Tension in the Tom Robinson Court Case

The first tension that we see during the court case is the racial tension and discrimination due to the seating arrangements in the court. The white people are invited to sit downstairs in the courtroom, however the black people that attend the trial are made to sit upstairs, resulting in segregation. When Scout and Jem arrive, there are no seats left downstairs so Reverend Sykes takes them upstairs and immediately the black people get up to give Jem, Scout and Dill a seat. Harper Lee uses this as a source of tension because normally, the white people wouldn't mix with the black people but because Jem and Scout don't really understand the racism, they don't mind sitting upstairs if it means they can see the case.

Harper Lee also creates tension when the children have a conversation with Miss Maudie Atkinson abou the court case before they visit the court themselves. During their conversation, Dill asks Miss Maudie if she is going to go to the court herself. She automatically says no, becuase "just because it's public, I don't have to go". This creates tension because Miss Maudie does agree that Tom should be tested in public, however she does not think that everyone should be so willing to go and watch the case as it is none of their business. This may put doubt into Scout and Jem's mind about what is happening at the court, because normally women and children do not visit the court to wath trials.