Essay on Character Parallels in To Kill a Mockingbird

Character Parallels in To Kill a Mockingbird

In real life there are many different types of people, some of them are similar

to one another, while others can be opposite/different, just like in the book To Kill

a Mocking Bird, by Harper Lee. There are many people in the book, some people are

contradictory to one another (character foils), while others resemble each other

(character parallels) in both good and/or bad ways.

Atticus Finch and Aunt Alexander is an example of a character foil in the book.

Even though they are brother and sister and grew up together, they are two people with

very different views. Atticus is more easy going when he raises up Jem and Scout, for

example he lets his kids call him Atticus, and let's Scout dress with the clothes that

she feels comfortable in. While on the other hand Aunt Alexander is more strict, she

cares a lot about family background and she wants Scout to act and dress more "lady like".

Atticus views that it is his duty to do his best in the Tom Robinson trial and feels no

prejudice against Tom, because he is black. While Aunt Alexander doesn't like Atticus

taking the case because Tom is black, and wants Atticus to go and fire Calpurnia.

Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell is another example of a character foil in the book

To Kill a Mocking Bird. Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson are two completely different people

in the story. They both don't have a lot of money, but Tom Robinson chooses to work hard

for his money, while Bob Ewell lives off welfare and sqaunders all his money on booze

and whiskey. Bob Ewell beats up on his daughter Mayella, while Tom tries to do all that he

can in order to help her out. Tom says that he did not beat and rape Mayella, while Bob Ewell

says that he did.

Two characters that are similar to each other are Tom Robinson and Boo (Arthur)

Radley. These two are similar in that there are false rumors going on about them.

People accused Tom of beating and raping Mayella Ewell, and people talk about Boo, and

say that he is a very violent person, when those things are both false.