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It is often said that the phrase “human nature“ implies similarity, and indeed, most can relate to other’s experiences. Literature, as well as works of art, feature a few commonalities also. In my essay, I will be comparing the successful novel, “ To Kill A Mockingbird “, by Harper Lee and the poem, “ If “, by Rudyard Kipling. Both literary pieces deal with hatred, prejudice, and ignorance to the innocent. To start with, in “ To Kill A Mockingbird “, Scout Finch, an innocent child has no experience with the evils of the world. That is until her father, Atticus Finch, takes up the offer to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of the rape and beating of Mayella Ewell. The conflict is between white people, with Tom as …show more content…
When Tom appears in person for the very first time at the trial, everyone else gets to give their version of what happened before he even has a chance to speak. At the trial, there are two very different versions of Tom’s relationship with Mayella. Mayella and her father tell the story that everyone would like to hear, about how Tom is this wicked beast who acts out of animalistic lust. The town just assumes that any African American man would rape a white woman, given the chance. However, Tom presents himself as a good guy who was literally just trying to help out a fellow lady in need. He states the only feelings he has for Mayella are compassion and pity, but neither of those are accepted by the town. Which story is the jury going to believe—the bias one about a black man raping a white woman or a disturbing one about a black man pitying a white woman. The answer is obvious. But does the jury believe Mayella’s story despite all of the factual evidence proving the Ewell’s wrong, or are they afraid to say otherwise. After the guilty verdict ignores Tom’s version in favor of the Ewell’s, Tom loses hope. Although Atticus promises him an appeal, all …show more content…
In disbelief of Atticus’s words, Tom attempts to escape, only to be shot down by guards in broad daylight resulting in the death of Tom. When it comes to the poem, “If “, Kipling said that, in writing the poem, he was inspired by the military actions of Leander Starr Jameson, leader of the failed Jameson Raid against the Transvaal Republic to overthrow the Boer Government of Paul Kruger. The theme is very similar to “ To Kill A Mockingbird “, dealing with the ability to still trust in yourself when all men doubt you. However, in “TKAM”, Tom failed at that and preferred to take his own chance. For example, the poem states,” If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don't deal in lies, or being hated, don't give way to hating -- yours is the Earth and everything that's in it.” From my point of view, I believe Kipling purpose for those lines is to inspire the reader and give a guide through life. Kipling took you on his journey, which many of us go through, but he let you know you can win, you can survive whatever and everything you put your mind to. Adversity can be conquered. The two literary pieces both have very similar symbolic weights. In “TKAM”, the title represents the idea
Atticus had enough evidence to prove to the Jury that Tom’s right arm did not work and that would mean that Tom could not have pulled Mayella to the ground and bruised her as the policeman described. The crowd was surprised but the Jury and the Judge did not believe Atticus’s evidence. They were prejudiced and if Atticus came up with the best possible explanation the Judge still believed the Ewell family and they did not come up with a reasonable explanation about Tom. “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Atticus) chapter 23. Prejudice hurts people who are black and people who were different and young
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 as well.
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a range of both major and minor characters which are portrayed with varying personalities. These character's interactions help to explain the issues that this text is concerned with. In the novel, the protagonist, Atticus Finch, is a defence lawyer who is appointed to represent a black man, Tom Robinson, who is charged with raping a white woman. The novel is set during the 1930s in America, which was when segregation of blacks and whites was well manifested into the society of those days. A black person had no right to defend himself if accused of a crime by white men. The author depicted several minor characters which helped to build up and expose the personality of the text's protagonist, Atticus Finch.
In the 1930’s many African American men were wrongly accused of rape and murder. The issue of racism is brought up in the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” when Scout overhears her teacher saying that it's a great thing that this is happening to Tom Robinson because the black men are getting too comfortable thinking that they’re mighty. Racism didn’t only affect Tom Robinson, but it also affected those who supported him. The lives of Scout and her family are changed when Scouts father who is a lawyer, steps in and defends Tom Robinson. Atticus’ lawsuit affects Scout and his children in several ways. As kids who were raised to respect everyone, and not judge people by their race they seem to be the outcast in school because of this. The children in Scouts, school are not accustomed to people respecting African-Americans and as a result they taunt and harass Atticus’ children. As a result of the violence towards Scout, Scout responds to violence with violence. However, Atticus is not happy with the way Scout is handling her problems. Racism is a reoccurring theme throughout the course of the story and affects all of the main characters in several ways. Maycomb as a whole is affected because of racism and many become outcasts such as in Mrs.Dolphus Raymond's
The novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a simplistic view of life in the Deep South of America in the 1930s. An innocent but humorous stance in the story is through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch. Scout is a young adolescent who is growing up with the controversy that surrounds her fathers lawsuit. Her father, Atticus Finch is a lawyer who is defending a black man, Tom Robinson, with the charge of raping a white girl. The lives of the characters are changed by racism and this is the force that develops during the course of the narrative.
