When the group of men arrives, Atticus confirms that Tom Robinson is inside the jailhouse sleeping and tells the men not to awaken him. Scout reports: “In obedience to my father, there followed what I later realized was a sickeningly comic aspect of an unfunny situation: the men talked in near-whispers” (202). What is “sickeningly comic” about the situation? Why is it ironic that the men agree to talk in whispers?

In Chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, Jem, and Dill venture downtown at night and find Atticus sitting in front of the jail. Unaware of their presence, Atticus is sitting in a chair and reading a newspaper. As the children begin to leave, a line of cars approaches and stops in front of the jail. Hiding near the hardware store, Scout, Jem, and Dill watch as the men exit the cars and approach Atticus. One of the men says, "He in there, Mr. Finch?" Atticus confirms that Tom Robinson is indeed inside but cautions them, "He's asleep. Don't wake him up." What follows is what Scout refers to as a "sickeningly comic aspect of an unfunny situation."
The men are there to participate in a violent and uncivilized act. However, while their goal is to lynch Tom, they are respectful of Atticus and do as he says by whispering when they speak. It is ironic that they plan to hurt Tom and may even hurt Atticus in the process; they speak to him respectfully and whisper out of obedience to him. They even refer to Atticus as "Mr. Finch." Though there is nothing funny about the events, Scout refers to the situation as "sickeningly comic." This is because the men are managing to be respectful while at the same time planning to do bodily harm.