There are many different kinds of lawyers. Some are loud and some are calm. Some go slow and some go fast. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus and Mr. Gilmer are completely different types of lawyers. Atticus is a different kind of lawyer then Mr. Gilmer because of their differences in their calmness, respect, and sensitivity.
Unlike Mr Gilmer, Atticus is calm, respectful, and sensitive during the trial. An example of Atticus showing his calmness is when he smiles while he talks to Mayella and assures her that he isn't trying to scare her. "'Miss Mayella,' he said, smiling, 'I won't try to scare you for a while, not yet. Let's just get acquainted. How old are you?'" (242-243). Atticus smiles and reassures her, showing his calmness. Many lawyers
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Atticus remains calm throughout the entire case. Many lawyers would be scared during a case like this. A life is on the line, and most lawyers would be trembling, very rapid, or aggressive. Atticus is calm and collected throughout the entire case, which is an important quality for a good lawyer. An example of Atticus's respect is when he addresses Mayella as ma'am and miss. "'Long's he keeps on callin' me ma'am an sayin' Miss Mayella. I don't hafta take his sass, I ain't called upon to take it'" (243). Atticus is actually showing Mayella respect by calling her "ma'am" and "miss". Mayella lives in a white trash family with a father that beats her. She has probably never been called ma'am or miss in her life, and thinks that they are sarcastic terms. They are in fact the opposite, so by Atticus calling Mayella ma'am and miss he shows his respect towards Mayella. An example of Atticus showing his sensitive nature is when he gets Mayella to admit that her dad gets intolerable when he drinks. "'I mean, is he good to you, is he easy to get along with?' 'He does tollable, 'cept when-' Mayella loooked at her father... 'Except when nothin',' said Mayella. 'I said he does tollable,' Mr. Ewell …show more content…
Gilmer is rapid at asking questions and drawing conclusions, disrespectful, and not sensitive during the trial. An example of Mr. Gilmer's rapidness in court is when he examines Tom Robinson. "'Robinson, you're pretty good at busting up chiffarobes and kindling with one hand, aren't you?' 'Yes, such, I reckon so.' 'Strong enough to choke the breath out of a woman and sling her to the floor?' 'I never done that, suh.'...'Had your eye on her for a long time, hadn't you, boy?' 'No duh, I never looked at her'" (263). Mr. Gilmer is quickly assuming and accusing Tom Robinson. Atticus went through the trial with care, and he let the jury draw conclusions from the way he asked the witnesses and connected the statements together. Mr. Gilmer just repeatedly asked questions and accusing Tom Robinson, even though he had no evidence. He automatically assumed the Tom Robinson had been looking at Mayella for a long time, and that he must be guilty. Mr. Gilmer rapidness compared to Atticus's calmness shows how they are different from one another. Mr Gilmer's shows his disrespect for Tom Robinson when he keep's addressing him as "boy". "'Had your eye on her for a long time, hadn't you boy?' 'No suh, I never looked at her.' 'Then you were mighty polite to do all that chopping and hauling for her, weren't you, boy?'" (263). Tom Robinson is a grown man, and is definitely not a boy. The term boy means a child, who are much less then adults. By addressing Tom as "boy", it
Throughout the 1930s life was very different than it is today as it was a time of racism and segregation. Living with racism and segregation was different for all people in the 1930s.this was also with Grant and Atticus, their lives are quite different, but they are also similar too. In To Kill a Mockingbird and The Lesson Before Dying, Atticus and Grant played a large role in their novels. Grant and Atticus both had a large part in helping Tom Robinson and Jefferson, two people that were accused for something they did not do. In their novels, Atticus and Grant were similar and different in many ways such as; both of them being well educated, as well as both being entrusted with big responsibilities, and they both lead different lifestyles due to many factors.
Mayella Ewell is a woman in the 1930’s and yes, women back then were not treated as citizens. As Atticus is delivering his closing argument on how the person who beat Mayella with his left, Tom cannot use his left due to a job accident. By contrasting the difference in race and gender, in the 1930’s these were a big thing, To examine the results of race, gender are way different. Mayella may be white, but in her role as a female, it just goes downhill from that. Although it is different from Tom Robinson point of view. As Atticus is delivering his closing argument after proving that Bob Ewell is left-handed and Tom Robinson is not able to use his left hand. ‘“...What did her father do? We don’t know, but there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left…’”. Tom Robinson is unable to use his left hand due to a job accident. Mayella took advantage of Tom, she knew he would help her because he is a nice man. Mayella was not taught respect while growing up, Tom on the other hand was amiable. Mayella is anxious of her father and what he does to her. Some readers might be anxious too, but might confess up to what their father is doing to them. Since she was not taught respect from her father, she would not know much about it. “Won’t answer a word you say long as you keep on mockin’ me,’Mayella said.
Mayella (white), goes to court against Tom Robinson (African American), where Mayella is accusing Tom Robinson of rape. When Atticus asks Mayella questions, Atticus mishears Mayella. An example of Mayella’s lack of power is when Atticus closes his argument by describing Mayella’s injuries during the court case. “Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left.”
Mayella uses this case to cover up the shame in her life because she is extremely lonely, has no self-esteem, and overwhelmed with the amount of unhappiness in her life. Mayella gets extremely defensive in this quote because she knows that everything Atticus has brought up is good evidence and she can’t hold her own. In the jury, it was full of all white men. Mayella acted timid and helpless and suggested in her comment that the man of the jury be brave and heroic. She becomes someone who is vulnerable, valuable, and needs to be protected.
Mr. Gilmer addresses Tom Robinson as "boy," using it as a degrading term, while Atticus simply calls him by his first name. This emphasizes the point that the author was trying to make: Atticus was different from other people because of his lack of prejudice. The nature of Atticus's job distances him from the rest of the people in Maycomb. Atticus held a white-collar job and worked in an office. Most of the people in Maycomb did not work in offices but instead, their jobs mainly consisted of hard labor.
