Harper Lee established the theme in the beginning of the novel to connect the lesson to more complicated events. Atticus Finch told Scout, his daughter, the theme as a simple lesson resulting from experiencing the new and different views of people attending her school. In school, Scout was dissuaded in advancing her reading skills by her teacher. As Scout discovered the struggle of having different perspectives imposed on her, Atticus lectured her on how to overcome the teacher’s prejudice, and how to counteract its effects; “First of all,” he said, “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-” “Sir?” …show more content…
Scout refused to go to the school because of the trouble she was encountering while adjusting to her school. After reflecting on Atticus’ life lesson, she understood this lesson would help her avoid conflict and prejudice. Scout realized people have different views and beliefs and was urged to be empathetic and relate to people in different circumstances. The passage represents one of Lee’s main motifs, which was terrible situations could be avoided by considering the views of other people prior to taking action. Additionally, Lee incorporated foreshadowing into the passage by having Scout refer back to, and consider, different points of view throughout the story. Atticus’ lesson was symbolic since a person cannot physically walk around in another person’s skin, however, they could view circumstances from the perspective of other people, in order to expand their knowledge of the differing views that were based on individual experiences and unique events. Additionally, this passage was related to race because race determined the core values of different people throughout the United States during the 1930s, including Maycomb
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
What does it mean to be a good parent? The most common definition of a good parent is one who makes their children feel valued and loved, by teaching them the difference between right and wrong. At the end of the day, the most essential thing is to create a nurturing environment where your children feel like they can mature into confident, independent, and caring adults. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird defines what a true parent really is thought hardships and struggles throughout the book. The story is set in the Depression era of a little town in southern Alabama that is struggling with thick prejudice on a colored rape case. The story is told through a character
...es that despite all the differences humans have, we are really more alike than not. Scout is constantly educated by her Aunt on Maycomb's different folks. She realizes that “there’s just one kind of folks. Folks” (304). Scout has finally become enlightened, a role model that everyone, even Atticus, can aspire to be like.
Intriguing. That is the word that comes to mind when reading Harper Lee's novel “To kill a Mockingbird”. The novel is filled with so many different view points, attitudes, feelings, etc. all in which, bring to mind a wide range of feelings. In particular, in reading chapters 8-14 of this novel, you really get an extra bit of insight into the “intriguing” sense of the characters. To be specific, in the following chapters, we get to know more about each character a little more. One person, in particular, who these chapters are seem to focus on, is Atticus Finch. Atticus is one of the main characters, father of Jem and Scout Finch, and is the main inspiration to my idea of being intriguing. In chapters 8-14 of this book, there are so many interesting and mind-boggling passages that it is hard to decide which ones really get your hair standing up most. For example, A passage that was pretty interesting was “...nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything—like snot-nose. It's hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebodys favoring negroes over and above themselves” (Lee 68). It has
Scout Finch, the youngest child of Atticus Finch, narrates the story. It is summer and her cousin Dill and brother Jem are her companions and playmates. They play all summer long until Dill has to go back home to Maridian and Scout and her brother start school. The Atticus’ maid, a black woman by the name of Calpurnia, is like a mother to the children. While playing, Scout and Jem discover small trinkets in a knothole in an old oak tree on the Radley property. Summer rolls around again and Dill comes back to visit. A sence of discrimination develops towards the Radley’s because of their race. Scout forms a friendship with her neighbor Miss Maudie, whose house is later burnt down. She tells Scout to respect Boo Radley and treat him like a person. Treasures keep appearing in the knothole until it is filled with cement to prevent decay. As winter comes it snows for the first time in a century. Boo gives scout a blanket and she finally understands her father’s and Miss Maudie’s point of view and treats him respectfully. Scout and Jem receive air guns for Christmas, and promise Atticus never to shoot a mockingbird, for they are peaceful and don’t deserve to die in that manner. Atticus then takes a case defending a black man accused of rape. He knows that such a case will bring trouble for his family but he takes it anyways. This is the sense of courage he tries to instill in his son Jem.
Jill McCorkle's Ferris Beach, a contemporary novel, shares numerous characteristics with Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel written in the 1960's. Like To Kill a Mockingbird, McCorkle's novel documents the life of a young girl in a small southern town. The two narrators, Kate Burns and Scout Finch, endure difficult encounters. A study of these main characters reveals the parallels and differences of the two novels. Jill McCorkle duplicates character similarities and rape from Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird to show the reader how young girls think and develop.
