Have American’s lost the ability to show empathy? Although a novice reader may struggle to see how a book written over 50 years ago bears any connection to our modern world, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird could not be any more relevant. The citizens of fictional Maycomb County acknowledge their flawed legal system and unfair social castes as unfortunate truths of life, of which all you can do is accept it as fact. The sole exception is lawyer Atticus Finch, who is in charge of defending the accused in court. After seeing all too many men receive a sentence simply because of the color of their skin, Atticus embarks on a quest to teach Jem and Scout, his children, that prejudice can be fought. By understanding and exposing ourselves to different people, we can free ourselves from prejudice. One of the first lessons taught in Mockingbird is the power of understanding other people’s perspectives. Initially, Scout has trouble empathizing with other people, especially her first Grade Teacher, Miss Caroline, whom Scout becomes frustrated at for not understanding Maycomb’s complex social structure. After hearing his daughter complain, Atticus tells Scout that she'll “get along a lot better with all kinds of folks [if she] considers things from [their] point of view” (39). After ‘standing in the shoes of another person’, it is much harder to be prejudiced towards that person. Indeed, this may be because a key tenet of prejudice is disregarding the views of whoever is being judged. Nevertheless, it proves difficult for Scout to grasp this relatively simple concept, who begins to hear rumors of Boo Radley, an enigma who has not been seen outside his home for over 30 years. Thus begins Jem and Scout’s quest to make Boo Radley come outs... ... middle of paper ... ...es that despite all the differences humans have, we are really more alike than not. Scout is constantly educated by her Aunt on Maycomb's different folks. She realizes that “there’s just one kind of folks. Folks” (304). Scout has finally become enlightened, a role model that everyone, even Atticus, can aspire to be like. Prejudice can blind the mind, forcing you to see the world only on what you hear. By removing these blinds through understanding and exposure, Jem and Scout are able to see the world for ourselves, for how it truly is. In a country where 34% of Americans admit they are racist, something obviously went wrong. If we want to eliminate prejudice from our country, we need to do something to fix it. So here is my proposal to each and every American.. Whenever you catch yourself judging another man, stop and think to yourself, ‘What would Atticus do?’
First impressions of people are often lasting impressions, especially in the minds of children. Many times these impressions, aided by misunderstanding and prejudgment, cause unjust discrimination against an individual. To kill a Mockingbird depicts the themes of misunderstanding and prejudice that portray Arthur (Boo) Radley as a villain. Through the progressive revelation of Radley's character, the children realize that their negative impressions and fear of him were unfounded. Through gradual stages of change, from total misunderstanding of Boo, to a realization of an error in judgment, to a reevaluation followed by a change of heart, to a growing trust and acceptance of Boo, and finally to an appreciation of his true character, Jem's, Scout's, and Dill's impressions of Radley are dramatically altered.
Childhood 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.
Prejudice, a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason nor actual experience, is an exceptionally large dilemma in society today. It is an every day reminder of how uncharitable we, as a human race, can be. Even in the early 1900s, as Harper Lee illustrates in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, prejudiced assumptions have always been causing predicaments. To Kill a Mockingbird, an award winning novel written by Harper Lee, tells the story of how Scout and Jem Finch grows up in a small Southern town suffering through the Great Depression. In To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee expresses the theme of prejudice throughout the majority of her characters. Not only does she have many themes in her novel, but she is also able to incorporate them in many of her characters at once. The theme of prejudice is seen through Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson.
To Kill A Mockingbird can be read as the story of a child's growth and maturation. Almost every incident in the novel contributes something to Scout's perception of the world. Through her experiences she grows more tolerant of others, learning how to " climb into another person's skin and walk around in it." On her first day of school she finds that there are both social and poor classes in society, some are respectable and others not. She also learns that her father is an extra-ordinary man, fighting for a Negro's rights in court. At the trial of Tom Robinson Scout learns about equality and inequality, about justice and injustice and finally about racial prejudice.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch, a well-respected defense attorney in Macomb County, made a life-altering decision to whole-heartedly defend a benevolent black man, Tom Robinson, who was wrongly accused of rape. Many conflicts arose because of Atticus’s choice to defend a black man against a white man’s word. Despite the towns cowardice and ridicule, Atticus stays true to what is right. “They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience” (140). Throughout the story Scout, Atticus’s daughter, transforms from a trouble maker always looking to pick a fight with anyone she disagreed with, into a young lady who was able to follow her father’s example and “consider things from his point of view... you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it” (30). Through Atticus’s wise, unchanging character, the theme is revealed. The bond between Atticus and Scout teaches her the one thing that he was trying to do all along: Don’t just fight; stand up and fight for what is right, no matter what the cost.
