Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
To kill a mockingbird harper lee issues
To kill a mockingbird harper lee issues
The importance of atticus finch
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: To kill a mockingbird harper lee issues
The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, takes place in the 1930s in a small Alabama county called Maycomb. The novel is about the Finch family of three. Atticus, the father, Scout the older brother and Scout the younger sister, who acts like a tomboy. Scout may be a lady, but does not like to act like one, she likes to play and get dirty with her brother. Being young, both children learn lessons throughout the novel by many different residents, such as, Calpurnia, the maid, Miss Maudie, the neighbor, and their father, Atticus. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird various citizens in the town of Maycomb play an important role in the lives of Jem and Scout Finch
Calpurnia is an African American maid who works for the Finches. Calpurnia has been
…show more content…
Jem has grown up and has become more mature and Scout does not realize why he does not want to be around her anymore. Calpurnia tells Scout, “He’s gonna want to be off to himself a lot doin’ whatever boys do, so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome” (154). Cal was trying to explain why Jem wanted Scout to leave him alone even if Scout does not want to. Calpurnia gave Scout an alternative to come into the kitchen if she ever felt lonely. Calpurnia taught Scout and Jem many things, but one of the main lesson was that all people are …show more content…
Scout tried to explain this to her teacher, Miss Caroline, but got in trouble. Scout was so angry she rubbed Walter’s nose in dirt. Jem invited Walter over for dinner and Scout made a remark that made Calpurnia furious. She told Scout, “That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat the table cloth you let him, you hear?” (32). Scout went on to say how just because he is a Cunningham he was not company. Calpurnia became even more furious and raised her voice and said, “Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ‘em” (33). This lesson was important because Scout learned just because you might be better than someone or have more does not mean you should act like it. Calpurnia gives the talks and is there for both children just like a real mother would be. Miss Maudie is another Maycomb citizen who is an important role model for Jem and
Few have very strict and narrow definitions of what it means to be a lady, however; those who do appear extremely attached to the ideals and strive to maintain their image.There are many examples of this, although the most notable and influential to Scout has been Aunt Alexandra. Aunt Alexandra completely adheres to and advertises the highly ideal standard of a woman in the 1930’s. In the 1930’s the ‘ideal’ woman or the standard for it was extremely close minded as demonstrated by Aunt Alexandra’s very presence, Scout views her in a strict manner and says, “ Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never into the world of Jem and me”(Lee 150). In the early stages of their living together, Scout resist the idea of giving up her masculine activities for a life like her Aunts. While Scout aims to reject her Aunt’s ideals Aunt Alexandra is the type of woman who understands that a woman’s image is always fragile because it is always in the hands of a man. Another woman in the novel that Scout resists for most of her early years is Calpurnia. Following Scout going to Calpurnia’s church, Scout begins to respect Calpurnia’s ways. Scout states “That Calpurnia had led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one”
To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee the story is taking place in Maycomb, Alabama. Scout is a six year old girl that has just entered the first grade. The class she was put in had a new teacher that was introducing a new way of teaching. She has a father (atticus) that is a lawyer defending a man that is being charged with murder. Scout , Jem, and Atticus had a maid and for scout and jem she is also a mother figure whose name was calpurnia. Calpurnia has helped scout learn to write and also taught her some manners after the incident with Cunningham during dinner. Scout and jem were first introduced to Dill when they caught him watching them from his backyard.
Plot Summary: Scout Finch lives in Maycomb, a tired old town during the Depression with her father, Atticus, and her older brother, Jem. The author focuses on Scout’s home life, which is, for the most part, relaxed and easygoing. During the summer, she and her brother meet a boy named Dill, and they spend the summers with him. They try to get Boo Radley to come out, and they want to see Tom Robinson’s trial, but their father won’t let them watch.
One of the first lessons Scout gains from Calpurnia is when Walter Cunningham, Scout’s poor classmate, comes over for lunch. Scout makes fun of Walter for dousing his food in syrup and Calpurnia quietly brings Scout to the kitchen to reprimand her: “ ‘Hush your mouth! Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo‘ comp’ny, and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo‘ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin‘ ’em’” (25). Though this scolding, Calpurnia enlightens Scout on the fact that no matter what she has, she will never be better than anyone if she is not courteous and respectful to them, no matter who they are. This lesson remains with Scout as she grows older and is seen to have a positive effect on the way she acts and thinks about race and class. Another important lesson Scout learns from Calpurnia was taught less formally but was nonetheless significant. While their father was away on business, Calpurnia took Jem and Scout to her black church, it is outside that Lula, a member of the congregation confronts Calpurnia on bringing white children with her. Scout believes Lula speaks for the church but is proven wrong when Calpurnia’s son along with
“To Kill a Mockingbird” takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The narrator of the story is a little girl named Scout Finch. Other important characters are Jem Finch, brother of Scout, Atticus Finch, father of Scout and Jem, and is a lawyer, and Boo Radley, the mysterious neighbor who disappears from his house. In the book, Boo Radley is made out to be a scary, monstrous, and a criminal. People claim he stabbed his father in the leg with a scissors. Curious of Boo Radley, Jem, Scout, and Dill, their friend, sneak up to Boo Radley’s house to see what he is all about. Boo Radley's brother, heard them outside the house, and shot a shotgun and scared the kids off. Shortly after this incident, the Finch children found a tree,
She steps in his shoes and looks at it from his point of view, something she wouldn't have done if she was younger and not raised by Atticus and his influencing morals. When Calpurnia, their African American maid, takes Jem and Scout to her church to see her community, the kids were surprised to discover that Calpurnia "led a modest double life... outside our household” (pg 158) in words of Scout. Scout doesn't know any black people outside of Calpurnia, so when she sees the other blacks in her church, she notices that the way they live is completely different from the way white people live. However, she still treats them the same as she would anyone else. She talks “two different languages”(pg 158), something Scout admires, especially because she didn't know that about Calpurnia.
