The children find Atticus at the county jail, where he is guarding Tom Robinson, who has been accused of assaulting Mayella Ewell. Atticus is there to protect Tom from a potential lynching by a mob.
Tom is in the Maycomb County Jail during the time that Atticus faces the mob downtown.
Atticus goes to the jail to protect Tom Robinson from a potential lynching by a mob that intends to harm him. He believes in standing up for what is right and fair. By going to the jail, Atticus shows his commitment to defending Tom and upholding justice.
Atticus worried that White men would try to take justice into their own hands. He sat there to protect the prisoner, even if it meant Atticus could be in danger. White men did come, demanding that Atticus step aside.
The children find Atticus sitting outside the Maycomb jail, reading a newspaper by the light of a streetlamp.
A man like Mr. Underwood was covering Atticus at the jail because Mr. Underwood knows that he was innocent.
Scout and Jem carry an office chair and a light to the jail in "To Kill a Mockingbird" in order to sit and provide light for their father, Atticus, who is guarding the jail.
Atticus is waiting at the jail to protect Tom Robinson from a lynch mob that wants to take vigilante action against him. Atticus shows his courageous and principled character by standing up for what is right in the face of a hostile crowd.
Atticus needs the extension cord so he can take the lamp to the front of the jail and read while he's sitting in the chair. It's not just because he needs the light to see to read, but he..
The group of men came to see Atticus because they were planning to harm Tom Robinson, a black man who Atticus was defending in court. They were not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, as Atticus stood his ground and refused to back down from defending Tom.
Dill shows respect for Atticus by understanding the gravity of the situation outside the jail and acknowledging Atticus's bravery and integrity in the face of danger. He also looks up to Atticus as a role model for standing up for what is right and remaining composed under pressure.
Atticus knows Tom Robinson is coming back to the Maycomb jail because he received a tip from Heck Tate, the sheriff, that a mob might try to harm Tom. Therefore, Atticus decides to sit by Tom in an attempt to protect him.