Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
opinionated Essay
3859 words
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird The story of To Kill a Mockingbird takes place during the 1930s in a small town in Alabama in the southern United States - much like the town where the author Harper Lee herself grew up. To understand what the book is saying about racism, you need to know something of the history of race relations in the southern USA. Plot ---- The novel is about three years in the life of the Finch family: Atticus and his son Jem and daughter Scout. They live in the town of Maycomb in Alabama, where whites are in control and blacks are second-class citizens. Atticus is a lawyer and the central incident of the novel is when he defends a black man, Tom Robinson, against the charge of raping a white girl. The story is told in the first person by Scout Finch, a young girl - so we see things through her eyes and from her point of view, and sometimes we need to reinterpret what she tells us. Chapters 1 - 3 ============== Jem (aged 10) and Scout (aged 6) meet Dill (aged 7), who has come to stay with his aunt in Maycomb during the summer vacation. Dill becomes interested in 'Boo' Radley, a recluse who lives next door to the Finches and whom they have never seen. A myth has grown up locally about Boo and the children are scared of him. It is Dill's idea to make Boo come out. After that vacation, Scout starts school. Since she can already read and write, yet is told she is doing them wrongly by her inexperienced young teacher, she takes an immediate dislike to school. She gets into trouble when she tries to explain to her teacher why Walter Cunningham, from a very poor family, ... ... middle of paper ... ...heir name. They are innocent and do nothing wrong, so should not be harmed. Is it significant that Atticus' surname is Finch? Perhaps he too is like a mockingbird in some ways. Tom Robinson was innocent did nothing wrong, but was found guilty. After Tom died when trying to escape from prison, Mr Underwood writes an editorial in the Maycombe Tribune which emphasises the symbolism: He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children. Boo Radley is another innocent, good person who is in jeopardy. When he kills Mr Ewell to protect the children, he should have been brought before a court, but Heck Tate decides to report that Mr Ewell fell on his knife in order to spare Boo. Scout understands this: "bringing Boo to court would be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?"
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how scout finch, a young girl, tells the story in the first person.
- Narrates how jem and scout meet dill, who has come to visit them.
- Analyzes how jem invites walter to lunch with walter, who will not be able to pay it back.
- Narrates how jem tries to deliver a note to boo on the end of the fishing pole.
- Narrates how scout and dill sneak out to check if scout is all right. a gang arrives.
- Narrates how she walks home in, to hide her embarrassment. it is a dark night.
- Explains that tate knows it was boo who killed him, and they agree to put out the story.
- Explains that scout is 6 years old at the start of the story and 9 years later.
- Narrates how she is insulted when jem says to her, "i declare to."
- Analyzes how she knows boo will be happier in the dark of the back.
- Opines that we have to work out things for ourselves. scout is too young and too.
- Explains that scout was 2 and he is bringing the children up on his own.
- Opines that he loves and admires his father, which is one of the reasons why.
- Analyzes how he casts himself in the hero role in their film.
- Explains that he is more mature than scout and has a better grasp of the trial.
- Explains that jem's broken arm is the first thing that we hear about in the novel.
- Explains that he is a quick thinker and explained the loss of jem's trousers.
- Narrates how she lives in the black community on the edge of the town.
- Explains that she is well-educated, one of only four people in her church who can speak english.
- Explains that his left arm is crippled as the result of an accident at work.
- Opines that he is intelligent and leaves a knothole in the knot hole.
- Explains that jem grows to love the children next door whom he watches.
- Opines that they sympathize with her as she did try to be clean.
- Narrates how she was so attracted to tom that she saved up over a whole year.
- Explains that he has no job and lives off social security money. he uses the money to make ends meet.
- Opines that he is rude and ill mannered at the trial - calling the judge.
- Analyzes how atticus proves him to be a liar at the trial.
- Opines that atticus is bitter at having been shown up during the trial.
- Explains theme is an idea that runs through a text. a text may have one theme.
- Opines that father in the leg with a pair of scissors) he "hadn't the heart to put"
- Analyzes how a man matures physically — he is proud of the hair on his chest and grows.
- Narrates how one of his family on the jury goes on to disperse the mob.
- Describes how maycomb begins to learn as a result of the trial.
- Explains that she has no friends of her own age and no one to love her. she grows pretty
- Opines that it's a sin to sing their hearts out for us.
Related
- analytical
- Harper Lee's to Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essayIn the book, To Kill a Mockeningbird by Harper lee, Charles Baker Harris, also known as Dill, is one of the most important character. He’s curious, wants attention, and he can be dishonest.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how charles baker harris, also known as dill, is one of the most important characters in the book, to kill a mockeningbird by harper lee.
