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To kill a mockingbird and racial issues related to the present
Theme of discrimination in killing a mockingbird
Systematic oppression to kill a mockingbird
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To Kill a Mockingbird is a strong novel filled with innocence and human dignity. The most interesting and emotional part of the novel is the trial between an “untouchable” in the society and an innocent black man. Despite the overwhelming blatant evidence that the black man was innocent, the jury declared him guilty due to the extreme racism that happened throughout the course of the story. The most outstanding person in the trial is Atticus Finch, the defender assigned to defend the black man, Tom Robinson. Atticus’s actions in the trial proved to be intelligent and powerful, and a valuable clue to the outcome of the trial and story.
In the story, Tom Robinson was accused for raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of the low-class citizen Bob Ewell, and Atticus was assigned to defend Tom Robinson. During the trial, he cross-examines the witnesses thoroughly, trying to seek valuable answers from the witnesses. Sometimes Atticus questions excessively, such as that point when Judge Taylor stops Atticus from questioning after he questioned Heck Tate numerous times about calling a doctor, “He’s answered the question three times, Atticus. He didn’t call a doctor” (167). This shows Atticus’s resilient but effective method of questioning. He also asked for Mayella’s injuries, as the location of the injuries can determine who is the real culprit. He also wants answers to be concise without nonsense, like when Atticus asks Heck Tate to answer a simple question about Mayella’s injuries around the throat, “Just answer the question yes or no, please, Sheriff” (169). Again, he does not asks for details; he wants a simple, concise answer to the trial.
Later, after Bob Ewell finished his testimony, Atticus began his cross-examination with similar qu...
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.... Ewell did not yell at him, as he says, “Mr. Finch, I was runnin’ so fast that I didn’t know what happened” (194). That’s shows Robinson’s fear of being caught, because when Mr. Ewell intervened at the scene, he escaped. His tone of voice about his testimony was far different from Mayella and Bob Ewell, as he was not scared of anybody, and he did not rush to get out of the trial as quickly as possible.
Atticus’s actions for defending Tom Robinson proved to be assertive and intelligent, and provided a clear outcome for the remainder of the story and trial, which resulted in Tom Robinson being found guilty by the jury’s verdict and Bob Ewell declaring revenge on the Finches, as the trial further decayed his reputation. However, if the outcome was the opposite of the story, Atticus will be advantageous and unstoppable.
Works Cited
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
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
Atticus questions Mayella very differently compared to the way he questions Bob Ewell. Through Atticus? language we learn that he does sympathise with Mayella and he does realise she is a victim of her father?
Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior, to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, and the struggle between blacks and whites. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single parent in a small southern town in the 1930's, is appointed by the local judge to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping a white woman. Friends and neighbors object when Atticus puts up a strong and spirited defense on behalf of the accused black man. Atticus renounces violence but stands up for what he believes in. He decides to defend Tom Robinson because if he did not, he would not only lose the respect of his children and the townspeople, but himself
During the court scene a lot of difficult things happen and it becomes a very hard case for Atticus to solve and explain. Jem and Scout are both very upset about Tom Robinson being accused of the things he didn’t do. Atticus begins to tell Jem that it’s going to be okay and that he wants Jem to not worry about what the outcome is. Atticus is trying to teach him that even if the case doesn’t go the way they wanted and the way that it was supposed to go, that they still did the right thing and that they would keep trying to help Tom Robinson in any way they could. This is what Atticus tells Jem, “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till the truth’s told.” “Atticus’s voice was even. And you know what the truth
