More handpicked essays just for you.
Sexism within to kill a mockingbird
Social Differences In To Kill A Mockingbird
Class and social stratification in killa mockingbird
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird occurs in the 1930’s when discrimination was at its high points. The novel follows Atticus Finch as he defends a black man who has been accused of a certain crime. Atticus strives to be a good role-model for Jem and Scout by proving one should not judge others. The acts of prejudice towards the society influence the behavior of the main characters in the novel and show how society is conformed. Atticus sees how the town of Maycomb is segregated based on race, class, and gender. He ignores this uniformity by accepting everyone and knowing that there is good in the world. To help out the Maycomb community, Atticus stands up to racial segregation in hopes of equalizing the city. Atticus explained, “‘Remember …show more content…
The town of Maycomb is also separated based on class and family ancestry. As a loving and passionate man, Atticus treats everyone with reasonable respect and makes certain that people realize that before making judgmental comments, consider life from the other person’s perspective. Atticus stated that “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 42). The major significance of this is to put Atticus’s advice into gear and to live with an open-mind and sympathetic heart. Within Atticus is a truly developed and sympathetic human being who is trying to maintain hope in himself and his town. Not only is Maycomb racially discriminated, but it is also discriminated based off of gender. Jem says, "‘Scout, I'm tellin' you for the last time, shut your trap or go home—I declare to the Lord you're gettin' more like a girl every day!’ With that, I had no option but to join …show more content…
The whole trial is completely set up to be racially discriminated. Although the judge is given many correct pieces of evidence as to why Tom didn’t commit the crime, they still considered him guilty. Many realize this is only due to his race and has nothing to do with anything else. Since this whole scene occurs, Jem and Scout start to get furious with the world because it can bring such despite to many. “To Maycomb, Tom's death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger's mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw” (Lee 72). This states that even if a black has the best evidence, and is not guilty, if he is put against a white man, the white man will always win. The lesson that Jem and Scout learn throughout this experience is how much courage it takes for a man like their dad to be a lawyer. He is their
This was a time of racial segregation, where blacks were not permitted to go to the same schools as the whites. They could not sit in the same restaurants, sit in the same part of the courthouse, use the same public restrooms or drink at the same water fountains. Everyone in Maycomb, from children to adults, accused Atticus and his children of being "black lovers." Atticus, with all this turmoil, stayed calm. He taught his children to accept the differences between one human being and another.
'To Kill a Mockingbird' is a novel that was written in the 1960s, but Harper Lee decided to set the novel in the Depression era of the 1930s in a small town in Alabama. Lee provided her readers with a historical background for the affairs of that time and in doing so she exposed the deeply entrenched history of the civil rights in South America. Like the main characters in this novel, Lee grew up in Alabama; this made it easier for her to relate to the characters in the novel as she would have understood what they would have experienced during the period when racism, discrimination and inequality was on the increase within the American society.
1) This quote shows how the townspeople symbolize the big issue/problem Maycomb has been receiving. The harsh words by townsfolk have showed the kids to stand up for their courage and be like Atticus: fighting for what’s right for the sake of Maycomb. Atticus assures that Scout understands that they must tolerate the townspeople and “go through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease. Using this quote the reader understands that Maycomb itself symbolizes the biggest issue in To Kill a Mockingbird because the town does not understand in their time that racism is cruel and should not ever be allowed no mater what. Unfortunately, the town can’t stop and really depend on Atticus to fix things though the townsfolk somehow bring up a problem without even caring. A reader can understand why Smykowski wrote in his article “the actions of the children do, indeed, symbolize various themes in the racist south.” From this quote, we can see that the things the children do symbolizes they’re attempts to change Maycomb. The kids start to realize as the novel progresses that what Mr. Ewell and other residents are the evil ones other than Tom Robinson. Boo Radley also symbolizes the fear of what
The novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a simplistic view of life in the Deep South of America in the 1930s. An innocent but humorous stance in the story is through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch. Scout is a young adolescent who is growing up with the controversy that surrounds her fathers lawsuit. Her father, Atticus Finch is a lawyer who is defending a black man, Tom Robinson, with the charge of raping a white girl. The lives of the characters are changed by racism and this is the force that develops during the course of the narrative.
Harper Lee’s acclaimed novel To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates, through the young narrator Scout Finch, the many prejudices of Maycomb in 1930. It is through Lee’s creative approach to interpreting these prejudices that we as readers are able to experience the animosity of this particular period in time. Social prejudice in 1930s Maycomb is highlighted through the community’s rigid class structure. We also see the prejudices and gender stereotypes employed against women in Maycomb, through the female protagonist’s narration. However, the most dominant issue explored in this novel is racism, which is brought to light through Tom Robinson’s trial. It is through Lee’s unique analysis of social, gender and racial discrimination that she manages to accentuate these prejudices of 1930s Maycomb in To Kill A Mockingbird.
Use of character interactions, Maycomb’s culture, and numerous conflicts reinforce the notion that racial prejudice is the cause of certain wrongdoings. Jem, Scout, and Dill interact with other people in the community which ultimately results in them finding out about the evils of racial segregation. The culture in Maycomb supported the theme in various manners. Numerous conflicts are encountered throughout the plot that point towards unnecessary segregation. Atticus taught his children not to interpret a person by his skin color but rather based on his actions and his viewpoint. Everyone is equal, and as Scout said: “I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.” (304).
Atticus must live with himself before he can live with others. In the novel, Atticus even says, "Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." This clearly illustrates how Atticus must do what he thinks is right because he can only live for himself and not others. Atticus demostrates this when he refuses to treat African Americans with disrespect, as many other people in Maycomb do. Atticus treats them as he treats everyone and how he wuold like to be treated. Atticus should defend Tom Robinson because he prides himself on his 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 what 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 t...
