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Novels around the time of the great gatsby
Themes in to kill a mockingbird book
Novels around the time of the great gatsby
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Atticus did what no other person would do in Maycomb, he defended a negro man in court. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Atticus is a lawyer that has to defend Tom Robinson because Tom was accused of raping a white lady. Others in Maycomb don’t agree with Atticus because he took a black man’s words over a white woman’s word. Atticus is a man of morals with integrity, so he did the right thing and took Tom Robinson’s side. It makes sense for Atticus to take a stand to defend Tom Robinson because he follows his morals and the golden rule.
Atticus is a man integrity and morals. Throughout the novel Atticus is always trying to do the right thing in different situations. First Atticus tried to comfort after she told him about her
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misfortunes in school. Scout had gotten in trouble for trying to help Walter Cunningham and because she knew how to read. After that day Scout no longer wanted to attend school but Atticus tried to make her understand how her teacher felt. As stated in the text, “ 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 teaches Scout to try and understand people. When Atticus defend Tom Robinson he understood that Tom ran from the scene because he was a Negro, not because he was guilty. Next, Scout asked Atticus why he had to defend Tom Robinson because she was getting bullied in school. Atticus responded by saying “The main one is, if I didn’t couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again”. Atticus wanted to do what’s right and moral, if he didn’t defend Tom Robinson just because he is a negro that would go against his morals. When Atticus talked with Scout he told her “Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself, The one thing that doesn’t abide to majority rule is a person’s conscience”, Atticus had to defend Tom Robinson or he would feel guilty for the rest of his life. Atticus followed his morals and this is why he defended Tom Robinson. Atticus does what he thinks is right and he follows the golden rule. After the court case Atticus made Bob Ewell look like a fool. Everyone in Maycomb now knew Bob was an alcoholic and they thought he beats Mayella. As stated in the text, “…Miss Stephanie said Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat”. Ewell was being so rude to Atticus but Atticus didn’t pay him any attention. Atticus wouldn’t want anyone to spit in his face so he just cleaned himself and walked away. Atticus still stood his ground and defended Tom Robinson even after Bob Ewell insulted him. Atticus even put his own life in danger to protect Tom Robinson. “You can turn around and go home again, Walter Atticus said pleasantly”. A crowd of men had went to the jail to hurt Tom Robinson since he was accused of rape. Atticus doesn’t let the men with weapons scare him, he demands that they turn around and leave aTom Robinson alone. Atticus follows the golden rule because he would want someone to protect him, so he protects Tom Robinson. Since Atticus got the case to defend Tom Robinson( a negro man), Atticus knew people would say nasty things about him and his family. However, he didn’t want that to affect Scout, “But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home”. Atticus even encouraged Scout to follow the golden rule. He wanted her to remain polite to others in Maycomb no matter if they act mean towards her. Throughout the novel Atticus is always following the golden rule and defending Tom Robinson is something he wants to do to to follow the golden rule. On the other hand some people may say that Atticus shouldn’t have defended Tom Robinson because he put his children in danger, As Scout and Jem was heading home from the pageant they got attack by Bob Ewell.
As reference to the novel, “ He slowly squeezed the breath out of me. I could not move”. Jem and Scout could have died that night . However, the positive outweigh the negative. When Atticus defended Tom Robinson it showed that he was a good man and he tried to do the right thing. “ I do my best to love everybody… I’m hard put, sometimes baby, its never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name”. Atticus tried to treat everyone with respect and equality. When Atticus defended Tom Robinson he had hope that people would start judging based on evidence and not race. “ That was the one thing that made me think, well, this may be the shadow of the beginning. That jury took a few hours. An inevitable verdict, maybe, but usually it takes’em just a few minutes”. Since Atticus had to defend Tom Robinson some people started to believe negro man over a white woman, which means they weren’t basing their decision on race. It was worth defending Tom Robinson because Atticus was starting to get others to show
equality. Atticus defended a Negro man that was claimed of raping a white woman. Since Atticus was defending a negro man he put himself and his children in danger. Other people said harsh words to them and Bob Ewell tried to kill his children. However, Atticus still did what he thought was right and defended Tom Robinson. Instead of looking at evidence. Just by defending Tom Robinson, Atticus made a small step towards ending racism.
