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Major characters in to kill a mockingbird
Moral education to kill a mockingbird
Moral education to kill a mockingbird
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Do you not believe we need more compassion and tolerance in the world? Why can we not be like Atticus, Jem or Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee? These characters show great compassion and tolerance throughout the novel despite the society they live in. They have the courage to stand up for what they believe in. Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem. Jem displays values like compassion and tolerance by believing that all men are created equal no matter which race, religion, or attitude they have. He shows this when he hears the verdict of Tom Robinson's trial. 'It was Jem's turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. 'It ain't right,' he muttered, all the way to the corner of the square where we found Atticus'; (212). This is the first time he realizes that there was injustice in the world. He slowly matures and begins to understand that there are such thing as prejudice and racism. Scout first learns to show compassion and tolerance by refusing to go to school because she hates Miss Caroline. Atticus tells her that, 'First of all, if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it'; (30). When Atticus told her this, she began to accept Miss Caroline as well as other people's differences and opinions.
Throughout the novel, Atticus’ assistance to Jem and Scout’s development becomes evident. Atticus takes every opportunity to attempt to teach his children the importance of having an open-mind. For instance, when Scout queries Atticus about Maycomb’s prejudice perspective, he tells her, “You never really understand a person until…you climb in their skin and walk around in it.” (Lee 30) Even during the early stages of the novel, it is apparent that Atticus endeavors to instill the values of empathy and tolerance within Jem and Scout by teaching them how to have multiple perspectives on a situation. In addition, Atticus also attempts to enlighten his children about peaceful resolution in society. For example, when Atticus is chosen to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus tells Scout, you might hear some ugly talk about it at school but…you just hold your head high and keep those fists down.”...
Prejudice can blind the mind, forcing you to see the world only on what you hear. By removing these blinds through understanding and exposure, Jem and Scout are able to see the world for ourselves, for how it truly is. In a country where 34% of Americans admit they are racist, something obviously went wrong. If we want to eliminate prejudice from our country, we need to do something to fix it. So here is my proposal to each and every American.. Whenever you catch yourself judging another man, stop and think to yourself, ‘What would Atticus do?’
Atticus did what no other person would do in Maycomb, he defended a negro man in court. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Atticus is a lawyer that has to defend Tom Robinson because Tom was accused of raping a white lady. Others in Maycomb don’t agree with Atticus because he took a black man’s words over a white woman’s word. Atticus is a man of morals with integrity, so he did the right thing and took Tom Robinson’s side. It makes sense for Atticus to take a stand to defend Tom Robinson because he follows his morals and the golden rule.
Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird explores the underlying racism that exists in Alabama, and perhaps all over America, in the 1930s. It focuses mainly on the practice of racial prejudice and discrimination. However, other subsequent issues are also mentioned throughout the novel. As we all know, To Kill A Mockingbird is set shortly after the Great Depression had hit America in 1929. It had a disastrous impact on the Southern part of America, including Alabama, because most of its citizens are farmers. Therefore, by extension, their lives are more reliant on agriculture.
Atticus is a great leader of his family, teaching his children morals and life lessons. He makes them better people by showing them how to deal with the trial and people making fun of them. Atticus teaches Scout how to respect other people. First, Scout learns to respect Atticus, then to respect "Boo" Radley, and finally to respect a whole race of people, negroes. He makes it a common practice to live his life as he would like his children to live theirs, and thus displays the attributes of an honest, respectable, and kind man. Throughout the trial process, Atticus shows Jem and Scout that true courage is standing up for what you believe in and that all human beings, despite their race, deserve respect. "You never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." This quote shows that Atticus wants his children to get along with people, and so other people will respect them for whom they are.
At the beginning of the book, Scout was not a nice child. She had hard times controlling herself, and usually she was not able to. She knew Atticus wouldn't like it if he heard of her fighting, but still she fought a lot, like the time she got angry to Cecil Jacobs and fought him (pg. 99). She was also mean and rude, which can easily be seen as she got angry and protested it when Walter poured syrup all over his dinner (pg. 32). As she was young, she also was not able to look at things from other people's perspective. This could easily be seen in her first day of school, as she only saw things from her point of view, never caring about her teacher's perspective (pg. 26). Her youth also ...
Towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus decides to represent a colored man by the man of Tom Robinson, who is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. Atticus believes that Tom is innocent, but he does not think that Tom will be found not guilty because of they way the townsfolk treat colored people. They treat them like dirt; like they are worth nothing. Atticus went ahead and represented Tom despite the fact that he knew the townsfolk would call himself and his children names and treat them disrespectfully. Even Scout’s relative Francis said rude things about them. “‘I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-...’ ‘Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.’” Atticus set a good example for Scout and Jem. He had a difficult decision to make, but he chose what he thought was
Tom Robinson is a black man accused of rape in the 1930’s, a time of racial discrimination. Although Atticus knows that the case is a lost cause, which he expresses to his brother by saying “the only thing we’ve got is a black mans word against the Ewells. The jury couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson’s word against the Ewells”(Lee p.17), he still defends Tom because he knows that he is innocent, and whether the world likes it or not, they need to here the truth. When Scout asks him why he is doing it he says "For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again" (Lee p.100) Moreover, Atticus goes against his values and his racist town, Maycomb, by taking this case. Even part of his family considered him a disgrace, and although he and his children were insulted, scorned, and called “nigger-lovers” he still choses to stand for what is right, which shows his courage. His perception is the source of
However, Atticus has a powerful drive to muster the moral courage which is necessary to overlook the negatives and follow through with this case; his conscience. When Scout questions why he is defending Tom Atticus replies, “…if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 100). This shows how socially responsible Atticus feels to give Tom Robinson the gift of equality and justice in a time period where a vast majority of African-Americans were given none. Being a lawyer, Atticus’ life revolves around abiding the concept of justice and fairness to all, and in a sense has given him a type of uniqueness which is absent in the other characters in this novel. Consequently, the act of breaking this moral code by means of not representing Tom would therefore be taking away from who Atticus truly is, and at which point he would not feel eligible to be a father to this children who he no longer feels worthy to call his own. The fact that Atticus goes through the emotional beating that goes along with representing Tom Robinson to maintain his moral principles takes immense amounts of courage, and therefore he is a
Riddled throughout Harper Lees's To Kill A Mocking Bird, are characters of compassion. Of these characters, three stand out in particular, Atticus, Jem and Dill. Because each one demonstrated compassion when others around them did not, they display a distinct uniqueness. They did not show hate or disgust to those some would consider below them. Instead, they showed great strength through their love and sympathy towards the outcasts and victims of society. They chose to make a difference and love.
Atticus Finch, who is the father of Jem and Scout, emphasizes to them that they can not disrespect someone because of their skin color, or because they have less money than them, etc. Atticus believes that treating other people the same and not inhumane is the right thing to do. He demonstrates this in Chapter 9, page 75 when he is explaining to Scout why he is defending a Negro and why many people in the town are speaking badly of him because he isn't supposed to be defending the Negro man, Tom Robinson. He states “For a number of reasons...If I didn't I couldn't hold up my head… couldn't represent this country… couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something…” In this specific quote, you can tell that Atticus believes in having empathy with others. He knows that since Robinson is a Negro, he won't have a fair trial, so he decides to hold his head high and defend Tom, even though everyone else will turn their backs on him because he is defending Tom. This shows us his character. It shows how he wants to do what he believes is right and moral. He knows that the right thing to do is protect Tom from a false and racist accusation. When he states that he couldn't represent his country, he is proving the fact that Maycomb is racist and he wants to share his morals with Maycomb. So, with Tom's case, he believes he can accomplish this. And for his last statement, he said would not be able to tell the children to
Tom Robinson’s trial, and in fact his entire life, was badly affected by racism. It is truly a testament to the corruption of society when a person who has earned a bad reputation is held in higher esteem than a person who was born with it, as is the case with Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson. Even though Tom was obviously honest in his testament, the jury sided with Bob Ewell because he was white. They made this decision despite the fact that the Ewell family was widely known to be a worthless part of society. Jem, not being racially prejudiced, could not understand this mentality. As Atticus pointed out, “If you (Jem) had been on the jury, son, and eleven other boys like you, Tom would be a free man.”
To Kill A Mockingbird embodies those very words in every aspect and exemplifies them through its three main characters: Atticus, Scout, and Jem. Yet, with racism and discrimination seemingly making its way back into the twenty first century with increased shootings of African American males and Donald Trump making an effort to export all Muslims out of America etc., the lessons of compassion, understanding and forgiveness shown in To Kill A Mockingbird could be of great use in today’s society. To Kill A Mockingbird demonstrates the value of compassion and understanding through one, Atticus and his taking of Tom Robinson's trial, two, Atticus and his relationship with Scout, and finally, with Atticus and Mrs. Dubose. To start, for most people, the second they learned of Tom Robinson’s accused crime, they knew his fate had most likely already been decided, jail it would be for Mr Robinson, yet Atticus Finch embraced the challenge and took on his case.
Atticus was incredibly courageous taking on tom Robinsons case against the prejudice of Macomb County and he shows incredible courage when he says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and won." He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom Robinson, "That boy may go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." Chapter 15, Page 146. He was against the whole white community including his own sister practically said that he was a disgrace to his family Atticus tells scout when she asks him why he is taking the case he says "For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.
In Chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird Scout’s compassionate actions eliminate the tension of the lynching mob, reading to Ms. Dubose, helping Dill or Boo. These are few of many examples of compassion in the story that emphasize on compassion. The most memorable event of compassion was where Scout faced the lynching mob. In this situation a mob is after Tom to lynch him but are stopped by Scout. She uses compassion to stop the mob by trying to connect with Mr. Cunningham who was with the mob at the time. She tries to hold a connection with him by talking about the things that he is interested about, this was taught by her father Atticus. She succeeded this by connecting him with his son Walter, showing compassion to him and making