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Essay about atticus finch in the to kill a mockingbird
Why did harper lee include racism in to kill a mockingbird
Why did harper lee include racism in to kill a mockingbird
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To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, takes place in a small southern town called Maycomb, where Scout her brother Jem and her father Atticus live. At that time the Great Depression has started and their small town is suffering a lot, But instead of the town banding together to help each other, the town gets divided by a court case. A black man named Tom Robinson raping a white woman named Mayella. Scout's father is then charged by the state to be Tom's lawyer. This is about the their struggles overcoming the racism in the town. Though what if Atticus himself, the lawyer of Tom, is a bit racist, maybe prejudice or he isn't at all. There is some evidence that shows that Atticus could be racist. ¨You never really understand a person until …show more content…
Atticus has a sister who is extremely racist and judges everyone her name is Alexandra. She refuses to let scout go over to their maid calpurnia´s house. So is obvious that Atticus must have grown up with either, racist parents or a racist environment. Though unlike his sister he could be trying to overcome the racism he grew up with and not let it affect him to much, though there is just this prejudice still there. "As you grow older you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, of how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.”--Atticus (pg. 200) This quote to me shows that he is a little prejudices, because it's not right to cheat from any person, white, asian, black, indian, native american, arab, man, or women, it's wrong. This quote also shows that he believes that blacks are inferior to whites because if you cheat a white man that guy will be fine but if you cheat a black man, you just stole everything that guy has and now his death is on your hands, that's just not right. This is Atticus natural prejuges showing. Though after all I just said above, I could be looking to much into all this. “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.”--Atticus (pg. 105) After the case he had to take a break, this could show that he was truly saddened and hurt by how the case went. There really is no straight answer tied up in a pretty bow. Its open to opinions. There are too many facts supporting each theory. Though in my opinion, I think he's a good guy trying to teach his kids the right way to go through
Atticus’s character reflects true integrity and this integrity makes him the most accepting and equal character. First, Atticus accepts a very controversial role as Tom Robinson’s lawyer, and this shows how he doesn’t care that Tom is black. Even with a majority of the town against him, he tried his best to win the case. They may have lost, but he fought a tough battle that no other lawyer would have. Second, Atticus views the world through other peoples standpoint. Mrs. Dubose was a major aspect in this viewpoint. She may have been cruel at times to the finches, but she was very ill and was expected to pass soon. He treated Mrs. Du...
The biggest example of this is when he takes the Tom Robinson case even though he knows what everyone will think of him and how they will treat him because of taking the case. Many people in Maycomb are racist and very against Atticus defending a black man, even his own family members are against it. Jem and Scout’s cousin Francis states, “I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I’m here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family.” (Lee 110) Atticus uses these hurtful words as a teachable moment to show his children how to take the criticism and hate with a grain of salt and just let it roll off. He treats everyone in Maycomb equally telling Scout “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 39) This quote goes to show that Atticus is not racist and doesn't care much about social status, if someone needs a hand he is there to lend them one no matter who they
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.
Atticus teaches us many kinds of ideas including things like, how racial slurs are bad, how not to be racist, and makes sure that we don?t get influenced by Maycomb?s prejudice. He is the adult character least affected by prejudice in the society. We can tell this through his having no problem with Jem and me attending Calpurnia?s church, or with a black woman raising us, and he demolishes the use of racial slurs. He tells us, ?As you grow older, you?ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don?t you forget it?whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.? He teaches us about the real world, and hinting that we shouldn?t be worthless people who only think from their own side, and hold prejudice against the blacks, or just anything.
Atticus is a man who knows no prejudice or racial hatred and this is what makes him unique in the novel. Contrary to the general feeling of the town, Atticus sees past a man's colour and looks into the depth of his character. In the beginning of the novel, on page 34, he tells Scout '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 manages to do this even though it means going against most of his neighbours and his family.
In several occasions, Atticus has demonstrated his tolerance and love of others despite race or social status. The first example of this is when Atticus defends his housekeeper Calpurnia. “Alexandra, Calpurnia’s not leaving this house until she wants to…”(183). Calpurnia is black and therefor thought as lesser that the white citizens of Maycomb, including Atticus’s sister, Alexandra. Any other white man in town would have let Calpurnia go but not Atticus. He does not see Calpurnia as a cheap source of labour, but instead a “faithful member of this family”(182) showing that is open minded towards everyone including hersblacks. A second example that authenticates Atticus’s open mindedness is when he states that “You can never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view”(39) This shows why Atticus is open minded because he does not judge people on their looks or status but rather their
One way he does this is at court when he tells the jury that they should treat Tom Robinson just like anyone else, and that there is no place for racism in a courtroom. He began the case by saying that the case was as simple as black and white and should have never came to trial(203). Although Atticus knew that there was no possible way he could win, he wanted to make his point clear that everyone is equal and that maybe he could have an impact on some. He explained how Mayella tempted a black man, and how she knew that she could get away with it because she was a white woman (203). Being one of the few in Maycomb for racial equality, Atticus was hated by most of the people in Maycomb. But he did what he believed in, and didn't care what others thought of him.
