Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee shows that justice system is corrupt and it no longer serves the purpose for which it was created for. The justice system was created and put in place to protect the rights of citizens, but it is doing the very opposite. In To Kill a Mockingbird, It shows an example of the justice systems corruption through the event of Atticus becoming appointed to defend Tom Robinson. During this time period, it was seen as unlawful, through the citizens eyes, for a white citizen to defend a person of color, due to the laws that were in place,which made it okay for blacks to not have the same rights as whites. Atticus took the case, even though he didn't believe he could beat it. He only took it because it was his job to defend and protect citizens. Calpurnia, Atticus’s maid, knows Tom Robinson well, he's a member of her church. Atticus explains to Scout that he wouldn't be much of a lawyer if he had chosen opposite, about …show more content…
Mayella's siblings, and her usually watch as he completes her tasks. On the day of the proposed attack,Tom is now asked to fix the door. He examines the door and finds nothing wrong with it. Heck Tate is the first witness and he tells that the doctor never came to examine Mayella. It is also discovered that Tom's left arm is useless and it would've been really hard to commit a crime without a left arm. Throughout the trial, everyone attacks Tom, disregarding all the evidence that does not add up, Tom is till convicted and charged with rape. While Tom is in the stand, he says that he is not the one to come on to Mayella, instead she came on to him. Tom is automatically at fault simply because he is black. Atticus tells the court to decide simply by fate, and to think further that all blacks are criminals. Lee is merely suggesting that our justice system is against people of
During our lives, we develop morals and values through life experiences. They can be influenced by our society and the people we surround ourselves with. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates courage, social inequality and prejudice through the characters and events in the book. We experience life lessons through the protagonist Scout Finch as she develops her own values. This is displayed through a variety of life lessons and values throughout the novel.
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.”
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee sheds light upon the controversy of racism and justice in his classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The notion of equality in accordance with the law and the pursuit of justice are hindered by racial discrimination. The essence of human nature is pondered. Are we inclined to be good or in the wrath of evil? The novel reflects on the contrasting nature of appearance versus reality.
Throughout the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout Finch learns a variety of concepts about the way the world really is. However the main concept that Scout discovers is the evil that surrounds her and her hometown of Maycomb. Scout discovers the evil in the world through her experiences in Maycomb and these are the events that help her grow and mature into who she is. Mainly, the trial of Tom Robinson opened Scout’s eyes to the evil and wrongdoings in the county, as well as in the courtroom. The trial gives way to the prejudice remarks about the Finch family’s involvement in the case. The trial of Tom Robinson, the county’s comments on Atticus’s involvement in the trial, and getting attacked at the end of the story
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Lee uses discrimination and injustice to tell us readers that justice should be blind when it comes to gender, race and the way you live life. In the story many people are being discriminated because of their race , gender and even age. During the book we have many examples of discrimination especially in the case with Tom Robinson we have many examples of how many people were and still discriminate African Americans.
Tom sees Mayella as a person in need. At the trial, he testifies that he gladly helped her because "'Mr. Ewell didn't seem to help her none, and neither did the children”(Lee 78). Tom helps Mayella at great personal expense.Tom did not rape Mayella Ewell. Even though he did not rape her, the jury found him guilty and sent him to jail.Tom tried to help a person because he is a kind man, but instead he gets in trouble for something he didn't do. When he is in prison, he tries to escape and gets shot 17 times.
verdict of the trial, Jem and Scout see the hate in jurors for blacks, for it is obvious that Tom Robinson is innocent. Another new and disturbing element that Jem and Scout discover is child abuse. Having never been hit by Atticus, the children know nothing of physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse. However, Mayella Ewell knows too well of these abuses and is a victim of them from her own father. Bob Ewell shows he has no consideration for her by his actions or words, and this is clearly displayed during the trial when he is being asked on the stand, "Are you the father of Mayella Ewell?" (172) His crude reply is, "Well, if I ain’t I can’t do nothing about it now"(172). This shows he has no class or respect, while on the other hand, Jem and Scout are used to seeing the example of their tactful father. Also, during the trial it becomes lucid that Bob Ewell beat Mayella up and not Tom Robinson.
In To Kill A Mockingbird Lee tells the story of a Mr. Tom Robinson who is an African American who is being charged with rape against a white women. Atticus is the lawyer who must defend Robinson in court. In the Scottsboro case a central figure was a heroic judge who overturned a guilty verdict against the young men. The judge went against the public in trying to protect the rights of the African American men. In reading the novel you learn that Atticus arouses anger in the small community when he tries to defend Robinson.
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
In the novel, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee some characters suffer in the hands of justice and fairness more than others. Many characters in the novel are discriminated against such as Calpurnia, Dolphus Raymond, Helen Robinson, Burris Ewell and more. However I will be focusing on the discrimination against Tom Robinson for his race, Walter Cunningham for his low socioeconomic status and Boo Radley for the rumors and supposed mental instability he holds. I chose those three because they are the most prominent and I will discuss how the discrimination against the characters therefore leads to their injustice or unfairness.
Lee illustrates Atticus Finch as a very understanding character, especially during the Tom Robinson trial. During the revolting times of the 1930s, it was outlandish for a white man to stand up for a Negro man. For example, when the towns’ people are talking about Atticus, they say, “You know the court appointed him to defend this nigger.” “Yeah, Atticus aims to defend him, that’s what is don’t like about it” (218). When Atticus is delegated to defend Tom Robinson, he not only defends him because he was ordered to. Atticus intentionally helped Tom and wanted Tom to win. Even though the towns’ people did not like Atticus aiming to defend Tom, he understood that it was his duty to help him. Another example is in chapter 22 when Bob Ewell spits on Atticus’s face. Atticus didn’t react intrusive because he knew that it would affect people’s outlook on the trial and on Tom. Atticus stood above the standard and helped a black man, which earned him respect from the Negro people in town. Atticus was very wholehearted when deciding to help Tom Robinson in the trial.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) are sister and brother. Over the course of three years, they grow up together--from trying to discover their hidden neighbor Arthur “Boo” Radley to a trial involving a black man accused of rape. The two of them both experience moral growth through their escapades. The focus here will be on Jem and how he has developed morally, based upon the model on the stages of moral development Lawrence Kohlberg . He has progressed linearly from before stage 1 (following authority to avoid punishment) to Stage 6 (living by a personal conscience and following universal principles of justice and
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, the author, Harper Lee, writes about justice and fairness, and how these two concepts are so important to civil society.
Atticus should defend Tom Robinson because Atticus is the best lawyer in Macomb County. For example, Scout says Atticus was related by blood or marriage to nearly every family in the town.(5)”For his first five years in Maycomb, Atticus practiced economy more than anything.” This quote supports my claim because it shows that Atticus puts a lot of time and effort in his work. Another example is when Miss Maudie says that Atticus has never
Atticus was incredibly courageous taking on tom Robinsons case against the prejudice of Macomb County and he shows incredible courage when he says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and won." He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom Robinson, "That boy may go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." Chapter 15, Page 146. He was against the whole white community including his own sister practically said that he was a disgrace to his family Atticus tells scout when she asks him why he is taking the case he says "For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.