Harper Lee’s, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a very interesting novel that takes place during the 1930s and was published during the Civil Rights Movement era in 1960. In this novel Harper Lee covers the issue of racial segregation between African-Americans (Blacks) and Whites. Lee covered this issue wonderfully by having the story take place in an incestuous town and having the book narrated in the main characters (an 8-year-old girl named Scout) point of view. While vividly portraying racial segregation through Scout’s point of view, Lee was able to create a numerous amount of themes subjecting to how Scout grew up and how other characters contributed to her growing up. A theme I noticed Lee implemented smoothly into the story is; “don’t judge …show more content…
Second, my crisis, Bob went after Scout and Jem. Third, Inciting Incident, Mayella was all over Tom Robinson (she wanted to have sex with someone other than her father). Fourth, my catastrophe, (my theme) Scout judged everyone before she got to know them well. Fifth, my rock bottom, Boo killed Bob. And lastly, my exposition, the kids wanted Boo Radley to come out of his house. The way these all help develop the theme is that 1) everyone in the courtroom thought the black man (Tom Robinson) raped Mayella Ewell, but really her dad (a white man) did, 2) Scout thought Bob Ewell was a good person because he didn’t care if his children went to school, 3) Tom Robinson genuinely thought Mayella was a good person but all she wanted was to have sex with someone other than her father, 4) Scout had thoughts on everyone but later changed it after learning about their life, 5) and 6) Scout, Jem, and Dill all thought Boo Radley was as mean as the rumors state he is, but he’s actually a hero in …show more content…
But when someone on the white side of the spectrum decides to love blacks the same amount as s/he loves whites, everyone BUT the blacks are quick to judge your actions. A character who clearly demonstrated the theme is Atticus Finch. He did not directly demonstrate the theme but was able to influence other characters to show it while having him involved. Not only did he demonstrated the theme, but he also helped Scout grow up. In chapter 9, page 110, paragraph 5 Francis states, “I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I’m here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family--” In this chapter Atticus is being judged by his own family because he decided on defending a black guy in court. Another piece of evidence of Atticus demonstrating the theme is located in chapter 10, page 131, paragraph 1 Jem states, “Naw, Scout, it’s something you wouldn’t understand. Atticus is real old, but I wouldn’t care if he couldn’t do anything--I wouldn’t care if he couldn’t do a blessed thing.” In this chapter Scout has been judging her dad's talents all day comparing him to the kids dads at school. Lastly, in chapter 11, page 144, paragraph 10 Atticus states, “I do my best to love everybody. It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you.” In
The biggest example of this is when he takes the Tom Robinson case even though he knows what everyone will think of him and how they will treat him because of taking the case. Many people in Maycomb are racist and very against Atticus defending a black man, even his own family members are against it. Jem and Scout’s cousin Francis states, “I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I’m here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family.” (Lee 110) Atticus uses these hurtful words as a teachable moment to show his children how to take the criticism and hate with a grain of salt and just let it roll off. He treats everyone in Maycomb equally telling Scout “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 39) This quote goes to show that Atticus is not racist and doesn't care much about social status, if someone needs a hand he is there to lend them one no matter who they
one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it is a sin to
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.
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.
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.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a long time classic book. The writer has an interesting and unique way of capturing our attention. The storyline opens with the children, Jem, Scout and Dill , (a visiting child), daring each other to touch Boo Radley’s house. Boo Radley was a hermit that they were all afraid of. Atticus, the children’s father in his kind, gentle way, solves disagreements between his two children in the first chapter. Jem and Scout, brother and sister, love their father, but normally settle arguments with a fistfight.
In the courtroom that night it is revealed that the alleged crimes of Tom Robinson, a decent Negro man, most likely did not happen. As Atticus says in his closing argument, "The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross-examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant. The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is” (Lee 271). Showing the clear innocence of Tom Robinson due to lack of evidence, Scout thinks that the white jury will do the right thing only to find out that they still, unfairly, accuse him of being guilty. Scout and her brother, Jem, get very upset when they hear the verdict, however, it allows them both to learn the lesson that the county is unfair towards anyone who is not white. The county demonstrates this evil racism due to the social divisions in Maycomb between the whites and the blacks and because the whites see the blacks as unworthy of rights and freedoms. It was not just the trial itself that displayed evil in the world, but the comments and arguments surrounding the case did
To Kill A Mockingbird is a heroic tale of leadership and courage during racial times. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus, To, Jem and Scout are unfortunately exposed to a really racist and prejudiced society and town. Which ends up causing them to lose a case and really confuse Jem and Scout when they are young. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, it uses characterization to help show a theme of loss of innocence when people are exposed to surprising and unfair situations.
Even though To Kill a Mockingbird was written in 1960’s the powerful symbolism this book contributes to our society is tremendous. This attribute is racism (Smykowski). To Kill a Mockingbird reveals a story about Scout’s childhood growing up with her father and brother, in an accustomed southern town that believed heavily in ethnological morals (Shackelford).
Through the three children in the story’s development, the author realistically portrays the coming of age in a world distraught with prejudice and racism. The three characters start out the start as naïve, ingenuous children, but grow up to be smart and mature by the end of the novel. Jem learns about true courage and who Boo Radley really is, a person completely contrary to his original misconceptions. Scout learns about the complacence with which a person can ignore injustices and that people are not always what the populace holds them to be. Dill learns that prevarication can lead into a very inauspicious life that can cost a human being’s life. As the characters grow up, they obtain new knowledge, learn new lessons, or understand the different aspects of life and society.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has become a mainstay in American high-schools. This is a classic novel that has inspired many people of all ages. It had a big impact on how people viewed and treated each other. This is a story that teaches everyone about the value of honesty, love, friendship and trust. Every word written in this book has a truly deep meaning to it. The time period that the book was written in was during the Great Depression in the 1930’s. This setting was in a small town in Maycomb, Alabama with people who did not get along. During this time there was a lot of segregation within America and different races. To Kill a Mockingbird is about a family who believes in doing the right thing and being honest. There was a court case that had gone viral about a black man who raped a white woman. A white lawyer named Atticus Finch gave his all to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. There was no evidence that showed that Tom raped Mayella Ewell and he was convicted guilty because of his color. When a black folk was accused of something they are immediately accused guilty. To Kill a Mockingbird should be taught in American high-schools because it teaches students about segregation/racism, right from wrong, and courage.
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.
The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It is set in the 1930s, a time when racism was very prominent. Harper Lee emphasizes the themes of prejudice and tolerance in her novel through the use of her characters and their interactions within the Maycomb community. The narrator of the story, Scout, comes across many people and situations with prejudice and tolerance, as her father defends a black man.
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.
Is it true to say that people in today’s world consistently commence judging others without any knowledge of their lives? Criticizing other human beings is the reality of life in which we all face sooner or later. This theme is highly symbolic in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird. This novel repeatedly asks the question, “Can you truly understand another person without living in their life?” This theme takes over the book all over and that's what Harper Lee tried to express in many scenes of the book.