To Kill a Mockingbird - Complexity

792 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: To kill a mockingbird movie analysis

To Kill a Mockingbird - Complexity

To Kill a Mockingbird exhibits many characters and their roles in the city of Maycomb. Among the many characters, are Jem Finch, brother of Jean Louise Finch daughter of Atticus, and Arthur Radley a relative of Nathan Radley. All of the characters in the book demonstrate one-dimensional and three-dimensional tendencies but Jem and Arthur are those that provide the greatest insight to the latter.

Jem Finch is a three-dimensional character with symbols of success, virtue and an adverse personality in To Kill a Mockingbird. For example, in the beginning of the book, Jem was aggravated by the then taunting Dill Harris (a young visitor to Maycomb) so that Jem would touch the house of Radley. By touching the Radley house, he proved that he was not afraid and could take on any challenge. When such predicaments come Jem's way he will usually be able to make the best of them successfully. In addition, Jem will lash out in complete contempt for a wrong against his moral conscience, such as Mrs. Dubose slinging blasphemy at Jem's father. A good character must have a sense of morality to defend what is believed to be right, and Jem has this emblematic realism. But, a life-like character must have their weaknesses; and he displayed that on account of Mrs. Dubose's harsh words.

Furthermore, in chapter eleven of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem has to repent his wrongdoing by reading to Mrs. Dubose. Jem's moral obligation takes precedence over his failure, revealing that Jem is a strong character and allows himself to be punished. While being disciplined, he responds benevolently but with quite a bit of quiet resentment -- an idiosyncrasy that Jem carries wit...

... middle of paper ...

...erience which radiated the true side of human nature. Arthur Radley is a complex man with human problems that affects many in today's society, and shows the mortal need of companionship even though Arthur never succeeds.

To Kill a Mockingbird divulges the different sides of human nature and emotions exquisitely in order for the book to be complete with believable characters. Jem Finch had, among others, success and a healthy mix of virtue and adverse characteristics. Jem showed a child that would result under the proper care of a parent. Arthur Radley however was the advent of a lonely childhood and adulthood thus showing social problems with speaking and emotional difficulty. Jem Finch and Boo Radley are indeed three-dimensional characters whom bring the story of To Kill a Mockingbird alive by making connections to its readers.

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Figurative Language In To Kill A Mockingbird

    509 Words  | 2 Pages

    Boo Radley is more subtle in showing how he represents the mockingbird, as he is more of a quiet, shy character. Boo was confined to his home but is still aware of the people around him. The children view him more as a superstition than a person in the beginning of the novel but Scout realizes just how good of a person Boo really is when he saves her and Jem from Mr. Ewell. Tom Robinson represented the killing of the mockingbird. He was looked down upon by most of the community but he was an innocent man who had no intention of harming anyone, yet he was still convicted of the crime and sentenced to

    Read More

  • Life in Appalachia from a Pre and Post-Civil War Perspective

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    To urban middle-class Americans of the late 19th century, nothing symbolized the progress of the American civilization quite as much as the railroad. Not only had the great surge in railroad construction after the Civil War helped to create a modern market economy, but the iron horse itself seemed to embody the energy, force, and technology of the new order. In fact, the fanning out of railroads from urban centers was an integral part of the modernizing process, tying the natural and human resources of rural areas to the industrializing core.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Essay: The Truth About Boo Radley

    1613 Words  | 4 Pages

    First impressions of people are often lasting impressions, especially in the minds of children.  Many times these impressions, aided by misunderstanding and prejudgment, cause unjust discrimination against an individual. To kill a Mockingbird depicts the themes of misunderstanding and prejudice that portray Arthur (Boo) Radley as a villain. Through the progressive revelation of Radley's character, the children realize that their negative impressions and fear of him were unfounded. Through gradual stages of change, from total misunderstanding of Boo, to a realization of an error in judgment, to a reevaluation followed by a change of heart, to a growing trust and acceptance of Boo, and finally to an appreciation of his true character, Jem's, Scout's, and Dill's impressions of Radley are dramatically altered.

    Read More

  • Henry George's 'What The Railroad Will Bring Us'

    506 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Henry George’s article, What the Railroad Will Bring Us, it discusses the main social, political, and economic transformations that the trans-continental railroad would bring to the state of California. More importantly, he discusses not only the benefits, but also discusses the major drawbacks with the arrival of the railroad. Henry George stated the railroad would be the “greatest work of the age” (297). With a railroad stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, multiple benefits would be brought to the state of California. First, the railroad will not only create a new means of transportation across the United States, it additionally would also become “one of the greatest material prosperity” of its time (298). This means more people, more houses,

    Read More

  • How Does Atticus Show Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1095 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Atticus discovered what Jem had done, he was furious and punished him by making him go read to Mrs. Dubose everyday. He knew, though, in his heart that she had it coming. Atticus had told Scout that "when summer comes you'll have to keep your head about far worse things it's not fair for you and Jem, but

    Read More

  • Transcontinental Railroad Essay

    1297 Words  | 3 Pages

    Railroads first appeared around the 1830’s, and helped the ideas of Manifest Destiny and Westward expansion; however, these were weak and didn’t connect as far as people needed, thus causing them to be forced to take more dangerous routes. On January 17th, 1848, a proposal was sent to Congress by Asa Whitney to approve and provide federal funding...

