In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, Jem and Atticus represent moral justice because they defend Tom Robinson, while Bob Ewell and most of the town represent moral injustice and prejudice because they are against Tom Robinson just based on his race. The problem with this statement is, what defines justice and injustice? This is an interesting question, justice is usually seen as what is right, while injustice is seen as wrong, but who defines what is right or wrong. This is the interesting thing about human morals. In society what we define as right and wrong or justice and injustice can change over time. We look back at the time period of To Kill a Mockingbird and see the ideas that they had against african americans as totally wrong, but for them it was very normal. To people today Scout, Jem, and Atticus are seen as “good” people because they stood up for Tom Robinson and the African American community, but to people
This is extremely evident when you look back into the entire case. The entire white community of the town was against Tom Robinson before the trial even started only based on his race. This creates moral injustice because people today see people judging someone based only on their race is “wrong”. In the time of the story many people saw a case like this as “run of the mill” and average. To almost all people today the case would have went the other way solely based on the lack of evidence and the poor testimonies. For example, Mayella said “No I don’t recollect if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me”(185). In conclusion in the story To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, Jem, and Atticus all represent moral injustice because they defend Tom Robinson even though he is african american. Most of the rest of the town is represented as moral injustice because they judge Tom Robinson just because he is an african american. These ideas are evident all throughout the book and I believe it proves my
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of the struggle of a white family facing discrimination for defending a black man. Scout and Jem are two young children living in Maycomb, believing that everyone is like their father, Atticus, who embodies justice and equality. Atticus takes on the case of defending Tom Robinson, a man who is being charged with raping a white woman. Before the trial, the Finches are forced to withstand torment from the townspeople. Their beliefs are shaken when a black man is given a rigged trial and he is innocent.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is centered on the moral values and ideas of the people in Maycomb and how they react to things that go against their normal beliefs. All of the characters have their own senses of what is right or wrong, good or bad, etc. Aunt Alexandra's moral values are expressed throughout the book, especially in her feelings through her brother's case, but in public are confined to the indifferent and self-aware values of the county. While Aunt Alexandra has her set of displayed ideas and values shaped by the people in Maycomb, there are some hints to a hidden sense of justice in her throughout the story that gives her a sense of compassion for those discriminated in her world.
People in the town of Maycomb despised Tom Robinson. Tom’s trial was very unfair and unjust. Almost every white person in Maycomb did not believe Tom Robinson when he gave his testimony in court. People on the jury are supposed to consider both sides of the argument, and then make the decision with the most evidence. But the people on the jury of Tom Robinson’s case made their decision based off of the peer pressure of nearly everyone in Maycomb.
To begin with, Tom Robinson is an excellent example of portraying the symbol of the mockingbird. Tom being an Black African American in the late 1930’s, when society in the southern parts of America were filled with racial prejudice, is the best example of an African American not receiving the justice he deserved. The amount of racial prejudice in the town afflicts people's judgement and it labelled an innocent man, a convict. When waiting restlessly for hours at the courthouse in anticipation for the final verdict of the jury, Scout says,“ I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: “Guilty… guilty … guilty… guilty… guilty” (Lee, 282). A society's view of a black man is the ugly kind, their moral code does not allow them to be in favour of a black man, despite all evidence proving the innocence of one. Moreover, Tom knew he was unable to defend himself when the whole event of “rape” that took place, because he knew it he did say anything or did anything thin in his
The author explains the sinfulness of killing a mockingbird, because of its true innocence. Tom Robinson’s so-called “guilt” was determined, implied by the book, because he was black. Atticus had strong points for his defense and innocence, yet somehow, that factor of evil within human nature overcomes the all-white jury. This is important to acknowledge. This part, and many other situations that occur, captures the racism of the novel.
Racism is a problem that has been around for multiple centuries. In To Kill a Mockingbird it demonstrates how racism can affect one person even in the court of law. In this story, the case of Tom Robinson is told. It is obvious that Robinson is a victim of racist people that see him guilty only because of his race, African American. From the beginning, it seems obvious that Robinson does not have a chance in winning his case whether he is guilty or not. To the people, they hear the story from a white family, and in this time white people’s words are better than African Americans’, whether it is right or wrong. In this story, a white family sets out to help Tom Robinson. This is not a common event to happen
In “To Kill A Mockingbird” the trial scene clearly conveys that the Town of Maycomb is prejudice and racist towards Tom Robinson. The trial grabbed the attention of the Town of Maycomb and the outcome changed the opinion of the community. Atticus Finch was the only lawyer that would take on the case and defend Tom Robinson. The case that was presented had charged Tom with brutal assault and rape of an “innocent” white girl. As we learn more about the background of Tom Robinson in the case, we find out he was a poor working class African American who was just trying to do his job and later was falsely convicted.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Jem learns many new things along the way and also matures in the process. Lee uses the story to shine light on important topics such as racial prejudice, justice, and compassion. Examples from the story are when no one took Tom Robinson's case. The reason no one took his case was because he had African American descent. Atticus took the case because Judge Taylor appointed Atticus to Tom Robinson's case because he knew he would do a good job . Society now has figured out that we are equal when the novel was written they could’ve used more people like Judge Taylor because he wanted Tom to have an equal shot at being found innocent.
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.
Racism has always been a controversial topic in history. All people face racism, no matter what race you are, and it’s an injustice. Racism is a major issue in today’s society, because … THESIS STATEMENT
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.
In this world, everyone has an equal right; however, many people are getting falsely accused of acts they did not commit even though they are innocent. Mockingbirds, one of the most innocent birds, sing their heart out for people to enjoy, however, they getting killed every day. In this novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many racial prejudices going on. Finches stand near the top of the social hierarchy, with Cunningham and Ewells underneath. Black community in Maycomb is even below the Ewells, even if they were a hard worker; they were not treated equally. The “mockingbirds” represents the idea of innocence, so killing a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the book, many characters are considered a mockingbird. Three examples are Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Those three characters are innocent; they are kind and were never harmful to others. However, they were destroyed through contact of evil. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the mockingbirds symbolizes the idea of innocence, and Tom, Boo, and Mr. Raymond are considered one of it.
During Christmas one year Scout is unjustly punished for hitting Francis when he deserved it. Scout is nicely talking to Francis when he calls Atticus a “nigger lover.”(110) Scout having a quick temper punches him in the nose, and is unjustly punished for it. Uncle Jack only listens to Francis’s side of the story before unjustly punishing Scout. Since Uncle Jack only listens to half the story he unjustly punishes Scout. This is another example of injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Atticus teaches them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because in doing so you are killing something that has not done any harm to you. 'Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.’ This is like a metaphor to teach the children that if someone who is good and pure-hearted they don’t deserve to be treated badly or unjustly. Additionally, Atticus says “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.” He says this to teach Jem and Scout to not think they know someone until they know what they are going through. Most of the town didn’t give people a chance, the white folk of the town wouldn’t give the coloured folk half a minute to get to know and understand them. It takes time for Scout to understand what Atticus was try to say, but later on in the book you get to see Scout put this into practice and is sympathetic and understanding towards Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley. As a result, throughout the book Scout and Jem grow and become more sympathetic and loving towards everybody in the town, coloured or