Tolerance is the willingness to accept something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. Why do people mistreat others; how do societies form despite differences? Tolerance is a major theme in Collection 1, especially in the text “Texas v. Johnson” by William J. Brennan, “The American Flag Stands for Tolerance” by Ronald J. Allen and To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In this collection,Ourselves and Others, tolerance is viewed as the allowance of something that is usually what one doesn’t agree with and shows it in a society where people have a high tolerance and others have near none, for better or for worse. In “Texas v. Johnson”, William Brennan talks about “national unity” and how One of the most tolerant characters in this book is Atticus Finch, the father of the narrator Scout and her older brother Jem. Atticus is a respected man in the community of Maycomb and also works in law as a lawyer which is comparable to Brennan who was a judge and wrote the court opinion “Texas v. Johnson.” Another character in the book, Mrs. Dubose, has a nasty nature and insults both Atticus and his children when they walk by but he still sees her as an amazing person and even went as far as to call her “the bravest person [he] ever knew” (Lee 128) because behind the insults was a person struggling with addiction and working to fight it. Atticus knew this and he treated her with respect and was tolerant to her merciless opinions of him which makes his character one of the most tolerant of the community and that is why he is so respected by most of the people there. A few pages prior to calling Mrs. Dubose the “bravest person” one page 120 he was talking to Scout about others opinions and how they believe themselves to be right and Atticus to be wrong. In reply he says “they're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before [he] can live with other folks [he’s] got to live with [himself]. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience” (Lee) expressing his tolerance for others and respecting their ideas and opinions of him and his ideas in the most intellectual and peaceful way possible. Atticus also shows that he believes that looking back on one’s life, they must see if their decisions reveal a person that they are proud to
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.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, many different themes come into view. One major theme that played a big role in the character’s lives is racial prejudice. Racism is an unending problem throughout the book. The song “Message from a Black Man” by The Temptations has many similarities to the theme of racial discrimination. Therefore, both the novel and the song prove that racism was a great obstacle for some people at a point.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a story about equality. In the setting of this book (Maycomb, Alabama) the inequality of races is completely normal to people’s everyday lives. The disrespect of African-Americans in this book is an ordinary occurrence that most people have grown up accustomed to, but there are some who don’t wish to be a part of this discrimination. One of these people being Atticus Finch, the father of Jem and Scout. Atticus uses the world around him to teach his children how to give all people respect no matter what their race or social class is. Atticus Finch is a good-hearted, moral lawyer in the discriminatory town of Maycomb Alabama. Amongst the blabbermouths and discriminatory townspeople of Maycomb, Atticus wants his children to be different from them, and to learn how to respect the dignity of everyone using the changes in their lives to teach them.
Many characters in to Kill a Mocking Bird experience racial prejudice whether it be directly or indirectly. This novel is about a sleepy southern town filled with discrimination, and a lawyer determined to step away from the racial prejudice and teach his children, Jem and Scout, to see everyone as equals. In Maycomb, Atticus was known as a man who was “the same in his house as he is on the public streets.” (47) That was the standard he lived by. He did not have one set of morals for business and one for
Prejudice is a real life problem in the world. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee describes the prejudices found in a small American town in the 1930's. Race, social class, and gender are examples of prejudice.
Racism. racism is the prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race, based on the belief that one's own race is superior. This belief has been around for many years, ever since the beginning of humanity. Many experts say that racism started in the colonial era and is know starting to diminish. Nonetheless there are still people who believe in the supremacy of their race and think someone's ethnicity makes up their personality. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the people of Maycomb treat African Americans like they're second class citizens. In this Novel, Lee expresses one’s appearance doesn't change people of other ethnicities character and opinions. In which Lee means your appearance can’t change
People are responsible for acting according to their conscience. The justice system was created in order to be our aid in making moral and ethical decisions, but when the Justice system fails, we should still be able to follow our conscience to make the right the decision. In Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” one of the characters, Atticus Finch, helps not only characters in the book, but the readers, understand that the legal system does not always serve justice, in fact, the legal system only is as moral and just as the community it serves. In the town of Maycomb, just like many towns in the American south during the 1930s, racism as a personal feeling and racism as a cultural, legal, and economic institution are practically one
The verge of human limitation. How far does it really go? From the worst human persecutions, to public shaming. Some people have more tolerance for this than others. In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” Atticus has an immense tolerance for this and keeps standing for what he believes in regardless of what others say and think. This shows the theme and teaches us as the reader to be perseverant. In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the obvious theme is that people should stand for what they believe in regardless of the consequences.
He is criticized by Mrs Dubose, ‘Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!’ and is criticized throughout town when he takes on the Robinson case, ‘He had announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers’. Harper Lee has used a poisonous character (Mrs Dubose) to show that she has no worries about offending Atticus and so yells this out for the whole street to hear. She has also used a playground rumour to show that the children are involved in conversations with their parents and that Maycomb thrives on rumours and gossip. But throughout all this criticism, Atticus still has the support and respect of others. People in Maycomb, such as the black community, admire his courage, as they do not have the courage to stand for themselves. His controversial views of black people are unpopular, but people respect him for it as he stands up for what he believes in and will not let anyone change his mind. His views are socially unacceptable, but people agree with them but are afraid to speak up for fear they will be criticized too. Instead, they stay quiet or even join in with the criticism, but they still respect him and repeatedly vote him back into his role as the state
Atticus is a good father for teaching his children to respect everyone. Scout asks Atticus if he is a “nigger lover” and he simply replies, "I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, 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." This shows that atticus is not like the other people in Maycomb he considers every man to be equal to one another. Judge Taylor comes to Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because he knows he’s the only man in Maycomb that is fit to do to the job, and do it fairly. While thinking about taking the offer Atticus firsts thinks about his kids and how it will affect their lives. Atticus says “…do you think I could face my children otherwise? You know what’s going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease. Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anythin...
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.
This quote relates to tolerance/compassion. This relates to tolerance/ compassion because of what scout said. Scout said she would of felt bad for Miss. Caroline but since Miss. Caroline was rude she didn't feel bad. I think Scout thinks very maturely and can hold a grudge. In her writing she has a mature essence. I also think this was because of the time because they seemed very mature for how old they are. I think Scout will come around to Miss. Caroline. How does a six year old express her feeling this
When talking to his daughter, Scout, Atticus Finch says: “ ‘The only thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience’ ” (Lee 140). This quote signifies Atticus’s strong belief in morality and righteousness that is so apparent in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch is an inspirational role model that exhibits the qualities of courage, respect, and selflessness. He charms the reader with his stunning wit and great emotional depth of character. Atticus is not discriminatory toward any race and shows mercy to all those in Maycomb who are treated unfairly, even at the expense of his own personal reputation. Atticus’s intuition and empathy is extremely important in this
Towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus decides to represent a colored man by the man of Tom Robinson, who is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. Atticus believes that Tom is innocent, but he does not think that Tom will be found not guilty because of they way the townsfolk treat colored people. They treat them like dirt; like they are worth nothing. Atticus went ahead and represented Tom despite the fact that he knew the townsfolk would call himself and his children names and treat them disrespectfully. Even Scout’s relative Francis said rude things about them. “‘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-...’ ‘Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.’” Atticus set a good example for Scout and Jem. He had a difficult decision to make, but he chose what he thought was
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.