The text construes, “‘He in there Mr. Finch?’ a man said. ‘He is’, we heard Atticus answer, ‘and he’s asleep. Don’t wake him up’... ‘You know what we want’, another man said… ‘You can turn around and go home again’, Atticus said pleasantly”(121-122). Atticus displays unparalleled intrepidness in this scene of the book. Additionally, the text corroborates, “‘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 in a case like that’”(246). Atticus Finch is not only wise beyond his years but is also exceptionally good at his job, so good for the fact that he was purposely assigned this case. It wasn’t by coincidence that he was assigned this case, but it was because he is the only one with the ability to even have a shot at winning. Finally, the text substantiates, “‘Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident? That Judge Taylor naming that boy was no accident? That Judge Taylor had his reasons for naming him?’”(246). This attests that Atticus can’t bluntly reject his case, he was given this case by Judge Taylor for certain reasons, one of which is that he has the best chance of winning this impossible and immoral cause. To summarize, Atticus should take the case because no one else will be able to hold the judge at bay for that
Atticus Finch shows, in many ways, the true definition of a hero, but no situation was more important than the Tom Robinson trial. In Maycomb, the thought of taking a negro’s word instead of a white man’s was ridiculous to the citizens, especially over a matter as serious as a black man raping a white woman. Regardless of this information, Atticus still takes on Tom Robinson’s case and tries to make as big of a difference as possible. When Scout asks him if he thinks that he will win the case, Atticus subtly replies “No, honey” (76). Atticus goes on to explain, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win” (76). Basically, Atticus believes that just because it is unlikely that he will win, it does not mean that he should just give up without trying. Throughout all the discrimination, Atticus remains tough and tries to achieve his goal, no matter how hard it is. This was an example of moral courage. Even Scout knows how hard her father is trying by comparing Atticus’ efforts to “watching Atticus walk down the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but...
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...
“You never really understood a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around it.” Atticus Finch is a man of extreme integrity. He, as both a lawyer and a human being, stands up for his democratic beliefs and encourages his children to stand up for their own, though they may stand alone. Harper Lee showed how far respect went in To Kill a Mockingbird when Atticus defended Tom Robinson in his rape trial. He did not think twice about being ridiculed by th...
In To Kill A Mockingbird Lee tells the story of a Mr. Tom Robinson who is an African American who is being charged with rape against a white women. Atticus is the lawyer who must defend Robinson in court. In the Scottsboro case a central figure was a heroic judge who overturned a guilty verdict against the young men. The judge went against the public in trying to protect the rights of the African American men. In reading the novel you learn that Atticus arouses anger in the small community when he tries to defend Robinson.
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.
Another consequence of defending Tom Robinson in court, aside from being known as a "nigger lover" and opening himself to several other forms of racial hatred from the good people of Maycomb, Atticus was also arguing against a man who was known to be a violent drunk. Bob Ewell was a frightening man and it was noble of Atticus to put himself in a position of opposing such an unstable individual. Atticus remained a gentleman when Ewell confronted him at the post office. Most men in his position would have violently lashed out at Robert E. after being spat upon. Atticus did the right thing and remained a gentleman throughout the confrontation.
In conclusion, it makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom. Atticus was advocating equal rights.Atticus could not go on with his life if he did not take the trial. Although, others might say that it is irrational for Atticus to defend Tom, his pride is at stake.It does make sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because it a matter of principle and the right thing to
Atticus is a good man, a just man. He upholds his morals, and judges by his conscience. He is shaken but not moved by the town of Maycomb in their gossip and hypocritical ways. When offered Tom's case, Atticus knows he will take it on. He won't just stand there with no proper defense for Tom, but he will let the truth be known, and prove that Tom is innocent. "...that boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told."
"The only thing we've got is a black man's word against the Ewells'. The evidence boils down to you-did-I-didn't. The jury couldn't possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson's word against the Ewells'.
middle of paper ... ... Atticus would help a man if it is the right thing to do, he does not consider what people think of him, he will only be bothered if he does not help, then he is going against his moral beliefs. Atticus demonstrates his beliefs, truthfulness, and justice. The moral dilemma of whether Bob Ewell died by accident, or Boo killed him in order to save Jem?s life, or Jem killed Bob in self defense has become the decision that he must face in order to tell the town what had happened.