Lee uses Atticus’ good nature and respect for people to promote the theme; being strong in one 's beliefs and honest sets a good example for society: “‘First of all,’ he spoke, ‘if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-,” (Lee 39) Atticus indicates. This quote shows how fair Atticus is, he try’s to understand other people in different situations. His advice is very true and is valid throughout the entire book, it could even be considered a theme on it’s own. Atticus’ quality of respect is very high and continues on into the trial further into the book which helps him during the case and helps Lee build to the theme: “‘Gentleman,’ he was saying ‘I shall be brief, but I would like to use my remaining time with you to remind you that this case is not a difficult one, it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant. To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white,” (Lee 271) Atticus voices in his final words at the trial. Lee uses Atticus’ powerful personality to express her views to the readers. In Maycomb no one ever did anything that was against the majority, so when
In addition, Tom Robinson is a black man who was accused of raping 19 year old Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch bravely and courageously took on the case even though he got the idea that it would take a miracle to win. By taking on the Tom Robinson case, it proved that Atticus was not a follower which separated himself from the rest of the town. During the trial, Atticus says, “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal.” (Lee 274). Atticus is referring to his beliefs and how they are legitimate. He stands up for righteousness and justice rather than the majority. Additionally, Atticus believes that violence is not the appropriate answer. He wants his children to keep their fists down and heads up in every situation they encounter. In other words, the event with Mrs. Dubose was very meaningful. Mrs. Dubose is an old lady who lives two doors up the street from the Finch 's house. Atticus ' son, Jem destroyed Mrs. Dubose 's flowers because she had said disrespectful things about Atticus which brought out Jem 's anger. Even though Atticus was very upset, he does not believe violence is the appropriate
Atticus accepts people of the black race and does not see why people are prejudice towards them. Bob Ewell, on the other hand, is extremely racist. His main belief is that black people are scum and he dehumanizes them constantly. One of the many times the reader sees this is in the quote, “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” (page 175). Even further, Bob Ewell has spoken about "my Mayella", his daughter, as if it was his property, which is when the idea of Bob Ewell abusing his daughter comes into play. A primary example of this happening is when Scout Finch realizes that "If [Mayella's] right eye was blacked and she was beaten mostly on the right side of the face, it would tend to show that a left-handed person did it." (page 180). This important court case scene is when the reader and the characters in the courtroom very well realize that Bob Ewell abuses his daughter. While Bob hurts his children, Atticus time and time again tries to protect his children. This is seen on page 101, when Atticus shoots the stray dog and the children learn that "Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time". For his career, Atticus still
For example, when Mayella takes the stand at the trial, Atticus calls her ma’am and she gets offended. She says, “Long’s he keeps callin’ me ma’am and Miss Mayella. I don’t hafta take his sass, I aint called upon to take it” (243). When this occurred, Atticus didn’t lose his temper; he stayed at peace and continued his investigation of Mayella’s side of the story. From the start, there were plenty of occurrences when Atticus had a chance to lose control, but it would have ruined his slim chances of winning the trial for Tom Robinson.
Atticus demonstrates his character by defending Tom Robinson. Atticus leads by example, showing the highest respect for everyone in Maycomb, not discriminating by color or class. His serious defense for Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, proves his high ideals. Atticus fights a hopeless battle against the racism in the town. Atticus not only shows his non prejudice through the trial of Tom Robinson, but also through his everyday dealings with Calpurnia. Atticus refutes Aunt Alexandra persistent attempts to fire Cal and claims that she is one of the family.
Atticus treats them as he treats everyone and how he would like to be treated. Atticus should defend Tom Robinson because he prides himself on following the Golden Rule, and if he does not defend Tom Robinson, he could not live with himself. Atticus tells Scout he would not be able to show his face in town if he does not defend Mr. Robinson because he would be going against everything he believes in for what others want him to do. The people of Maycomb trust Atticus to stand up for what is right when no one else has the courage. Miss Maudie says, "Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we're paying the highest tribute we can pay a man."...
This quality and his gentlemen ways make him one of the best and most respected citizens in Maycomb. When Jem and Scout pass through Mrs.Duboses’ house, they greet her by saying “hey, Mrs. Dubose”, but in reply Mrs. Dubose was rude to them. However, when Atticus used to pass by her house he would sweep off his hat and would say “good evening, Mrs. Dubose you look like a picture this evening” (133). This character trait of Atticus tells us about his discipline and respect for others. Atticus also understands others perspectives. One can tell this when Bob Ewell spits on Atticus’s face; Atticus did not respond to this rude behaviour in a violent manner and just walked away. When asked about this incident, Atticus explained by saying, “see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute”. It would destroy Bob’s “last shred of credibility” and if ‘spitting in [his] face save[s] Mayella” one beating then Atticus would gladly take it (292,293). Atticus is a type of person who is willing to give up his self respect, in order to save someone from getting beaten. Thus, one can say Atticus is the most respected
In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus, a lawyer and the father of Jem and Scout, displays great courage, loyalty, and patience in every situation.
Atticus is a good man, a just man. He upholds his morals, and judges by his conscience. He is shaken but not moved by the town of Maycomb in their gossip and hypocritical ways. When offered Tom's case, Atticus knows he will take it on. He won't just stand there with no proper defense for Tom, but he will let the truth be known, and prove that Tom is innocent. "...that boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told."
...Scout, I couldn?t go to church and worship God if I didn?t try to help that man.?? Atticus would help a man if it is the right thing to do, he does not consider what people think of him, he will only be bothered if does not help, then he is going against his moral beliefs. Atticus shows his beliefs, truthfulness, and justice.