Atticus has countless positive and negative characteristics, but there are two that stand out the most. The first character trait is that he acts a lot older than his age. Jem said that Atticus loved playing keep away and that he was never too tired, but when Jem went to tackle him, Atticus blurred out, “‘I am too old for that, son’” (Lee 118). Jem had never gotten that reaction from Atticus before. Atticus had to wear glasses, because without them he would not be able to see black on white with his left eye. Jem and Scout never see Atticus doing anything, he does not hunt, he does not go on walk, or he does not even travel. The only thing Jem and Scout see Atticus do is sit in the living room and read. Atticus is always on good terms with
Atticus defended Tom Robinson because he believed in the Golden Rule; one should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. For example, Atticus says “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. That’s why it’s a sin To Kill a Mockingbird” (Chapter 10). He states that if a mockingbird doesn’t do harm to you, why should you harm it? In chapter 3, Atticus gives Scout a piece of advice, “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.” This applies to Tom Robinson beca...
During a time when black people were thought to be lower than white people, Atticus defended a black man in court. He said to his children, "I'm simply defending a Negrohis name's Tom Robinson," (pg. 75). It required a lot of confidence and caring for Atticus to defend Tom, and the black community knew that Tom did not stand a chance without Atticus' help. They respected him and looked to him as a hero. They showed this when they stood up for him in the courtroom. Reverend Sykes said to Scout in the courtroom, "Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin," (pg. 211). The entire group of black people who were there stood up for him. Also, the parishioners at Calpurnia's church made Jem and Scout feel welcome when they visited their church. This showed that the black people also respected Atticus' family. If Atticus were just trying his best in a difficult circumstance, then he would not be as respected as he was by the black community. The black people greatly acknowledged the qualities that Atticus displayed by defending Tom and looked to him as a hero because of these qualities.
The main reason Atticus should take the stand and defend Tom Robinson is because he needs to protect his honor. This is illustrated by Atticus’s words,
Atticus is saying that killing a mockingbird is equivalent to killing an innocent creature that has done nothing, but try to serve us. Mockingbirds do not build unwanted nests on corncribs, bring trouble, and mess up gardens. Mockingbirds simply just make beautiful music for us to hear. A mockingbird is a harmless creature that represents innocence. Killing a mockingbird is like killing a person who helped you out and never wronged you in any way. The only thing mockingbirds do is bring us satisfaction with their singing, so it would be a sin to kill a mockingbird, and a sin to kill those who are like
Atticus should not give up his character, parental authority, and position in town to please the racist beliefs of others in Maycomb. Atticus cannot stand racism and says, "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. " Atticus should take a stand and defend Tom Robinson, to treat his children with valuable lessons and to keep his conscience clean. For these reasons, it does make sense for Atticus Finch to defend Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
In conclusion, it makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom. Atticus was advocating equal rights.Atticus could not go on with his life if he did not take the trial. Although, others might say that it is irrational for Atticus to defend Tom, his pride is at stake.It does make sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because it a matter of principle and the right thing to
Towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus decides to represent a colored man by the man of Tom Robinson, who is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. Atticus believes that Tom is innocent, but he does not think that Tom will be found not guilty because of they way the townsfolk treat colored people. They treat them like dirt; like they are worth nothing. Atticus went ahead and represented Tom despite the fact that he knew the townsfolk would call himself and his children names and treat them disrespectfully. Even Scout’s relative Francis said rude things about them. “‘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-...’ ‘Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.’” Atticus set a good example for Scout and Jem. He had a difficult decision to make, but he chose what he thought was
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is the father of Scout and Jem. Along with raising his children as a single parent, he is also a lawyer. Consequently to his employment, he defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape against a white woman, in a long heated trial. Because Atticus is a selfless and open minded person, it makes sense for Atticus to take a stand for Tom Robinson. The first reason why it makes for Atticus to take a stand for Tom Robinson is because he is selfless.
