The Powerless Individual Multitudinous amounts of people, like small groups of ants within a colony gathered in many different cities in the United States. According to a New York Times article, fervent protests broke out in many urban areas such as, “New York, Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C” (Southall). A result of the outrageous outcome of the case that released a white police officer, Daniel Pantaleo, who choked a black man to death, Eric Garner, despite his innocence and desperate gasps of plea and aid was immense passion towards this course of action. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the myopic views of the people of Maycomb act as a concrete wall so solidified that it is almost impossible for Atticus a humble yet …show more content…
When Jem asks Atticus to change the law in Montgomery, Atticus replies, “You’d be surprised how hard that’d be. I won’t live to see the law changed, and if you see it you’ll be an old man” (Lee 220). Atticus believes that changing society’s view can prove too hard for one man to handle, especially with such a short time window. Change progresses slowly and requires the efforts of multiple people, regardless of the differences in the views of those people in order to achieve it. Slow change, achieved due to the differences in the views of these individuals, can either persuade a group of people to join or stray away from the view being presented. In a similar manner, when Jem talks to Calpurnia about the result of the trial, Calpurnia says, “Atticus Finch won’t win, he can’t win, but he’s the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long on a case like this…it’s just a baby-step but it’s a step” (Lee 216). Calpurnia discusses with Jem about how Atticus could elucidate some truth to the court even if it wasn’t enough to acquit Tom Robinson. Atticus was able to “get the stone rolling”, in other words, start to change the views of the people in society, but only through the efforts of multiple people and all the similar cases before him, made Atticus able to progress as far as he did. …show more content…
During the court trial when Atticus proves Bob Ewell’s status as a left-handed man, “nothing Atticus asked him after that shook him” (Lee 178). Despite the outcome of the case, Bob Ewell proves the only reasonable and logical culprit in the case due to his left-handedness which starts to lift the veil of prejudice that the society had. With the help of Bob Ewell’s stubbornness to admit to Atticus’s claim, Atticus could show society the truth and the wrongness of their ways. In a similar manner, when Bob Ewell follows Helen Robinson around town Link Deas notices Bob’s behavior and retorts, “…if I hear one more peep outa my girl Helen about not bein’ able to walk this road I’ll have you in jail before sundown” (Lee 249). The antagonistic behavior that Bob Ewell still shows after winning the unfair court trial reveals his true colors and intentions of reaping the benefits of a corrupted jury. This course of action places him in a spot where people like Link Deas are starting to step up against people who share the same values or opinions as Bob
One's identity is a very valuable part of their life, it affects the Day to day treatment others give them which can lead to how the individual feels emotionally. Atticus, defending Tom Robinson, who is an african american man from the plaintiff of the case, Mayella Ewell, who is a caucasian woman, accusing that Tom raped her is supposivly a lob sided case. During the great depression, any court session that contained a person of color against a caucasian would always contain the “white” individual winning the case. The cause of the bias outcome comes from the lawyer of the african american does not try to defend or the jury goes against the person of color simply because their black, this shows the effect of racism to anyone’s identity in the courtroom for a case simply because of race. Atticus, deciding to take Tom Robinson’s case seriously sacrifices his identity as the noble man he is, to being called many names for this action, such as “nigger lover”. He is questioned by
What does it mean to be a good parent? The most common definition of a good parent is one who makes their children feel valued and loved, by teaching them the difference between right and wrong. At the end of the day, the most essential thing is to create a nurturing environment where your children feel like they can mature into confident, independent, and caring adults. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird defines what a true parent really is thought hardships and struggles throughout the book. The story is set in the Depression era of a little town in southern Alabama that is struggling with thick prejudice on a colored rape case. The story is told through a character
Scout Finch, the youngest child of Atticus Finch, narrates the story. It is summer and her cousin Dill and brother Jem are her companions and playmates. They play all summer long until Dill has to go back home to Maridian and Scout and her brother start school. The Atticus’ maid, a black woman by the name of Calpurnia, is like a mother to the children. While playing, Scout and Jem discover small trinkets in a knothole in an old oak tree on the Radley property. Summer rolls around again and Dill comes back to visit. A sence of discrimination develops towards the Radley’s because of their race. Scout forms a friendship with her neighbor Miss Maudie, whose house is later burnt down. She tells Scout to respect Boo Radley and treat him like a person. Treasures keep appearing in the knothole until it is filled with cement to prevent decay. As winter comes it snows for the first time in a century. Boo gives scout a blanket and she finally understands her father’s and Miss Maudie’s point of view and treats him respectfully. Scout and Jem receive air guns for Christmas, and promise Atticus never to shoot a mockingbird, for they are peaceful and don’t deserve to die in that manner. Atticus then takes a case defending a black man accused of rape. He knows that such a case will bring trouble for his family but he takes it anyways. This is the sense of courage he tries to instill in his son Jem.
