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How does killing a mockingbird reflect on society
Change and transformation in the book to kill a mockingbird
Harper Lee's thoughts on killing a mockingbird
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1. Why did Harper Lee's perspective on Atticus Finch change? How does this relate to To Kill A Mockingbird?
2. What was the significance of having Jem die? Does this reflect on anything else in the book?
3. Why would Atticus volunteer to represent a colored man in To Kill A Mockingbird when he doesn't believe in equality?
4. Are some of these racial issues still present today?
5. What do you think will happen to Scout at the end of the book, will she campaign for civil rights?
2. Quotes
1. "I just don't like my world disturbed without some warning" (Lee 75). Jem Louise says this to Henry after finding out about Atticus's racial perspective and realizes how much everything has changed. She is upset about the how Atticus hid this secret from
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"I especially liked the part where the Negroes bless their hearts, couldn't help being inferior to the white race because their skulls are thicker and their brain pans shallower so we must be very kind to them and not let them do anything to hurt themselves and keep them in their places" (Lee 102). This quote is said by Jem Louise to Atticus after finding the racist pamphlet in his office. She is disgusted by his beliefs and is shocked how much he has changed. This quote represents the whole book due to two different views on racial segregation and how blacks didn't have a say in life.
3. "She did not stand alone, but what stood behind her, the most potent moral force in her life, was the love of her father" ( Lee 117). All of Jem Louise's life she has looked up to Atticus as her role model respecting all his decisions and learning her life lessons from him. Now that she knows about Atticus's racial beliefs everything seems like it is falling apart.
4. "I was taught to never take advantages of anyone who was less fortunate than myself, whether he be less fortunate in brains, wealth, or social position, it meant anybody, not just negroes" ( Lee 170). This quote is said by Jem Louise and she is saying the morals she was learned. This relates back to To Kill A Mockingbird and what morals Jem Louise thought she was
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.”...
Lee uses Scout and Jem’s tumultuous childhood experiences to... has had many trials through her life, and on was in fact a trail of Tom Robinson, a black man accused in raping Mayella Ewell, one of the daughters of Bob Ewell, the town’s idler. Atticus, the children’s father, was defending Tom Robinson, and the case seemed to be in favor of him, all the way to the point of Jem stating, “He’s not leaning, Reverend, but don’t fret, we’ve won it..Don’t see how any jury could convict on what we heard-”(Lee 176). Jem is very confident in his father’s argument, and believes that the case will lean to Tom,
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
Jem Finch has come a long way since his humble beginnings as a naive ten year old child. He has come to understand the real meaning of courage, gone from playmate to protector for his sister and has grown enough to understand the workings of the real world, and see the negatives and positives of society. His maturity has been quick and the changes great, and over the years he has come to adhere, respect and carry out Atticus`s legacy and use his father`s ideals to shape his lifestyle. Due to the course of events, his adolescent changes and Atticus`s influence, Jem has matured from a reckless child into a young man capable of making his own decisions.
When Atticus decides to take the case of Tom Robinson many people of the town are disappointed in him because Tom is black even his own family turn his back against him. When Francis says "If Uncle Atticus lets you run around with stray dogs, that's his own business, like Grandma says, so it ain't your
Jem was the brother of Scout he was very brave and adventurous and loved to try new things. Jem was four years older than Scout and was drifting away from her he didn’t want to play her little games anymore. Jem and Scout had over the summer made a best friend nick named Dill his real name was Charles Baker Harris. Dill becomes very attracted to Scout and promises her he’s going to marry her. The three children over the summer spent most of everyday with each other acting out things they have read. They were the best of friends and whenever they were bored Dill would come up with something crazy for them to do. Later in the summe...
In Harper Lee’s novel Atticus Finch is represented as a very courageous person whose courageousness the author of the novel brings to our attention all throughout the book but since our time is limited the student needs only to highlight three situations where they feel Atticus Finch is courageous for example he accepts a criminal case that involves a Black...
Jem learns that loyalty matters in relationships and throughout the book he uses that to grow as a person. He realizes he had done friends and family wrong when Scout said, “Then he rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood. He went out of the room and down the hall. ‘Atticus’ his voice was distant, ‘can you come here for a minute, sir?’”(118). Jem confessed to Atticus while feeling he did the right
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch, a well-respected defense attorney in Macomb County, made a life-altering decision to whole-heartedly defend a benevolent black man, Tom Robinson, who was wrongly accused of rape. Many conflicts arose because of Atticus’s choice to defend a black man against a white man’s word. Despite the towns cowardice and ridicule, Atticus stays true to what is right. “They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience” (140). Throughout the story Scout, Atticus’s daughter, transforms from a trouble maker always looking to pick a fight with anyone she disagreed with, into a young lady who was able to follow her father’s example and “consider things from his point of view... you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it” (30). Through Atticus’s wise, unchanging character, the theme is revealed. The bond between Atticus and Scout teaches her the one thing that he was trying to do all along: Don’t just fight; stand up and fight for what is right, no matter what the cost.
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.
Jem’s view towards his father also changes when he risks being shot by Mr. Radley when he returns to collect his pants so that he can avoid the dishonor of having Atticus be disappointed in him. Towards the end of the novel, when Jem hears verdict of the Tom Robinson trial, the darkness of reality destroys whats left of his optimistic innocence. It dispels everything that he had previously held to be true, and Jem is unable to comprehend why people would harbor prejudices.
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.
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.
He learns this when he first found out that Atticus is in a court trial, defending a black man named Tom Robinson. Jem most clearly learns this when Atticus says “I’m defending a black man in trial named Tom Robinson” (133). From this experience, Jem is able to realize that his family is going to go through some tough times, with all of the trials going on. He realizes that he needs to step up and learn what real courage is to get through these tough times.
Atticus teaches his kids about tolerance. How he does this is when he was assigned to Tom Robison case he teaches that color does not matter. For example “you aren’t really a nigger-lover, then, are you. I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody….I’m hard put, sometimes- baby, it’s never an insult to...