Tom Robinson’s trial, and in fact his entire life, was badly affected by racism. It is truly a testament to the corruption of society when a person who has earned a bad reputation is held in higher esteem than a person who was born with it, as is the case with Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson. Even though Tom was obviously honest in his testament, the jury sided with Bob Ewell because he was white. They made this decision despite the fact that the Ewell family was widely known to be a worthless part of society. Jem, not being racially prejudiced, could not understand this mentality. As Atticus pointed out, “If you (Jem) had been on the jury, son, and eleven other boys like you, Tom would be a free man.”
Atticus is a well respected man around Maycomb and is known for his loyalty and honesty. Atticus and his family has been around Maycomb since the start of the town and are all well known. Atticus had told himself “he would not be the same man if he didn’t take this case” and that shows a lot about Atticus and how he is as a person. Atticus has always been kind to every race and never showed any kind of racism, Atticus and his family have a cleaner like a motherly figure to his kids and when Aunt Alexandra thought they should get rid of her Atticus disagreed right away. That can show that taking this case made a lot of sense to Atticus, he is against racism.
Atticus Finch has many assertions that make him a good character but there is only a few that make him the best which are he is a good citizen, he is kind,and he is a wonderful father.
Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb county in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus is raising two kids Jem and Scout while having to defend Tom Robinson. Tom is a black man and is going to court for supposedly raping a teenager. In the time that this book was wrote it was very uncommon to defend a black in the way that Atticus defended Tom. It makes sense for Atticus to take a stand to defend Tom Robinson because Atticus is selfless and reliable.
Atticus morals include having self-control, having courage, and seeking justice. Atticus has a sense of self-control because he gives advice to Scout about not fighting and keeping her anger under control and because of his character traits I know he would not ask or tell his kids to do something that he couldn’t or wouldn’t do himself. The text states in chapter 9, “Hold your head high and keep those fists down… try fighting with your head for a change.” Atticus is showing his self-control of how he doesn’t let his anger take control of him. Atticus is courageous, he does what he knows is right even if he stands alone. The text states in chapter 11, “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Atticus is saying that courage is going against the odds but still trying your best, which is exactly what he is doing by defending Tom Robinson. Atticus always seeks justice, he shows this moral when he represented Tom Robinson and does his best to prove his innocence. The text states in chapter 20, “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal.” When Atticus says this, he is talking to the jury and is wanting them see that Tom
Tom Robinson is a black man living in the segregated county of Maycomb. His life is as normal as can be until he is accused of raping a white woman, causing a divide between the people in the town. "Scout, you are old enough to understand some things yet, but there's been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn't be defending this man" (Lee, 100). Atticus is trying to explain to Scout that even though the things you do can cause a divide or conflict, one can always strive to do the right thing. With Tom Robinson, even though Scout has never met him, can still take her father's word that he is a good man. As the trial inches closer and closer, Scout begins to immerse herself in the conflict that surrounds the case. "This time I split my knuckle to the bone on his front teeth. My left impaired, I sailed in with my right" (Lee, 113). Instead of avoiding conflict, like her father asked her to, Scout adds to it by getting violent with someone who's viewpoint on the Tom Robinson trial varies from her own. This situation could have easily been solved by Scout trying to understand this particular person's opinion through words, rather than punches. When the trial begins, the children are shocked to find how many people support the Ewells over Tom Robinson. "...you know the court appointed him [Atticus] to defend this n*****." "Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That's what I don't like about it" (Lee, 218). Atticus did not have a choice in whether or not he wanted to defend Tom, which is news to Scout. This point alone causes conflict for Atticus, