I always assumed Tom didn't really try to escape, but that he was killed by prison guards or police for revenge for supposedly raping a white girl, and they just said he tried to escape. Is that right? Or did he really try to escape and was killed for it?
shareThat’s a good question I’ve never thought of. I could see it going either way. I think you’d have to put yourself in the shoes of Atticus, and determine whether he was telling Scout the truth. Atticus would know if Tom tried to escape. So, if he did, that’s that. But if he didn’t try to escape, then would Atticus lie and say he did?
shareAtticus was talking to Miss Muadie, not just the kids, though they were present. I think it's safe to assume that Tom did in fact take off knowing what was in store for him. There would not be another trial. He would disappear before that ever came to fruition and the manner of death would probably have been much more horrible.
Agreed. He'd tried Atticus's legal system and he no longer trusted it.
shareWell I dont think Atticus lied if Tom was actually murdered, I think he was just saying what the word was. And I don't think he would know if Tom really tried to escape or not, its not like he was there. All he has to go by is the prison guards version of what happened.
But the other poster has a good point, maybe he did try to truly escape because he knew it could only get worse for him. Maybe he saw a chance and took it, knowing he'd either be successful or dead, but at least free of prison.
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