- Analyzes how dill's second charateristics are him needing attention. the first time the reader sees that he is wanting attention is when scout says, "mr. finch don't tell aunt rachel, please sir! i'll run of again!"
- Analyzes how jem is expressing the lies that he had caught dill saying. he is curious, needing attention, and being dishonest.
- Analyzes how dill's curiosity leads him to just standing there being curious about the radley’s. he then runs away from his new parents because he felt like getting no attention from them.
592 wordsRead More - Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essayOne of the principal aims of To Kill a Mockingbird is to subject the narrator to a series of
In this essay, the author
- Explains that one of the principal aims of to kill a mockingbird is to subject the narrator
- Opines that there is rarely a chapter that does not teach scout something new or builds.
- Analyzes how the woman becomes aware of the difficulty of being a lady, especially when under-dressed.
- Analyzes atticus' fight for tom's life, even though he knows that tom will lose the case.
- Advises scout to quit fighting with fists and try to combat others opinions with her head.
- Explains that prejuduce is something that has to be taught and is therefore one of the most difficult.
- Opines that even atticus cannot explain scout's horror and disgrace.
- Describes robinson trial, prejustice and its effects on the processes of the law and society, courage as manifested in ways others act, and respect for individuality.
- Analyzes how boo radley, mrs. dubose, and the cunninghams' behavior differs from the normal in scout in the novel.
- Analyzes how atticus explains to cunningham that to judge a person you must try to see things from that person's point of view.
- Analyzes how scout learns to respect boo's saying only at the end of the novel. she goes through a series of maturing experiences.
- Analyzes how scout learns that greater courage is often required in other places of life. miss lee had scout observe her father perform a physical act of courage when he lost.
- Analyzes how atticus explains to them how courageous the lady was because she knew she was dying but was determined to die free of morphine.
- Explains that atticus as a lawyer has always believed in the principle of justice and alliance to the processes of the law.
700 wordsRead More - Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essayHarper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird In the early twentieth century, the United States was undergoing a dramatic social change. Slavery had been abolished decades before, but the southern states were still attempting to restrict social interaction among people of different races. In particular, blacks were subject to special Jim Crow laws which restricted their rights and attempted to keep the race inferior to whites. Even beyond these laws, however, blacks were feeling the pressure of prejudice.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how atticus picks apart the state's evidence on the matter. the jury panel of twelve white males returned a unanimous guilty verdict.
- Analyzes du bois, w.e.b., and sternsher's the negro in depression and war.
- Explains ling, p.j., "a white woman’s word: the scottsboro case (1931)." race on trial.
- Analyzes the irrational hatred of black people in harper lee's novel, to kill a mockingbird.
- Analyzes how the scottsboro boys' trial involved two white women that accused nine black youths of rape.
1363 wordsRead More - Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbirdanalytical essayHarper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird In the novel by Harper Lee named, To Kill a Mockingbird, there is one main tragic event that occurs. The feelings and expressions dealt with in the novel are seen through the eyes of the main character, named Scout. In the novel Tom Robinson is a black male accused of rape in Maycomb County. During the same time period as the novel there were many historical events that were almost identical in setting and conclusion.
In this essay, the author
- Compares harper lee's to kill a mockingbird to the scottsboro case and the case in the novel.
- Explains that the scottsboro trials involved nine young black males who were charged with the rape of two white females on a train.
- Analyzes how the two women in the scottsboro case were from poor families living in african-american communities.
- Analyzes how mayella ewell lives in a similar setting to the women in the scottsboro trials. her father uses racial insinuations like, "why, i run for tate quick as i could."
- Analyzes how the scottsboro boys trial was a case built around lies. the accusations in the trials were completely false and were created to diversion from the actual activities of the two ladies on the train.
- Analyzes how the case in the novel is a lie, but the accusers never changed their story. mayella ewell claimed to have been beaten and raped by tom robinson, when in fact her drunken father probably did the beating.
- Analyzes how the community surrounding the scottsboro trials was determined to put these young black boys to death. ruby bates recanted her story after realizing her faults.
- Analyzes how mr. finch was assigned to the case, and was doing his duty as a lawyer to defend his client. scout and her brother had learned to take harsh comments from the community, but hearing it from their aunt was hard to swallow.
- Analyzes how tom robinson represents an entire race of black people that were not given any respect in the early 1900's.
- Cites the scottsboro boys' "the greatest trials of all time" and claudia durst's understanding to kill a mockingbird.