Tom was very confused when he was accused of this incident because he had never been anything more to Mayella Ewell than an acquaintance. “The older you grow the more of it you’ll see. The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box”(Lee 220). This is how Atticus described the trial to his son Jem because he could not comprehend how unjust the trial was unfolding on a daily basis. The proceedings were not equitable towards Tom Robinson because everyone should have realized at the trial that he had not done anything wrong. In the end, Atticus lost the trial. Not because the jury and judge thought Tom Robinson had committed the crime, but simply because he was black and they were racist. Tom was sent to jail for doing absolutely nothing wrong, except being black. He never had the luxury to grow into old age, as his life was taken from him when he was shot seventeen times during his attempt to escape from jail. Tom Robinson’s life would have been completely different if he had not been black. The discrimination would not have occurred and the accusations would not have been leveled or
The story To Kill A Mockingbird has a wide variety of characters and situations that make it an all-time favorite. The ever-growing popularity of this story has caused a movie version, based on the book, to be showcased. There are noticeable differences between the two that could change the entire feel of the story. The omitted scenes from the book, that are never shown in the movie, include: Jem and Scout going to church with Calpurnia, the school scene in which the Ewells, Cunninghams, and Scout’s teacher and classmates are introduced and talked about, and how Aunt Alexandra, the great influencer of the children in the book, never appears in the movie along with other Finch family members.
The evidence clearly exhibits that Tom is innocent, but because of his race and color, he was still pleaded guilty with no exception. The decision of the jury was solely out of racism because at that time period, it was very uncommon for a black person to be considered right, especially in this situation. On page 220, it says,” In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins.” Even according to Atticus, Tom’s Lawyer, he knows that the chances are very slim for them to win the case, even if Tom was being completely honest. In the song, it states,” Yes, your skin is white… does that make you right? ; Tell me: how can a color determine whether you’re wrong or right?” This quote relates to when Tom was telling the full truth during the case, but the jury believed Mayella over him just because of the difference in complexion. His situation is symbolic of the hypocrisy of racism in
With his right arm missing, it is almost impossible to cause destruction. As a matter of fact, Tom died because of his disability. Since he knows he has no power to win his case, he loses hope and attempts to escape the prism. Tom is then shot multiple times and Atticus explains: “They got him just as he went over the fence.if he’d had two good arms he’d have made it” (235).
In conclusion, racial discrimination is evident within To Kill a Mockingbird through many of the characters. Examples of this form of discrimination are Scout Finch getting stabbed by Bob Ewell, Atticus almost being attacked by a lynch mob, and Tom Robinson being shot seventeen times. One trial brought an innocent man to his premature death, a child to being assaulted by a grown man, and a father merely doing the right thing. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson were affected by racial discrimination throughout the entire novel.
In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, racism is a major theme. Atticus Finch, the narrator’s father, defends a negro, Tom Robinson, in the court of law against a white man, Bob Ewell. Robinson had reportedly raped a young white girl, Mayella Ewell. But according to Robinson he had gone to help Mayella, as he often did, with work around the house. As he starts helping Mayella, she tries to get Tom to kiss her and will not let him out of the house. Bob Ewell sees this and chases Tom out of the house and accuses him of raping his daughter. Atticus goes against almost everyone in Maycomb County’s opinion in defending Tom Robinson. Throughout the course of the novel, racism effects many characters such as Tom and Helen Robinson, Scout and Jem Finch, and Mayella and Bob Ewell. All these characters had there lives
Atticus Finch is the most significant character, in To Kill a Mockingbird, who challenges racial prejudice as he does not follow the norms, in Maycomb, of being racially prejudice towards others. At first, Atticus Finch is reluctant to take on Tom Robinson’s case; however in the end, he willingly accepts. Unlike the majority of Maycomb residents, Atticus is not racist and makes no distinction upon race, he sees Negroes, just like Tom Robinson, as the same equality as any other person in the Maycomb community. For this reason, he believes they should be trea...
The major conflict in the book “To Kill A Mockingbird” is when Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. And Atticus Finch agrees to protect Tom Robinson in his case. So the rest of the Finch family is taking racial abuse because their dad is protecting an African American. The conflict in the book is external because it is Tom against the town of Maycomb. Since he is African American the opposite race is looking badly upon him and anyone who is on his side. The conflict in the story is some what resolved Tom is still found guilty and is sent to jail. But tried to escape and got shot. Bob Ewell sent a lot of threats to the Finch family, and tried to kill Scout and Jem one night but Boo Radley saves them and stabs Ewell. The Sheriff knew that they would want to send the dad to trial to, he protect him and said Ewell must have tripped on his own knife. That is how the major conflict is resolved.
Everybody in the town of Maycomb looks down on Atticus because he is defending a black man in court. All evidence in the case shows Tom Robinson innocent, but he is still charged guilty because of the all white jury. The actual rapist was Mayella's father. In the end of the book, Tom is shot so that he wouldn't be found innocent.
Tom is also killed for trying to escape from jail – he is shot by the guards. Not only does a good, innocent man get killed in the novel for no reason at all, but the evil one gets his justice as well. Atticus Finch is a very well-educated man. He teaches his children the importance of moral education.