The start of the trial of Tom Robinson

In the trial of Tom Robinson, Harper Lee builds suspense in a very powerful way. Whatever tension there is is already doubled by Jems reactions to everything that happens. This excites Scout and therefore makes the situation more exciting for the reader. For example on page 173 when the heat rises in the court discussion "Jem’s hand, which was resting on the balcony rail, tightened around it. He drew in his breath suddenly. Glancing below, I saw no corresponding reaction, and wondered if Jem was trying to be dramatic."  Jem’s tense and exaggerated and tense reaction means that although Scout does not still fully understand what is happening in the trial at that moment she is alert and greedy for more information, as is the reader.

Also the fact that all of the "negroes" are sitting behind Dill, Jem and Scout adds to the tension because it shows the true injustice of the situation, where children who are maybe not even supposed to be there have better seats that the potential friends and family of Tom Robinson. The fact that Atticus is the children’s father also has a very powerful affect when adding tension as their wanting for him to do well and not shame himself is evident through the way that they pay so much attention to the entire goings on in the trial. When  Atticus asks “Mr Ewell, can you read and write?” his air of mysteriousness grips each and every person in the court room and this builds the suspense as it appears to be  a spark of hope  for Tom Robinson, which before that moment had not appeared to exist.