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Essay about compassion in to kill a mockingbird
Essay about compassion in to kill a mockingbird
Bullying literature 2016
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Harper Lee believes that being the bigger person is more beneficial than not. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee demonstrates how there are way more good things coming out of being mature in a conflict than giving in. When Scout saw Cecil Jacobs on the playground, she took Atticus’ advice and the text read, “I drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away…” (Lee 102). By Scout walking away, she is taking a more mature route than giving into Ceci’s taunts. If Scout would have fought Cecil, she would’ve let Atticus down and got into trouble. Instead, she left without any trouble and feeling noble; which is much more rewarding and has a better effect than bruised knuckles. Even though Jem was very upset with what Mrs. Dubose said, he still apologized and made up for his actions. …show more content…
Dubose, he told Atticus what he did, “I cleaned it up for her and said i was sorry, but I ain’t, and that i’d work on ‘em ever saturday and try to make ‘em grow back out” (Lee 140). In this quote, Jem explains that he told Mrs. Dubose he was sorry even though he wasn’t. Also, he promised to nurse her flowers back to health. I believe that jem did this because he knew that instead of making things worse with Mrs. Dubose, he should try to make amends with her. Even though both were in the wrong, Jem decided it would be better to make it right better than worse. Finally, after the trial, Bob Ewell did everything he could to make Atticus’ life miserable. When crossing paths with Atticus, Mr. Ewell made it clear how he felt, “... Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat” (Lee 291). With everything Mr. Ewell was putting onto Atticus, he just stood there and took it rather than fighting back. If Atticus would’ve fought back, he could have been in legal
The Ewells were very hard to work with in court because they were seemingly very uncivilized people. They are not used to Atticus’ way of speaking and addressing others, so they feel offended and misunderstood when he questions them.
Atticus calls up his first witness, “Bob Ewell.” He asked questions like “Would you ever beat your daughter?” and “Where you on the night of the crime?” Bob Ewell answered that he never has beaten his daughter and was somewhere else at the time of the crime. After that, he asked Bob to write his name, and Atticus not...
At times Scout can be very hot tempered. There are two quotes from the book that shows Scouts hot temper. One is “‘Don’t you touch him!’ I kicked the man swiftly. Barefooted, I was surprised to see him fall back in real pain. I intended to kick his shin, but I aimed to high” (Lee 204). Another one is “Francis l...
" Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes." Although Scout Finch in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a young girl, she learns many important lessons about life throughout the novel. These lessons, among others, are that she mustn't take everything she hears to heart as the truth; that she mustn't take face judgments as actual facts and respect for Atticus.
Atticus continuously tells her that this is wrong and that she needs to learn to control her anger, “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat? Try fighting with your head for a change” (Lee 101). The day after this discussion with Atticus, Scout is approached by a fellow student who had previously made a mean comment about her father. “I drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away.it was the first time I ever walked away from a fight” (Lee 102).
The unforgettable, Anne Frank, wrote long ago, “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands” (Goodreads). In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the novel revolves around three children named, Scout, Jem, and Dill. It follows them through their years of growing up and coming to understand the importance of lessons, Atticus, Scout and Jem’s father, advises them. Furthermore, Lee shows often the best lessons are learned outside the classroom.
... he leaves him. Scout points out Mr. Cunningham in the mob and starts talking about his son, Walter. This makes the mob realize what they are doing and humanizes them. The mob disperses and Atticus is thankful for Jem not leaving. This is how Atticus has taught Jem to be independent and realizes that Jem is becoming more mature in his actions.
At the beginning of the book, Scout was not a nice child. She had hard times controlling herself, and usually she was not able to. She knew Atticus wouldn't like it if he heard of her fighting, but still she fought a lot, like the time she got angry to Cecil Jacobs and fought him (pg. 99). She was also mean and rude, which can easily be seen as she got angry and protested it when Walter poured syrup all over his dinner (pg. 32). As she was young, she also was not able to look at things from other people's perspective. This could easily be seen in her first day of school, as she only saw things from her point of view, never caring about her teacher's perspective (pg. 26). Her youth also ...
Another consequence of defending Tom Robinson in court, aside from being known as a "nigger lover" and opening himself to several other forms of racial hatred from the good people of Maycomb, Atticus was also arguing against a man who was known to be a violent drunk. Bob Ewell was a frightening man and it was noble of Atticus to put himself in a position of opposing such an unstable individual. Atticus remained a gentleman when Ewell confronted him at the post office. Most men in his position would have violently lashed out at Robert E. after being spat upon. Atticus did the right thing and remained a gentleman throughout the confrontation.