1376 wordsRead More - Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essayThe reference “Raised by an irresponsible mother during the Great Depression in the Jim Crow south, my father was on his own from the age of 13” shows both the racism and the economic collapse occurred in the nation during the 1930s. The 1930s was a difficult time for most people in America. It was the era of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, which cost many workers their jobs and many farmers their farms. The 1930s was also a time of pervasive and sometimes violent racial prejudice. Blacks were scorned upon and stereotyped as lazy, evil, and selfish. During the Depression, they were often the first to lose their jobs and the last to regain them. Jim Crow laws segregated blacks and whites, forcing blacks to use different facilities (restaurants, schools, buses) than whites. Despite technically being “separate but equal,” black facilities were often inferior to white ones. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is set in this turbulent period. In this novel, many people are the victims of prejudice and evil. One such person is Tom Robinson, an honest black worker falsely accused of rape. In the court trial, it is revealed that it was impossible for Tom Robinson to have raped the victim, Mayella Ewell. However, due to the racism of the all-white jury, Tom is convicted of the crime despite the clear evidence. As a result of being punished unfairly, Tom becomes depressed and tries to run from prison, but is shot and killed while attempting to escape. This terrible injustice proves a point. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is not a love (agape) story because despite characters’ attempts to communicate understanding, various forms of prejudice occur, and injustice against innocent individuals results.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how harper lee's to kill a mockingbird is set in the turbulent 1930s.
- Analyzes how atticus communicates with jem and scout to prevent prejudice from harming innocent people. the mockingbirds symbolize an innocent, helpless individual.
- Analyzes how communication fails to stamp out the deep-rooted prejudice in maycomb.
- Analyzes how injustice caused by prejudice in maycomb is highlighted by the conviction of tom robinson, which ultimately results in his death.
- Concludes that to kill a mockingbird is not an agape story because efforts to communicate fail, prejudice ensures, and injustice is the end result.
1173 wordsRead More - Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essayThe most essential responsibility of a parent is to keep their children safe; most will not intentionally but their children in harm’s way. Harper Lee writes about a parent whose children are endangered and altered because of a decision that he makes. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch chooses to represent Tom Robinson in court, putting his children in potential danger, earning respect from numerous people surrounding him, and teaching his kids valuable life lessons; if individuals always chose to do what is right, instead of settling for the easy solution, difficulties could be often eliminated.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes harper lee's to kill a mockingbird, where atticus finch represents tom robinson in court, putting his children in potential danger and earning respect from numerous people around him.
- Analyzes how atticus finch, a moral perfection, accepts the case of tom robinson despite strong opposition from his neighbors; thus, jem and scout are put in danger.
- Analyzes how bob ewell attacks atticus's children instead of directly facing mr. finch, despite his decision to defend tom robinson.
- Analyzes how atticus finch is admired and respected by the open-minded inhabitants of his town, as well as members of the black community.
- Analyzes how jem and scout learn lessons essential in life because of atticus's choice to stand up for what is morally correct.
- Analyzes how atticus, with the children's best interest in mind, orders them to return home immediately. scout tells the reader that jem has learned from his father, the skill of assessing right from wrong.
- Analyzes how atticus finch, in to kill a mockingbird, makes an impact when he accepts tom robinson's case. he puts his children in danger, earns respect, and trains them to be mature and act responsibly.
1451 wordsRead More - Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essayHarper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill A Mockingbird is an award-winning novel written by Harper Lee. The novel was published in 1960 and the movie was filmed in 1961. A six-year-old girl by the name of Scout is the main character and narrates the story line in the movie. The movie takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb is portrayed as a small, sleepy, depression-era town during the 1930’s depression era.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that harper lee's to kill a mockingbird is an award-winning novel written in 1960 and the movie was filmed in 1961.
- Analyzes how to kill a mockingbird illustrates the true attitude of small-town life in the 1930s south.
- Analyzes how to kill a mockingbird reflects the unjust consequences of ignorance, prejudice, and hate as well as the values of courage, honor, fairness and decency.
- Analyzes how maycomb's white community agreed with the court decision because of racial discrimination. although the movie was fictional, racism was very real during this period.
- Analyzes how the characters deal with extreme racial prejudice. slang references to black men and their assumed deeds and involvements continue throughout the movie.
- Analyzes how atticus realizes there is little chance of proving tom's innocence and winning his case. the guilty verdict directly reflects the white population’s predjudice and assumed guilt
- Analyzes how atticus is convincing and clearly enables the viewer to understand that change needs to take place among the white residents of maycomb.
- Explains that atticus is committed to fairness and justice and willingly views matters from these perspectives. he treats both children with respect and as mature individuals.
- Explains that atticus is a peaceful man and is restrained, even in situations of personal violence. he showed no violence or retaliation toward ewell.
