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Critical analysis of how to kill a mockingbird by Harper lee
Problems with racism in literature
Critical analysis of how to kill a mockingbird by Harper lee
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Did you know that there are many similarities between the characters in the books To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton? Everyone has many character traits, sometimes sharing traits with another person, as the people in Cry, the Beloved Country share traits with the people in To Kill a Mockingbird. In both of these books there are characters that have the traits of being caring, non-prejudice, and innocence.
One of the main traits shared between these two books is being non-prejudice. The main character in To Kill a Mockingbird is Atticus, father of Scout and Jem, and Arthur Jarvis in Cry, the Beloved Country. Although Atticus demonstrated how un-prejudice he is many times, a few stood out. “‘Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public street’” (Lee 46). This shows that Atticus treats everyone the same, whether it be his own children or someone he sees in town. “‘You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women-black of white. Buy this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.’” (Lee 204). This part of Atticus’ speech begins with him saying something that by itself would be racist, buy what he says after shows that he believes is true in Negroes he also believes to be true in all races of man, once again showing that he doesn’t judge by color of skin. “‘From the Bishop, and the Acting Prime Minister, and the Mayor, and from dozens of others, And from native organizations too, something called the Daughters of Africa, and a whole lot of others that I can’t remember, And from coloured people, and Indians, and Jews.’” (Paton 171). This shows how Arthur Jarvis is un-prejudice because people of all races sent messages, showing that they respected him because he treated everyone equally. “‘It is true that we hoped to preserve the tribal system by a policy of segregation. That was permissible. Buy we never did it thoroughly of honestly. We set aside one-tenth of the land for four-fifths of the people. Thus we made it inevitable, and some say we did it knowingly, that labour would come to the towns. We are caught in the toils of our own selfishness.’” (Paton 179).
Atticus’ statement on prejudice and racism characterises his moral integrity and his empathetic nature. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch is depicted as the complete opposite of what people would perceive to be a stereotypical southern man living in the Deep South during the 1930s. Contrary to the majority of his fellow townspeople of Maycomb, Atticus is a man of great virtue and moral strength. He in not bigoted or racist and is egalitarian in his approach to all people This sort of moral integrity is what he tries to instil in his two young children, Jem and Scout, despite the bigotry and inequality surrounding them. Atticus Finch stands as a moral beacon of the town, a label which causes much friction between himself and other members of the Maycomb community. A clearer idea of Atticus’ principles can be gained by comparing and contrasting them to three other characters in the Novel, Calpurnia, Bob Ewell and Aunt Alexandra.
There are several ways that the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, differs from the movie. There are various scenes in the novel that are not in the film that limit it and maintain that the novel is superior. For example, when it is learned that Tom Robinson is dead following his conviction, is merely hours in the film. In the novel, it is several weeks. By having it only be hours the audience misses out on the significance of Tom's death. A good deal happened between Tom's conviction and his death. He, as well as Atticus, continued to fight for some time after the initial trial and that too added to Bob Ewell's anger towards Atticus and his inevitable need for revenge against him. Another way that the film differs from the novel is that it removes some characters who is absence leaves a void. I am speaking of Atticus' sister, Aunt Alexandra. I feel she was a wonderful character who worked as a foil to Atticus. It is through her actions that the reader comes to truly understand where Atticus comes from and how educated in the ways of the world he is. The mere fact that he comes from such upstanding lineage, bordering on the arrogant and aloof, adds to strength of character. It is because of where he comes from that Atticus manages to be such an even and sound voice of reason in such tumultuous times. Without Aunt Alexandra to represent this background one sees Atticus as a "too good to be true" character.
Atticus is non judgmental he treats blacks and everyone equally. He puts himself in someone else’s shoes and respects their different
The racism shown throughout the book, and taking the Jim Crow laws into consideration, teaches the reader about how racism can affect people, and how Scout learned that it was wrong. The Jim Crow laws enforce the fact that segregation and racism is right, and that is how things should be. But, some of the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird go against racism and segregation, teaching the readers a lesson that everyone should be treated fairly, no matter their race. Atticus, Jem and Scout are three of the greatest examples of going against racism, and the Jim Crow laws. To Kill a Mockingbird allows people to get an idea of both sides of segregation and racism, and the Finch family set off an example that should be followed in the way black people should be
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Jem learns many new things along the way and also matures in the process. Lee uses the story to shine light on important topics such as racial prejudice, justice, and compassion. Examples from the story are when no one took Tom Robinson's case. The reason no one took his case was because he had African American descent. Atticus took the case because Judge Taylor appointed Atticus to Tom Robinson's case because he knew he would do a good job . Society now has figured out that we are equal when the novel was written they could’ve used more people like Judge Taylor because he wanted Tom to have an equal shot at being found innocent.
