Was the law upheld in the Tom Robinson trial? What effect do the “unwritten rules” of a society have on the law and the way that it is upheld? What happens when these unwritten rules are in conflict with the law?
No the law was not upheld. It was drowned out by ignorance and bigotry. The "unwritten rules" of racial hatred of blacks in the white South transcended justice and truth. I think everyone knew the truth about what happened but their bigotry was too strong to resist. I think Atticus did hold a mirror to this kind of hate which, hopefully, might lead to positive change. Unfortunately there are still places in the American South that grapple with these conflicts.