- Analyzes how the movie utilizes the racial era, secluded country town, and atticus finch’s love and concerns for his children. other plot side bars enrich the story's experience.
- Analyzes how radley's character becomes increasingly important as the movie’s plot progresses. he would watch the children from afar and secretly desire their friendship.
- Analyzes how mayella's father, bob ewell, decides to seek revenge on atticus, concentrating his actions toward the finch children. radley saves them from possible harm and takes them to safety.
- Opines that although the story has an appropriate ending, it is shameful that many people continue to display open hostility and discrimination to persons of different races.
- Opines that if children are taught to resolve differences and openly communicate, the problem will cease.
795 wordsRead More - Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essayIn To Kill a Mockingbird, we are told the story of the lives of the Finch family through the eyes of one Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. She is around the age of eight years old, so she is very young. Essentially, she has always wanted to go to school, but when she gets there, she finds that her education level surpasses that of the first grade. Her father forces her to stay in school. That summer she meets a peculiar person who calls himself Dill, although his name is Charles Baker Harris. Scout and her brother, Jem, quickly befriend him. He becomes obsessed with the house down the street, so Jem tells him the story of Arthur “Boo” Radley; he never comes out. Some say he’s dead, but Calpurnia, the Finches’ housekeeper, won’t believe it until the day she sees a funeral carriage arrive at the house. Dill begins planning how he will get Boo to come out of the house, but his plans are not followed through that summer.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the story of jean louise "scout" finch in to kill a mockingbird. she is eight years old and wants to go to school, but her father forces her to stay in school. scout and her brother, jem, befriend him.
- Analyzes how dill and jem try many things to get mr. radley to come out of his house, but none of them succeeds. scout, however, finds that she has had a very close encounter with him.
- Analyzes how atticus' role as the town's best lawyer comes into play when he is asked to defend a negro man accused of raping the daughter of one mr. bob ewell.
- Analyzes how the jury's verdict shocks the reader, atticus, and his children. the jury finds tom guilty simply because he is a black man.
- Analyzes how mr. ewell's chance for vengeance arrived on the night after a school pageant. jem hurried scout towards home.
862 wordsRead More - To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Leeanalytical essayIn the town of Maycomb, the residents have a very small intolerance for other people that they are not familiar with. There are many commonalities between people who accept others, such as Atticus and Scout. Atticus has discussed with Scout to put yourself in their skin and understand how they feel. So one commonality they have is they put themselves in your place and judge how you live and what decisions you will make. Another commonality is a strong sense of justice between people who accept others and the people accept others not because of their skin but for their morals. Also People who hate others make judgements too fast and are persuaded by other people in the community. Harper Lee shows in the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," the building up of a strong intolerance of racial discrimination in the residents of Maycomb highlighting the separation of Maycomb, Resulting in a commonality of people that accept or hate others.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that maycomb residents have a small intolerance for other people that they are not familiar with. there are many commonalities between people who accept others, such as atticus and scout.
- Explains that acceptance from others is hard to earn because people do not know how the other person truly is. the trial of tom robinson is able to show the worst of maycomb because of the verdict
- Analyzes how scout, jem, and dill tackled the entailment once again in a last-ditch effort to make him feel at home. they recognize the father of walter cunningham and decide to talk to him.
- Explains that accepting others is a difficult thing to do, but it grants the person to view another perspective. scout learned it well from atticus and can accept people based on where they came from.
- Analyzes how the sense of justice allows people to accept people for who they are not based on their skin colour or how they act. scout defends atticus because he is an intelligent man with lots of skills.
- Analyzes how atticus accepted tom and showed respect for the coloured people in the balcony. jem is sad that tom was found guilty and is starting to question the law system.
- Explains that a sense of justice helps people accept others because you judge them fairly by the things they have done and your judgement is not based on outside factors.
- Analyzes how people misjudge others because they think of them too quickly, such as aunt alexandra and calpurnia.
- Analyzes the commonalities between people who accept and hate others. people who hate, misjudge or allow others to affect their decisions have a strong sense of justice, such as atticus or jem.
- Analyzes how harper lee shows the building up of intolerance of racial discrimination in the residents of maycomb.
1467 wordsRead More - Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essayChildhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how harper lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
- Analyzes how harper lee demonstrates the importance of not judging a book by its cover in the person of boo radley.
- Analyzes how harper lee incorporates the central theme by involving jem and scout in the life of an elderly woman named mrs. dubose.
- Analyzes how atticus proved that tom robinson was innocent by proving that he could not have punched mayella in the eye.
- Analyzes how harper lee wanted to teach people that it is wrong to pass judgment on someone by the way they look on the outside, and that people's perspectives of others are usually wrong.
1141 wordsRead More