The Negative Effect of the Tom Robinson TrialA small town in Alabama sees its admirable and friendly personality become unfair and prejudiced, simply because of a major trial. In the 1930s, many trials involved falsely accused African Americans. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a perfect example of this injustice. Many people questioned whether the trial had a positive impact on Scout and Jem or a negative impact on them. Because this trial nearly led to their deaths, caused neighbors to criticize them, and put them in dangerous positions, the trial had a negative effect on Scout and Jem. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The trial directly led to the attempted murder of Jem and Scout. Because Atticus participated in the trial and actually defended an African American, Bob Ewell resented Atticus and his children. In the dark, after a play, Jem and Scout were walking home. Bob Ewell slowly crept up behind them and, “…slowly took the breath away from me (Scout)” (Lee, 351). If Arthur Radley had not come to safety, Jem and Scout would have been murdered by Bob Ewell. This is a direct threat to Jem and Scout's safety. If Atticus hadn't taken the deal, Jem and Scout would never have been put in this situation. Mr. Ewell is not the only neighbor whose opinion has changed about the Finch family. Many friendly neighbors have also changed their minds because of the Tom Robinson trial. This led to neighbors harassing and criticizing Jem and Scout. The Cunningham family did business with Atticus and were helped by him in court. The relationship between the Finch family and the Cunningham family was strong until the trial broke out. Mr. Cunningham participated in a mob that attempted to kill Tom Robinson. This negatively affected Jem and Scout as they were placed in a dangerous area. Mrs. Dubose usually gave Jem and Scout a hard time when they passed her house. The insults intensified when Mrs. Dubose described the future of the Finch family, "not only a Finch waiting on tables, but another in the courthouse pleading for the niggers!" » (Lee, 135). This makes Jem and Scout angry, bored, and worried about walking past Mrs. Dubose's house. Scout and Jem are very defensive of their father, which is why Mrs. Dubose's comments annoy them. This is important because Scout and Jem have to pass by Mrs. Dubose's house on the way to town; this limits the number of times Jem and Scout go into town. Although the trial changed the neighbors' opinions, some of their protests also put Jem and Scout in dangerous positions. The anger shown towards Atticus and the Finches has put Jem and Scout in dangerous positions. An example that illustrates this is when the mob arrived at the prison in an attempt to arrest Tom Robinson. Scout and Jem were both there, in the middle of an angry, drunk crowd. One of the crowd: “….grabbed Jem roughly by the collar. He almost knocked Jem off his feet. “Don’t touch him!” I kicked the man quickly. (Lee, 203-204). This event shows how dangerous it is to be associated with this trial. Even though Jem and Scout had no deciding factor in how the lawsuit was settled, they were always targeted because they are Atticus' children. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee shows the danger of Atticus defending Tom Robinson. This decision almost got his children killed because Bob Ewell held a grudge against him and knew that if he had killed his children, Atticus would be devastated and would have to live with the guilt. Jem and.