    Read More

  • Chapter 24

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    a. Railroads in the late nineteenth century helped America become the richest industrial nation on earth. The railroads increased commerce and integrated the American market as well as helped national brands to emerge such as Ivory soap and A&P grocery stores. They also introduced time zones to make shipping and passenger travel more standard. The railroad was the first modern publicly traded corporations, the companies were large and expanding across the country. Railroad companies had a large amount of employees. Capital was needed to build railroad tracks so stocks were sold to the public such as wealthy tycoons such as Vanderbilt and Carnegie. The Railroad system was also a symbol of the partnership between national government and industry. The railroad would have never been created without legislature, land grants passed out by congress. An example would be the Central Pacific Railroad it was backed by wealthy tycoons including Leland Stanford, the ex-governor of California who had useful political connections, and Collis P. Huntington, an adept lobbyist. Railroads gave land th...

    Read More

  • American Economy In The 19th Century

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the late nineteenth and the early twentieth century, the United States economy changed dramatically as the country transformed from a rural agricultural nation to an urban industrial gian, becoming the leading manufacturing country in the world. The vast expansion of the railroads in the late 1800s’ changed the early American economy by tying the country together into one national market. The railroads provided tremendous economic growth because it provided a massive market for transporting goods such as steel, lumber, and oil. Although the first railroads were extremely successful, the attempt to finance new railroads originally failed. Perhaps the greatest physical feat late 19th century America was the creation of the transcontinental railroad. The Central Pacific Company, starting in San Francisco, and the new competitor, Union Pacific, starting in Omaha. The two companies slaved away crossing mountains, digging tunnels, and laying track the entire way. Both railroads met at Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869, and drove one last golden spike into the completed railway. Of course the expansion of railroads wasn’t the only change being made. Another change in the economy was immigration.

    Read More

  • The American Transcontinental Railroad

    3285 Words  | 7 Pages

    Seavoy, Ronald E. "Railroads." An Economic History of the United States: From 1607 to the Present. New York: Routledge, 2006. 188-200. Print.

    Read More

  • Mockingbirds' Song

    631 Words  | 2 Pages

    In To Kill A Mockingbird, Mockingbirds play a small role in the plot, but convey a larger meaning. They represent many different characters throughout the book, including Tom Robinson, Scout Finch, Mr.Raymond and Boo Radley. The citizens of Maycomb saw these characters as outcasts and persecuted them. Harper Lee titled her book To Kill A Mockingbird because Tom, Mr.Raymond and Boo represent the mockingbird itself, while Scout, as the innocent character, represents the mockingbird’s song.

    Read More

  • The Transcontinental Railroad

    686 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Transcontinental railroad could be defined as the most monumental change in America in the 19th century. The railroad played a significant role in westward expansion and on the growth and development of the American economy (Gillon p.653). However, the construction of the transcontinental railroad may not have occurred if not for the generous support of the federal government. The federal government provided land grants and financial subsidies to railroad companies to ensure the construction. The transcontinental railroad contributed to the formation of industry and the market economy in America and forever altered the American lifestyle.

    Read More

  • The Railroad Boom

    1300 Words  | 3 Pages

    The undertaking of a project as large as building a railroad across the expanse of the United States seemed impossible and way too expensive for any railway companies to undertake; therefore, in the early/mid 1800’s, railway companies and business people began approaching legislators in an attempt to convince them to support railroad expansion. This, combined with economic necessity, helped to pass the first of several land grant bills. The bills entailed the gifting of public land to railroad companies in exchange for railroad track being laid in designated areas. The land that was not used for track was then sold. Both railroad companies and the government gained from this. The land where track was laid also became more valuable and the profit that was made from the sale of the land was used to pay for materials and labor to continue the railroad expansion. (Railroad Land Grants).

    Read More

  • Railroad Essay

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    Railroads have made better the lives of most citizens in the US. By the 1890s, the United States was becoming an urban nation , railroads were a great way of transport between towns. They were used for the shipping of food, building materials and fuel. The presence of them could bring a territory a lot of opportunities as well as it could change its economy in many ways. Railroads also helped to shape physically the growth of towns and also a lot business grew around focal points in the railroad industry. Later on, the United States transport system was composed by 320,000 kilometers of railroads that prolonged from the Pacific to the Atlantic and vice versa and also connecting with the frontier countries, Mexico and Canada.

    Read More

  • Railroad Development in America

    2381 Words  | 5 Pages

    However, it was not easy for the railroad industry to promote their innovative new mode of transportation. With vision and ingenuity, the pioneers of the early American railroads were able to surmount all obstacles that stood in their way and led the Nation into a “transportation revolution.”

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Language Analysis

    1332 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the novel progresses, the children’s perspective towards Boo Radley matures and this replicates the development of the children. Boo Radley was once an intelligent child, only to be ruined by his cruel father, one of the most important mockingbirds as his innocence was destroyed. Luckily for Jem and Scout, Boo was merely a source of childhood superstition, often leaving presents for them.

    Read More

More about To Kill a Mockingbird - Complexity

Open Document