Tension at Tom Robinson's Trial

Harper Lee builds tension during the trial of Tom Robinson in a variety of different ways. Firstly, Bob Ewell, the father of Mayella Ewell who was supposedly raped by Tom Robinson. He used very informal language “Mayella was screaming like a stuck hog”, which shows great disrespect towards the court, and makes people have less sympathy to this side of the case. This builds tension because Mr Ewell is using strong language which shows his passion and belief towards his account of event which makes the reader want to find out whether theses events are true of not.

Lee creates further tension as Miss Maudie doesn't attend the case, "'You goin' to court this morning?' asked Jem. We had strolled over. 'I am not,' she [Miss Maudie Atkinson] said. 'I have no business with the court this morning.''Aren't you going to watch?' asked Dill. 'I am not it's morbid, watching a poor devil on trial for his life. Look at all those folks, it's like a Roman carnival.'" - pg 159. Women and children didn't usually attend court, as it was something that they shouldn't see, despite Jem and Scout being there.  Miss Maudie's response shows that she doesn't want anything to do with the trial, that she doesn't really care what happens either way. 

In the courthouse white people were invited to sit downstairs first, before black people who had to sit upstairs. However, Scout and Jem were sitting upstairs which builds tension as it is clear that the are not supposed to be there and could get in serious trouble with Atticus for being there. This also adds racial tension that white people and black people were separated, and highlights the importance of the trial because they were seated in a formal seating arrangement.  

It is discovered to everyone in the court that Tom Robinson is unable to use his left had, therefore this doesn't match up with the bruises left on Mayella's face. This creates tension slowly because evidence of perhaps Tom Robinson's guilt is released. This lets the reader decide which side they are on, letting them anticipate what the final verdict will be. The reader's opinion might change though as each witness is heard.