When taking the case he overcomes the people 's ignorance, is able to avoid negativity, and is still able to see the good in people rather than following society 's opinion .When Atticus and Scout were talking “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”(Atticus. 30). Atticus knew better than having to follow society unfounded ideas he chooses to value his ideas first then clouding his ideas. Atticus was wise to not go against Tom Robinson but to defend him because he was able to demonstrate the power he had toward society and give hope to the colored people . Atticus wisdom to Defend Tom Robinson was correct by the way he was able to put his values and believes then judge a person for the color and unfounded ideas. As when Scout and Atticus were talking about favoring negroes and thinking bad about them."Nigger-lover is just one of those terms which doesn 't mean anything-like snot-nose. It 's hard to explain--ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody 's favoring Negroes over and above themselves." (113). As Atticus is able to give hope to the negroes teach there kids to learn a true lesson in life he is able to shoulder all the negativity. Atticus develops a way to to keep his head up high than letting the
"There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life” (Lee ,223). Atticus told the jury thus quote. In tough situations Atticus always has great judgement. No matter the color, Harper Lee shows Atticus's character to be the most responsible out of most, he's also one of the most important characters in the book and is greatly talked about throughout the
Atticus thinks that people who use insults like "nigger-lover," are ignorant and assume people who hang out with african americans are bad people
Throughout the novel, Atticus struggles with defending Robinson. Atticus has a social responsibility to assume Robinson is guilty only because of his skin color. But when Atticus discovers evidence that supports Robinson’s innocence, he faces a conflict within himself: pride. Atticus knows if he shares this evidence, he could ruin himself socially. The question becomes should he do
The biggest example of racism affecting the story is the Tom Robinson case for example When the Judge at his trial read the jurys results he said “Guilty… guilty… guilty…guilty…” (Harper Lee pg 215) this shows even if Atticus had all the evidence that it couldn’t have been Tom who raped Mayella Ewell the jury would still say he’s guilty strictly because of the color of his skin, and because of these actions it ultimately leads
The novel To Kill A Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee. The story takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama during the Great Depression. The story follows the childhood of a young girl named Scout and her life growing up in Maycomb. She bares witness to the injustice of Tom, and a mysterious neighbor named Boo. In the end all this ends up shaping her childhood and future. To Kill A Mockingbird contains many types of prejudice, including racial prejudice, prejudice against social standing, and prejudice against gender.
Set in a sleepy town of Maycomb the story, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a woman’s memory of her innocent childhood and her awareness of the deeply rooted racism that was present during that time in the South. Raised by their widowed father, a local lawyer, and Calpurnia, their African American housekeeper, Scout and Jem Finch are taught life lessons with anything but “normal” methods. In a close-knit town like Maycomb, where religion and opinions seem to be at the core of all reason their upbringing seems to have its fair share of challenges. When their father takes on a very controversial case, his role in the trial subjects Scout and Jem to insults and racial slurs which exposes the children to the evils of racism and stereotyping. Despite the
He thinks way ahead of his time period in the sense that he already does his best to treat everyone with equal amounts of respect. Atticus lives in the south so valuing things like equality is not a common thing for white people to value. “‘You aren’t really a nigger-lover, are you?’ ‘I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody’”(Lee page 144). The moment when Scout is upset about kids at school calling her dad a “nigger-lover” is priceless because of the way Atticus responds to her. He states that he is most definitely a “nigger-lover” since he tries to love everyone despite their ethnicity. He also thinks that you should always do good even when those around you are pushing you to do wrong. This happens when he is Tom Robertson’s lawyer and all of the people around him are bullying him and sending him death threats, but he does not let this phase him. Atticus firmly believes that Tom deserves a chance at freedom, so he can take the threats with a grain of salt if it means giving that innocent colored man a chance in the courtroom. With this, it can also be seen that Atticus is okay with standing alone and that believing in what he thinks is morally right is more important than fitting in and that itself, is