She used the symbolism of the mockingbird to illustrate courage against this discrimination. She also wrote about the importance of empathy to accept others. Everyone is different but it’s our individuality that makes up the character’s content, not skin. Change is started with one person, this person was Atticus. He changed the way society looks at its citizens; he proved the innocence of Tom and the wrongs of the justification system. Lee used these themes in her writing to show how the meaning of her novel can be applied to some of the problems faced in
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows the reality of the world in the 1930s through the point of view of a little girl named Scout. She starts as a carefree tomboy, but learns to be more ladylike as the story continues. Her life really starts to change during a trial where her father is defending a black man. Also, she learns that killing a mockingbird is a sin.Overall, she grows up throughout the book, and starts to realize all the issues of Maycomb.
As the American people’s standards and principles has evolved over time, it’s easy to forget the pain we’ve caused. However, this growth doesn’t excuse the racism and violence that thrived within our young country not even a century previous. This discrimination, based solely on an ideology that one’s race is superior to another, is what put many people of color in miserable places and situations we couldn’t even imagine today. It allowed many Caucasian individuals to inflict pain, through both physical and verbal attacks, and even take away African Americans ' God given rights. In an effort to expose upcoming generations to these mass amounts of prejudice and wrongdoing, Harper Lee 's classic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, tells the story of
Authors use many different ways to develop themes within a work of literature. Within Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Lee uses the character Atticus Finch to develop one major theme within the story. That theme is: not to judge a book by its cover. Atticus Finch is used to draw a very vivid picture of this theme all throughout the book. This book tells the story of two young children and their father interacting with many people within their hometown of Maycomb, Alabama during the mid 1930’s. A few examples of the theme being shown throughout the story are when Atticus’ children, Jem and Scout interact with Boo Radley and Mrs. Dubose. One other example is how the town treated Tom Robinson during his court case. Atticus is used within
Throughout the books Huckleberry Finn, Othello, and To Kill a Mockingbird certain characters challenge what the status quo was at that time. They go against what the norm was and go against what other characters think. This causes controversy and is a major part of the plot in all three books. The main way that these 3 books challenge the status quo for that time is through race. Many of the characters are against what is viewed as normal and have views that were known as radical at that time. The main way their views are different is certain white characters view black people in the books in a positive way and are willing to associate themselves with them even though that is against what most people thought was right. Throughout each
Scout learns that by yielding to prejudice, we often hurt and cause strife unto others. For example, Scout is harassed and becomes the target of insults when her father decides to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. This is a plajurized essay. The hate felt towards black people by the majority of the Maycomb citizens causes them to bother and harass those who attempt to befriend the black people. Forgive me for stealing this essay. Scout realizes that the only reason she must undergo this torment is that her father is defending a black man, which has become taboo because of the corruption that racism has caused in many people. In addition, Scout watches Tom Robinson undergo unfair treatment and false accusations. Please dont tell my parents I stole this essay. Although Atticus provides the jury and the people of Maycomb with overwhelming evidence benefiting Tom, and ultimately proving him innocent, this is not enough to overcome the powers of hate and racism. Scout watches as the jury deliberates and convicts Tom Robinson of murder because he is a black man. This is a stolen essay. Although Scout witnesses a myriad of injustices occurring against black people, she also sees an exiguity of kind and compassionate movements towards black people.
In this song, Eminem is rapping about having the courage to take a stand regardless of what others think. Atticus displayed courage in the same way by fighting for Tom Robinson although his family, friends, and neighbors constantly harassed him and his family for it. In addition, he broke out of the cage of racism that required him to favor the white person in the case by attempting to get Tom an innocent sentence while other white southern lawyers would have immediately entered a plea.
Tom Robinson, a black man in To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the main characters in
They do not judge by skin color, nor do they discriminate because someone is different. Atticus has educated them in a way that helps them see themselves in a different way than others, even at such a young age. “Scout and Jem wonder about the origins of the events in their lives between the summer of 1932 and the fall of 1935” (Anderson 1). During these years, Scout and Jem grew and matured more than an average adult would in 20 years of life.