Atticus tries to prove that this accusation is just an accusation stated by Mayella for revenge and attention; the righteous lawyer hopes that he can prove Tom Robinson’s and his own dignity and respectability to be unquestionable. Atticus finds evidence to clearly prove Robinson innocent, but after much controversy, the jury still refuses to question the credibility of a white girl. Her use of ethos is a fallback for her and for her father, Bob Ewell, and the two family members attempt to cover their stories so as not to lose respect in the town. Luckily, Atticus recognizes his situation and comes to...
The first “mockingbird” that is featured in the novel is a man named Atticus Finch. Not only is Atticus Finch the sole representative of Maycomb in the legislature, but also he is a brilliant lawyer. In addition, he has a good reputation in both Maycomb’s black and white communities because of his exceptional character. However, his reputation is soon shattered when he is faced with a case in court that affects him personally: he must defend an African American man in court in Maycomb’s segregated society. If Atticus chooses to try defending the man, he will lose his good status in town, since his racist American neighbors will soon disrespect him for treating the African Americans as equal to the Americans, which is highly unacceptable in the United States during the 1930s. However, Atticus still accepted the case believing that if he does not, he w...
Atticus thoroughly believes that there should not be a cultural divide between races and therefore proceeds to take on the case of Tom Robinson. Bob Ewell, father to Mayella- who accuses Tom of rape- becomes frustrated after being made a fool in court and even though Tom was jailed, but wanted to get back at Atticus for taking on the case to begin with. After Tom was arrested and taken to a county jail Bob Ewell mumbles these few words to a follow member of the town, “One down, two to go”(Lee, 323). He refers to killing the Finch children to gain revenge on Atticus for his decision. This man was filled with so much hate, wickedness, prejudice he decide to plot the murder of a man's own children. Atticus is innocent as he has done nothing wrong to deserve such evil acts, representing again the mockingbird and how it is once again defenseless as there is nothing it can do before it is shot. In spite this, Atticus begins to be verbally abused by the towns members as they believe that he is a traitor to their own race by protecting a black person. Fellow neighbour Mrs. Dubose takes it upon herself to criticize the Finch family in front of the children and decides to say, “Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Lee, 135). Majority of the town does not understand the decision of a white man taking on a black mans case
To Kill A Mockingbird takes place during the 1930’s, a time of economic slump and despair. During this time, especially in Alabama, racism was copious. Naturally, Maycomb landed into the racist manifest. The town abhorred Atticus Finch for his acts of defending Tom Robinson. The immensity of the prejudice is so abundant, no one would dare go against what is politically correct. Unless, of course, equipped with enough moral courage. Harper Lee illustrates that Atticus is a man with an immense amount of courage and sense of justice. Atticus Finch proves to us how the defeat of prejudice is possible with moral courage. Atticus is very aware “[Tom Robinson] [will] face the chair, but not until the truth’s told” (195). Atticus refuses to allow a man, so clearly innocent, to face the chair without the unpardonable truth being told. It is prominent that black people face extreme prejudice and racism, and due to this are convicted much faster. Atticus’ moral courage to defend Tom Robinson made the decision last so long, that Judge Taylor fell “sound asleep” (280). The jury took roughly 6 hours to inescapably convict Tom guilty. The tremendous amount of time it took to convict Tom Robinson made Atticus think “ this may be the shadow of a beginning. That jury took a few hours. An inevitable verdict, maybe, but usually it takes ‘em just a few minutes” (297). Atticus states that maybe things are different, now. Maybe all the evidence against Tom being able to commit the crime was taken into consideration rather than solely the fact that he is black. Atticus’ moral courage defeated the prejudice for a short period of tim , but a period of time nonetheless. If perhaps, the jury had as much moral courage as Atticus, then they would speak up for what is true. Another instance where moral courage oversteps prejudice is when Boo Radley, the Finch’s
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is an emblem of racial jurisdiction. All throughout the book it shows how the law applies to blacks as opposed to whites. Lee shows how unjust the treatment of blacks is and the disregard for their human rights. Though through the actions of the characters in the book; it can be said that their actions show a glimmer of hope for this very prejudiced society.
