More handpicked essays just for you.
A critical study of "to kill a mockingbird" by harper lee
Racial and symbolism in to kill a mockingbird
Essay about atticus finch
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The main thing that was said in this chapter was when Atticus says "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." What Atticus says kind of explains something about the Maycomb community, if you are less fortunate then you are allowed to bend the rules a bit to help put food on your table. In the book it says "Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. None of them had done an honest day's work in his recollection. He said that some Christmas, when he was getting rid of the tree, he would take me with him and show me where and how they lived. They were people, but they lived like animals."They can go to school any time they want to, when they show the faintest symptom of wanting an education," said Atticus. …show more content…
I
Atticus Finch is another victim of prejudice in the novel. After accepting to defend Tom Robinson, the town doesn't treat Atticus as an equal. The people of Maycomb believe that Atticus should not present a proper defense for a black person. Atticus doesn't care for this because he believes in equal rights. Atticus does not believe in racism or prejudice. Many people believe that Atticus should not defend a black person in court. This is because many people in Maycomb think a black person is guilty before anything is announced. While Atticus is defending Tom, Atticus makes the jury think differently about Bob Ewell. This makes Bob threaten and disrespect Atticus and his family. Atticus is not bothered by this because he knows he is doing the
...proached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him (Lee, 1960, p.359)" implies how rude the Ewells are to Atticus and other people in Maycomb who opposed them. Despite the poverty situations in both families, the Ewells behave differently from the Cunninghams. Lee wants to emphasize this by illustrating how there is even a social inequality within the white society and how characters behave differently towards eache others in Maycomb.
This was a time of racial segregation, where blacks were not permitted to go to the same schools as the whites. They could not sit in the same restaurants, sit in the same part of the courthouse, use the same public restrooms or drink at the same water fountains. Everyone in Maycomb, from children to adults, accused Atticus and his children of being "black lovers." Atticus, with all this turmoil, stayed calm. He taught his children to accept the differences between one human being and another.
This demonstrates to the reader that Maycomb was an area where prejudice against black people could be traced back to their ancestors, and this prejudice had been passed down from generation to generation. At that time, the people of Maycomb disapproved of Atticus attempting to win the case. They had expected him to take it on as a mere formality, not to try and secure Tom's acquittal. Despite their displeasure, the people of Maycomb were, in fact, allowing Atticus to do something that some of them secretly desired but lacked the courage to attempt. As Aunt Alexandra notes, "They're perfectly willing to let him do what they are too afraid to do themselves.
What would kids do if they had no role models to look up to and to teach them important life lessons? Atticus is an ideal father because he displays a balance of comfort and support as well as discipline. He maintains a strong bond with both Jem and Scout since he always finds time for them even though he is always very busy with work. Atticus, being an open-minded and honest man, is able to teach his children many important life lessons. He teaches his children to tolerate others, to act courageously, and to judge people on what’s beyond the exterior.
One of the values of Maycomb is racism. However, there are a few that does not believe in this value, including Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Mr. Dolphus Raymond is a white man married to a black woman and has mixed children. He does not believe in society’s ideology regarding racism and knows that some citizens of Maycomb antagonize him. However, he does not care, as he prefers the colored people over white. He knows how unfair society is, from the way he gets treated. Moreover, Jem realizes the falsities of society, due to the injustice he sensed. After Tom’s verdict, Jem’s first clear sense of injustice provided a new perception on the world. When he was young, he believed that the people of Maycomb are the best folks, but the outcome of the trial changed this thought. Furthermore, Scout’s realization of the falsehood in society is with the hypocrisy of Miss Gates. She was taught by Miss Gates how Americans do not believe in persecution. However, Scout saw Miss Gates talk about the African Americans in an adverse way. Learning about the falsehood in society is part of