Atticus Finch is a man of many characters, a man who values respect, honesty and restraint. Atticus Finch is one of the main protagonists of the book, To Kill a Mockingbird. I believe that Atticus Finch’s personality contradicts with citizens in Maycomb County. Atticus has an honest, non-bias point of view, differing from most people in the County. Atticus’ influence on the County is highly revered. Atticus’ parenting style concerning his children differs from many in the Southern United States, his unconventional way of teaching them fair and respect towards everyone has guided Jem and Scout towards the right patch. Atticus is a man of great respect, his influence in the community of Maycomb is held with extreme respect, his role as a father and educating his young is unexceptionable, and Maycomb County’s “Best Shot” at being a society which upholds a morally right attitude, gives Atticus the right to be the role model of this County. “Hold your head high and keep your fist down” a great quote by Atticus, representing his attitudes of restraint, respect, and dignity.
Few people are the same as they are on the street in their homes. Few people can treat others equally; no matter what colour their skin is. Atticus Finch is one of those precious few. Racism in the town of Maycomb is nothing but disguised by the polite smiles and ladies missionary meetings; although it is the strongest belief that each person of the town holds apart from some such as Atticus. Racism is an issue of great importance, yet to the eye of a visitor waltzing through, it's just a slight whisk of air.
The hatred that the citizens of Maycomb felt towards the black community extended to anyone who became involved with them, especially the Finch family because Atticus was appointed to defend Tom Robinson. Scout and Jem suffered the most from this hatred because their peers were children, who are nearly always less candid than adults. Most of the people who were unhappy with Atticus would just try to keep away from him, which was bad enough. The children however, verbally abused Scout and Jem. Scout responded to this with physical violence, even though it was discouraged by her father. The sad thing is that they were mistreated even by members of their family, like Scout’s cousin Francis.
Scout learns that by resisting prejudice, we often help others. For example, Scout sees Atticus defend Tom Robinson, despite the white people of the town’s disapproval. By defending Tom, Atticus paves a small pathway in Maycomb for black people to follow to attempt to raise their social status.
A small city nestled in the state of Alabama, Maycomb has got its faults, just like any other place in the world, but one of its main faults or (pg.88) “Maycomb's usual disease,” as Atticus calls it in the book is prejudice. Jem and Scout learn a lot about prejudice when a black man named Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell and their father, Atticus, is called on to be his lawyer. They realize the hate that people have buried deep within their heart when they see a black man accused of doing something only because of his color. On pg.241, Scout starts understanding this and thinks, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” As the case continues, up until the death of Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout learn more and more about prejudice and how the hate that people have towards others causes them to take wrong actions. They also see how unfair it is that a white man can get treated better and think of himself better than a black man only because he was born white. This prejudice and the trial cause Jem and Scout to get in argum...
One particularly important display of change versus traditions is those in Maycomb who do not conform or listen to society's vision of racism. The second part of the book really focuses on Atticus’s role as lawyer of the Tom Robinson, a feat quite dangerous for his family that many denounce him for deciding to work so hard on. “It was Ms. Stephanie’s pleasure to tell us: this morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told his he’d get him if it took the rest of his life” (217 Lee). Throughout the book many people close to Atticus began to lecture him
Atticus changed the racist society of Maycomb by defending Tom Robinson in his trial. By acting as Tom's defense Atticus, an influential member of his community, is standing up for an oppressed group in his society. In the quote ." . . If I didn't take this case (Scout) then I wouldn't be able to hold my head up, I wouldn't be about to tell anyone what to do, not even you and Jem." the reader can understand that Tom's case is significant to Atticus. He knows that it will shape his community, that a serious change will be a result from the trial, and if he did not accept the trial no one else in Maycomb would help Tom and the rest of the African-Americans in the community. Atticus also changed his community by standing up against the majority and defending a man he knows is innocent. In the quote " Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told . . . and you know what the truth is" Atticus is facing a mob of his peers (Lee 148). The reader can conclude the he is willing to risk his own safety and reputation to bring justice to the trial, no matter who is in the way. Atticus shows great compassion towards the blacks and makes sacrifices by defending Tom, which is another way he helps change his community. His compassion is displayed in the quote " (Courage is) when you know you licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win but sometimes you do" (116). Atticus was going to see his case all the way through, if the result was positive or negative, under any circumstance.
Atticus changed the racist society of Maycomb by defending Tom Robinson in his trial. By acting as Tom's defense Atticus, an influential member of his community, is standing up for an oppressed group in his society. In the quote ." . . If I didn't take this case (Scout) then I wouldn't be able to hold my head up, I wouldn't be about to tell anyone what to do, not even you and Jem." the reader can understand that Tom's case is significant to Atticus. He knows that it will shape his community, that a serious change will be a result from the trial, and if he did not accept the trial no one else in Maycomb would help Tom and the rest of the African-Americans in the community. Atticus also changed his community by standing up against the majority and defending a man he knows is innocent. In the quote " Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told . . . and you know what the truth is" Atticus is facing a mob of his peers (Lee 148). The reader can conclude the he is willing to risk his own safety and reputation to bring justice to the trial, no matter who is in the way. Atticus shows great compassion towards the blacks and makes sacrifices by defending Tom, which is another way he helps change his community. His compassion is displayed in the quote " (Courage is) when you know you licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win but sometimes you do" (116). Atticus was going to see his case all the way through, if the result was positive or negative, under any circumstance.