Do you not believe we need more compassion and tolerance in the world? Why can we not be like Atticus, Jem or Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee? These characters show great compassion and tolerance throughout the novel despite the society they live in. They have the courage to stand up for what they believe in.
Prejudice, while not as well-discussed in Of Mice & Men (OM&M), plays a central role in To Kill A Mockingbird (TKAM). Scout, the main character of TKAM, is introduced as a very young girl, ignorant to the prejudice raging around her. The first time she is really impacted by this prejudice and racism is when her father, Atticus, takes a case defending a black man. This trial becomes a pivotal point where her childish innocence fades in the face of real life. After witnessing the ugliness of the racist adults, she begins to notice things that weren’t at first apparent.
Scout refused to go to the school because of the trouble she was encountering while adjusting to her school. After reflecting on Atticus’ life lesson, she understood this lesson would help her avoid conflict and prejudice. Scout realized people have different views and beliefs and was urged to be empathetic and relate to people in different circumstances. The passage represents one of Lee’s main motifs, which was terrible situations could be avoided by considering the views of other people prior to taking action. Additionally, Lee incorporated foreshadowing into the passage by having Scout refer back to, and consider, different points of view throughout the story. Atticus’ lesson was symbolic since a person cannot physically walk around in another person’s skin, however, they could view circumstances from the perspective of other people, in order to expand their knowledge of the differing views that were based on individual experiences and unique events. Additionally, this passage was related to race because race determined the core values of different people throughout the United States during the 1930s, including Maycomb
The content of an individual’s character relies heavily on the life lessons he or she learns within his or her lifetime. As a result of the moral themes presented throughout the work, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most emotionally moving literature pieces of all time. Jean Louis “Scout” and Jem Finch gain substantial wisdom within the three years presented in the novel. Moreover, these lessons also greatly impact the reader. Remaining devout to one’s moral values and withstanding the abuses of society epitomizes heroic character. Notwithstanding the race of an individual, people are people; everyone deserves to be treated equally. Lastly, true courage is found within the heart and soul of a person, for it does not rely
A person becomes prejudiced by what he or she is taught as well as a lack of exposure and education. While many people are influenced by peers and family to become prejudice, others simply adapt to the surrounding environment. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, brother and sister Jem and Scout, are taught about the surrounding racism shown to members of the African American community and poor white citizens. Through the characters of Jem and Scout, Harper Lee, in her novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” suggests that through the experiences of Jem and Scout, their perspective on people should not be influenced and determined by others opinions and racist views.
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” (Lee 33). Due to our sinful nature, people are so quick to judge, deciding that they will not be around people who are different. The real truth is that America has become narrow minded, only believing what the world is saying before getting to know the person and placing judgement. The U.S. has a need to learn selflessness, ignoring what society thinks about other people by making what you believe is right the new view on situations. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the narrator, Scout, is surrounded by racial intolerance as she grew up because of her father’s job as an attorney in
In the word today, many people have either been a victim, bystander, or perpetrator of discrimination. In the novel, “ To Kill A Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, the characters, Jem, Scout and Atticus Finch are unmasked to the harsh discrimination in Maycomb. There compassion, and understanding towards others helped them to see different perspectives, instead of judging instantly of others. They overcame many adversities together and alone, making them more potent. When an individual encounters extreme discrimination, then they will be forced to overcome revolting judgement from society because, if they do not, they will never be strong in identity.
"Any ordinary favour we do for someone or any compassionate reaching out may seem to be going nowhere at first, but may be planting a seed we can 't see right now. Sometimes we need to just do the best we can and then trust in an unfolding we can 't design or ordain." - Sharon Salzberg. To Kill A Mockingbird embodies those very words in every aspect and exemplifies them through its three main characters: Atticus, Scout, Jem. Yet, with racism and discrimination seemingly making its way back into the twenty first century with increased shootings of African American males and Donald trump making an effort to export all Muslims out of America etc..., the
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.
He states, “Scout, you never really understand people until you consider things from their point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (39). This means how sometimes unless you are someone you can’t fully understand them and how they feeling and behaving. Atticus explains to Scout that caring about others will help Scout understand them more. It will help Scout further understand why something may be happening. Also, Miss Maudie also explains how the Mockingbirds in the trees help further understand life lessons. Miss Maudie states, “Mockingbirds don’t do nothing but make music for us to enjoy… they don’t do one thing but sing our hearts out for us” (119). This means how in life, people shouldn’t naturally hate someone or something. People need to be able to care and have empathy for others. People in the book become the characteristic of mockingbirds. For example, Boo Radley. Boo doesn’t do anything to annoy or harm people, but the children decide to