Jem Finch demonstrates growing maturity throughout the novel. After Tom Robinson’s trial, Scout reveals Jem’s feelings. “It was Jem’s turn to cry.” Scout uncovers, “His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd,” (TKAM 284). Jem understands the trial is not fair because of race. He is mature enough to realize this while Scout is not. Another example of Jem’s maturity is exemplified when he is fulfilling his obligation to read to Mrs. Dubose. Scout describes, “ ‘So you brought that dirty little sister of yours did you?’ was her greeting… ‘My sister ain’t dirty and I ain’t scared of you’, although I noticed his knees shaking,” (TKAM 141). Rather than Jem replying to Mrs. Dubose with an insult, he dismisses her comment. Furthermore, this showcases his patience and tolerance, which comes with maturity. Finally, Jem validates his maturity when the Finch children find Dill under Scout’s bed. “You oughta let your mother know where you are.” announced Jem, “You oughta let her know you are here…”(TKAM 187). At this point Jem knows the right way to handle this situation is to let an adult know where Dill is. Even though Scout believes she can keep him under her bed forever, Jem recognizes the reality. When Jem’s maturity is put to the test he demonstrates good judgment and decision-making.
The town gossip, Miss Stephanie Crawford, tells Atticus’ children what she overheard in downtown Maycomb: “Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat at him, and threatened to kill him.” This shows that he is furious with Atticus that he would go so far as to curse and spit and threaten him in broad daylight where anyone could watch and hear. Atticus then explains why Bob Ewell did these horrible things: “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes for a minute. I destroyed his last shed of credibility at the trial, if he had any begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I rather it be me than that household of child.” This explains why Atticus did nothing at the post office and will do nothing against Bob Ewell. Later, Bob realizes that Atticus is not about to do anything back at him, so he kicks it up a notch and goes after his children instead. He almost got his revenge, but Arthur Radley came and saved the children from
The actions Bob Ewell displays throughout the novel help emphasize the actions Atticus displays. For example, Atticus wants justice for Tom Robinson so he takes his case because he knows no one else will even try to defend him. “ Do all lawyers defend n-Negroes, Atticus? Of course they do, Scout…. If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, then why are you doin’ it? For a number of reasons, the main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town”
Harper Lee’s timeless novel To Kill a Mockingbird is told by Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch, a fiery young girl from the quiet town of Maycomb, Alabama. In defiance of the traditionally passive role of Southern women, Scout grew up as a tomboy and, like her older brother Jem, was unafraid to engage other children in physical confrontations. At the onset of the novel, Scout displayed these aggressive tendencies, fighting classmates whom she believed had wronged her or her family. However, Scout developed as a character in the first half of To Kill a Mockingbird to the extent that she was willing to walk away from fights that weren’t worth fighting. Scout’s willingness to engage in combat with other children early on in the novel was evident in the description of her treatment of Walter Cunningham after being punished for explaining his financial situation to her teacher. Scout described this fight, saying, “Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt Jem came by and told me to stop...Jem said, ‘…Scout here…she won’t fight you anymore.’ ‘I wouldn’t be too certain of that,’ I said” (Lee 30-31). As evidenced by this description, Scout had a quick temper and was just as willing as many of her male classmates to fight others, reflecting the combative sense of justice common to the children of her day. A key tenant of her aggressive morality was an unwillingness to turn away from a fight for fear of being called a coward. Scout held these beliefs throughout the beginning of the novel and fought many other children to defend her reputation. However, through moral instruction from her father, Atticus Finch, Scout was able to abandon much of her aggression. She grew to recognize...
It was not until Atticus had told Scout not to fight on his behalf, that Scout found the courage inside her to walk away. Her actions here show her respect for Atticus, and her dignity. She realizes now that fighting is not always the best way for her to solve her problems. Even after all the kids were calling her a coward, she had enough dignity to follow her father’s wishes and not fight.
Bob Ewell cared so little about African-Americans that he was willing to put his own wellbeing on the line so that Tom would go to jail. By lying when being examined by both Atticus and Mr. Gilmer, if Tom had been found innocent, Bob Ewell could have been arrested for Perjury. Almost all of Bob Ewell’s statements while under oath during court were lies.