Judge Taylor was polling the jury: "Guilty...guilty...guilty...guilty..." I peeked at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each "guilty" was a separate stab between them.

I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: “Guilty…guilty…guilty…guilty…” I peeked at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them.

– Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 21. Judge Taylor reads the jury’s verdict on Tom Robinson. Scout reports how shocked Jem is at the verdict, which he didn’t expect. He reacts like he was being physically attacked.

Harper Lee Quotes