The film To Kill a Mockingbird is based on a book by harper Lee. The film To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s. During this time many people were suffering from the Great Depression. The film is being narrated by the main character, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, but as an adult who is recalling events of her childhood from when she was nine years old. Her father is Atticus Finch, who is a town lawyer with high moral standards. Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill are spying on their repulsive mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley who has not left his home for many years and about whom many rumors circulate. The movie covers the undergo change in Scout and Jem lives. Atticus is appointed by the local udge to defend a black
Walter Cunningham was one of the first characters to be introduced to us on the first day of school when Miss. Caroline realized he didn’t have a lunch and offered a quarter on the condition that he pays it back the next day. Walter, much like his father would have, turned down the offer due to his family’s code of ethics. Atticus, having been once of service to Walters father, accepted farmed goods from the Cunninghams as payment in lieu of money. Later at the courthouse when a group of men including Mr. Cunningham are trying to lynch Tom, Scout shames Mr. Cunningham when she says “‘I go to school with Walter,’ [she] began again. ‘He’s your boy, ain’t he? Ain’t he, sir? He’s in my grade, and he does right well. He’s a good boy,’ I added, ‘a real nice boy. We brought him home for dinner one time.’ “(154) reminding him of his and Atticus’ previous arrangement and also that she is his sons friend, and effectively reminding him that what he did next she would remember. That day Scout provided a protective role for Tom, much like Arthur Radley did for Jem as well as
The Pulitzer award-winning, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee's bestseller demonstrates growth and maturation during a time where racism was practised. Maycomb County, the setting of the novel, takes place in a sleepy district in southern Alabama. The novel is narrated through the perspective of Scout and Jem Finch as they are growing up in Maycomb County. These two characters learn very important life lessons that aid them along with their gradual maturation. Consequently, Harper Lee includes the theme of growth and maturation into the novel through the development of Jem and Scout.
Scout does not heed Atticus’ advice in Chapter 4 of To Kill a Mockingbird, as she continues to express her biased hatred for Calpurnia, and also openly contradicts Jem, without considering the perspectives to which they are taking. As stated by Harper Lee, “...Calpurnia’s tyranny, unfairness, and meddling in my business had faded to gentle grumbling of general disapproval (45)”. This quote expresses the many ways Scout thinks of Calpurnia, a great many of which as terrible and controlling. This biased description of Calpurnia shows how Scout is still unable to understand why Calpurnia consistently disciplines her, and from what standpoint she is doing so. Also stated by Lee, “Jem stamped his foot. “Don’t you know you’re not suppose to even
The most important job Calpurnia does for the Finchs’ is teaching Jem and Scout to treat people with respect no matter who they are or what they have done. Calpurnia displays discipline to the children in a loving way. The relationship Calpurnia and Scout have in the beginning of the novel, grows stronger overtime. She is a very important member of the family. “…I couldn’t have got along without her over these years. She’s a faithful member of this family…”. Even though Scout and Jem’s mother passed away, Calpurnia has had a great effect on the
Growing up is hard, but when you add in nosey neighbors, scary houses, a stuck up aunt, and taunting children, it becomes more difficult. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee that was published in 1960. The story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Scout Finch is a six year old narrator. She lives with her father, her brother, and Calpurnia, their black cook. Scout spends her summers playing with her brother, Jem, and her friend, Dill Harrison. Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, is a lawyer and he is defending Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. The story is an account of the next three years of Scout’s life in Maycomb. Throughout the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, it takes a couple years for Scout Finch to grow and mature into an understanding, empathetic, polite, young lady.
Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in Alabama during a crucial time in American history. The book is told from the point of view of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, and revolves around her and her brother Jem while they are growing up. While they are growing up, they learn many life lessons that are shown by different milestones. Lee uses many symbols in the novel to represent the maturing of Jem and Scout.
In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the author shows that Calpurnia and Miss Caroline play a big part in Scout’s early education. Calpurnia and Miss Caroline both differ in their methods and aim. Calpurnia is an African American maid for the Finch family. She had more education then most people and she is like a mother towards Scout. Scout never liked Calpurnia very much because Calpurnia always complained about her behavior. Calpurnia aim and method of teaching is to be disciplined and humble. Calpurnia wants Scout to know the right and the wrong. For example, when Walter Cunningham was comes over for dinner, he drowns all of his meal in syrup, and Scout was angry. However, Calpurnia called her to the kitchen and said, “He ain’t company, Cal, he’s just a Cunningham-” “Hush your mouth! Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo‘ comp’ny, and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty!”
Calpurnia, a house cook for the Finch’s, was one of Scout's motherly figures. One day Jem, Scout’s brother, invited Walter Cunningham over for lunch. Walter was pouring an abundant amount of syrup on his food. Scout nagged about him and Calpurnia got furious at her. She dragged Scout into the kitchen and gave her a stern talk about having