In chapter 21, What is the jury’s verdict? Why do you think it took them so long to arrive at a decision?
In chapter 21, the jury's verdict is that Tom Robinson is guilty. They find him guilty of raping Mayella Ewell, even though there is overwhelming evidence suggesting that he is innocent.
The reason it took the jury so long to arrive at a decision is due to the deeply ingrained racism and prejudice that exists in the community. Tom Robinson is a black man accused of assaulting a white woman, which, in the eyes of many jury members, automatically makes him guilty. Moreover, despite the evidence presented by Atticus Finch, the defense attorney, the mindset of the jury might have been influenced by societal norms and racial biases that prevented them from considering the possibility of Tom's innocence. The lengthy deliberation could also indicate some internal conflict among certain members of the jury who may have been initially swayed by the evidence but ultimately succumbed to peer pressure or societal expectations. Overall, the long deliberation reflects the power of systemic racism and prejudice in influencing people's judgment and decisions.