TKAM Chapters 15-17

These chapters finally got into the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping the daughter of Robert Ewell.  The plot has finally begun to pick up and it has become increasingly interesting.  Atticus, who is defending Tom, knows he has a low chance of winning this case, and because he is defending a black man, his reputation is on the line.  If he wins, the public will hate him for saving him, but if he loses, his reputation will be lost and he will have the guilt of knowing a person was killed because he didn't persuade the jury.  Either way, Atticus' career appears to be coming to an end.