One theme in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird could be loyalty sometimes triumphs over personal beliefs. Atticus earns a lot of loyalty and respect from those he knows. This oftentimes influences people to defend Atticus even when Atticus’s beliefs are different from their own. For example, Mr. Underwood was ready to defend Atticus against the mob that surrounded him at the jailhouse. However, as stated here, “‘You know, it’s a funny thing about Braxton,’ said Atticus. ‘He despises Negroes, won’t have one near him’” (Lee 209). While Mr. Underwood may be racist against black people, he was still willing to shoot anyone who would try to harm Atticus. Even though Atticus was defending a black man, the loyalty Mr. Underwood
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells a story of discrimination. The town favored against Tom Robinson, a black man, and so they naturally believed that he assaulted Mayella Ewell. Boo Radley was also discriminated against because the children mimicked and harassed him for never leaving the house or showing his face. This book teaches many essential lessons about family, forgiveness, the history of the American South, including issues with the Jim Crow Laws and segregation, and to never be afraid to stand up for what’s right. Atticus Finch never disrespected Tom Robinson although it was unlikely for a white man to talk to a black man during that time in history. Atticus not only taught his kids life lessons throughout the book but also
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.
The novels, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines have similar background structure, although the stories are quite different. They both take place in a segregated society. The characters Tom Robinson and Jefferson are victims of this racially prejudiced society because they both are convicted of crimes they did not commit. Tom did not rape Mayella Ewell and Jefferson did not take part in the killing of Mr. Gropé. Both were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tom Robinson and Jefferson are similar in the ways of being accused of a crime they did not commit, they both have no hopes of living, and they both are killed unjustly. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Tom Robinson, and
He also asked his daughter: ‘Do you want Negroes by the carload in our schools and churches and theaters? Do you want them in our world?’ However, the turning point which shows Atticus is not a racist person is when he is appointed to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a young white woman. He stood up for Tom even though it resulted in his family and him being racially abused. He tells Scout that courage is ‘when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what’. Atticus is portrayed as a deeply moral figure for the way he stands up against the racist attitudes of the Deep South. “To Kill a Mocking Bird” is another valuable book because it engages students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development a more humane and informed society. Atticus stated, “The one thing that doesn’t abide by a majority rule is a person’s conscience.” One of the major themes presented was stereotypical perceptions cloud a person’s ability to fairly judge a person’s guilt or lack
The ¨story of Emmett Till¨ and ¨To Kill a Mockingbird¨ are very similar. Two african americans have almost the exact same story. The man named Tom robinson was killed for harassing a girls, As was Emmett Till. I will give reasons that these two murders were very similar to each other.
Set in a sleepy town of Maycomb the story, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a woman’s memory of her innocent childhood and her awareness of the deeply rooted racism that was present during that time in the South. Raised by their widowed father, a local lawyer, and Calpurnia, their African American housekeeper, Scout and Jem Finch are taught life lessons with anything but “normal” methods. In a close-knit town like Maycomb, where religion and opinions seem to be at the core of all reason their upbringing seems to have its fair share of challenges. When their father takes on a very controversial case, his role in the trial subjects Scout and Jem to insults and racial slurs which exposes the children to the evils of racism and stereotyping. Despite the
There have been many famous pieces of literature, but one that stands out is the 1960's classic To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. Lee, who only wrote one book in her life time, wrote of prejudice, injustice, and racism in the 1930's. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the Deep South in the 1930's. To Kill a Mockingbird is a story in which a black mad is accused of doing something he didn't do. During the whole story some of the two of the main characters, Jem Finch and Jean Lousie Finch, grow up in there mind but, are still of young age. Different things happen along the way but the story is based on what happens to Tom Robinson the black man. It seems like so muck is going on at once but it isn't that hard to figure out that it is injustice. Injustice is a huge concept in this book; it is basically the prejudices and racism going on. In To Kill a Mockingbird there is lots of injustice and prejudice going on. Atticus Finch, Jean Lousie Finch, and Tom Robinson experience injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Atticus teaches them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because in doing so you are killing something that has not done any harm to you. '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.’ This is like a metaphor to teach the children that if someone who is good and pure-hearted they don’t deserve to be treated badly or unjustly. Additionally, 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.” He says this to teach Jem and Scout to not think they know someone until they know what they are going through. Most of the town didn’t give people a chance, the white folk of the town wouldn’t give the coloured folk half a minute to get to know and understand them. It takes time for Scout to understand what Atticus was try to say, but later on in the book you get to see Scout put this into practice and is sympathetic and understanding towards Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley. As a result, throughout the book Scout and Jem grow and become more sympathetic and loving towards everybody in the town, coloured or
Imagine growing up in a place where everyone was separated by race and gender. In To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, 6 year Scout Finch and her brother Jem grow up in Maycomb County or could be called a racist county . They live their lives witnessing black people getting harassed by other people in their town. Having to deal with grown ups tell them that black people are like trash, to look down on them, without realizing black people are humans too. Their father, Atticus helps them overcome this problem by telling them to fight back with words, not by a fist.