...s a way to show what would happen if you deviated from the norm. Atticus is well respected in the community, even though he goes against the social norm. “They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions," said Atticus, "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.” (Lee 11). Every time people see Scout and Jem, they treat them with the utmost respect. The Ewells on the other hand, follow the social norm, but are “poor white trash” of Maycomb. When Bob Ewell gets stabbed by Boo Radley, no one is the wiser and no one is sad or concerned about his death, even the sheriff. Lee shows that going the more difficult, but more “correct” choice will pay off in the end, even if everyone else does something else different.
Atticus stepped out of his comfort zone as soon as he had left the family property, an area of land that was to be inherited by the oldest male member of each generation. He also went to pursue a field that he was not particularly interested in, criminal law. Not only does he fail at his first two cases, but he then proceeds to take a case which he knows that he will lose. During the testimony of Tom Robinson, an African American man who is accused of raping a white woman, the evidence presented by Atticus clearly proves Tom’s innocence but considering the prejudice of the 1930’s towards African Americans, the jury thinks that Tom Robinson should be killed. Even though Atticus Finch lost yet another case this evidence stands to prove that Atticus Finch was willing to defy society and give a doomed man a fair shot at life or death.
Tom Robinson, the defendant, was accused of raping and beating a local, white girl. Although Atticus is quite positive his client didn 't commit the disturbing crime, Tom 's race and history are not in his favor. Nevertheless, Atticus proceeds with the trial and skillfully uses persuasive techniques, such as diction, imagery, and tone, and rhetorical appeals to fight for what he presumes is morally right.
In the book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” a lawyer named Atticus Finch attempts to convince a jury that a Negro should be found innocent in a case of lies and prejudice. The Negro, Tom Robinson, was sent to court because a man, Robert Ewell, accused Tom of raping his daughter, when in fact, he beat his own daughter for trying to kiss Tom. Atticus strives to change the stereotypical minds of the jury by looking past race. Atticus uses ethos, connotation, and a simile to challenge the jury’s pre-existing minds about race.
Atticus was a man of strong morals and conscience and in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, had to overcome the backlash and hate from defending Tom Robinson. With what seemed to be the majority of Maycomb County against him and his own safety at stake, Atticus knew that he couldn’t win the trial. Yet accompanied by his rationality, good ethics and determination he overcomes the trial. It is not the desired ending, but for his efforts in the trial, Atticus gains the respect of the black community and the respect of others in Maycomb by following through and overcoming the challenges that followed the
Few people are the same as they are on the street in their homes. Few people can treat others equally; no matter what colour their skin is. Atticus Finch is one of those precious few. Racism in the town of Maycomb is nothing but disguised by the polite smiles and ladies missionary meetings; although it is the strongest belief that each person of the town holds apart from some such as Atticus. Racism is an issue of great importance, yet to the eye of a visitor waltzing through, it's just a slight whisk of air.
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 94). This quote, delivered in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, introduces the mockingbird which is incorporated symbolically throughout the novel. The mockingbird, in presenting its gifts of music and beauty, is the symbol of Atticus’s practice of altruism because he believes in society’s responsibility to protect those who are vulnerable and innocent.