The unforgettable, Anne Frank, wrote long ago, “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands” (Goodreads). In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the novel revolves around three children named, Scout, Jem, and Dill. It follows them through their years of growing up and coming to understand the importance of lessons, Atticus, Scout and Jem’s father, advises them. Furthermore, Lee shows often the best lessons are learned outside the classroom.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus speaks to the people of Maycomb about the unfairness of this trial. Throughout the book we see the complexities of the people of Maycomb, which just happens to be the people that Atticus is talking to in the courtroom. In chapter 15 we see that Mr. Cunningham was standing against Atticus because he was defending a black man. He was standing against him even though Atticus has helped him and his family in the past. This shows that Walter Cunningham’s values over look the most important things to life such as kindness and loyalty to another. In chapter 16, Harper Lee describes the views that the men in the Idler’s Club have on Atticus defending a black man and their views on black people in general. These men
The Ewells are “ the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. None of them had done an honest day’s work in his recollection” (Lee 30). They had lack of education, no parental guidance and no morals. The Ewells had not gone to school for no more than a day and takes the rest of the school year off. They were “members of an exclusive society made up of Ewells” (Lee 30). They were looked as below the normal because Mr. Bob Ewell would “spend his relief check on green whiskey his children have a way of crying from hunger pains (Lee 31). Mayella is the oldest sibling of the Ewells and is responsible for taking care of all her brothers and sisters while her father is either drunk or in the swamp. Nonetheless, they live in the dump, with little
Life is like a forest, if a tree doesn't get enough sunlight it will die. in this case the sunlight and soil is Atticus and the sampling is Scout. Just as a sapling needs sunlight and nutrients, a growing child needs a wise adult. Maycomb is like a tree without sunshine and Atticus is keeping the town alive. He is trying to keep life fair and just for everyone in the town but not always succeeding. In this unfair society, one is usually faced with a restrictive social ladder that restrains its occupants into stereotyped categories. In this type of pessimistic backdrop, it is only natural to copy the actions that surround you. Set in the small sleepy town of Maycomb,Alabama, a court case arises bringing out the worst in everyone in the town. Atticus' wise teachings, Scout meeting both the black people in church and Boo Radley, and discovering the way Maycomb thinks of others helps Scout, older and wiser.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a literary classic that presents many topics of past and present America. The story is told from the eyes of a six-year-old Caucasian child, Scout, that is raised with her older brother, Jem, by their widowed father, Atticus, who is a lawyer for their fictional town Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s – around the Great Depression times. There are two main plots that are carried throughout the story, but above the other, the main storyline is the case Atticus is assigned defending an African American man, Tom Robinson, in court for being falsely accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, who was proven to be sexually abused and beaten by her own father, Bob Ewell. Given the evidence provided, Tom was still sentenced
When Atticus mentions “climbing into another person’s skin” to see things from their perspective, this reflects our views on most of the people living in Maycomb county. The idea of normal, or typical is a lot different than our ideas, because of the time they live in and the financial status of Maycomb. This is easily seen when Scout describes the Ewell’s who “come the first day every year and then leave” (36 Lee). Since Scout, and surely all the people that go to her school, know about the Ewells, you would think that they would force them to go to school. However, this perfectly describes the citizens of Maycomb because they would let things like this slide in order to stay out of other people's’ business. Atticus himself shows this behavior
This shows that Atticus and his family are put on a lower level than normal citizens. Pre-conceived opinions are able to make people opposed to changing them as well, with the ideas sticking in Maycomb. The hierarchy or order of people is severely deformed in Maycomb, as normal, well-meaning people are discriminated against and put at the bottom of the pack simply because of the colour of their skin.... ... middle of paper ...
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.
Hypocrisy is as much a part of Maycomb’s society as church and community spirit. For example, Mrs. Merriweather talks about saving the poor Mruans from Africa, but she thinks black people in her community are a disgrace (p.234). The hypocrisy of this teaching is shown as soon as she mentions the word ‘persecution’. This is due to the fact that she herself is persecuting the black people of Maycomb by not raising an eyebrow at the killing of innocent black men. Furthermore, it is obvious Bob Ewell is abusive to his daughter, Mayella, and that he is the one who violated her, not Tom Robinson (p.178). Since there is such hypocrisy in Maycomb, there are excuses made for whites. The jury probably thinks that if they pronounce Tom innocent the citizens will mock them as they do to Atticus. Harper Lee uses hypocrisy to show how the people of Maycomb are so engulfed in a variety of elements that they unknowingly complete acts of unjustified discrimination.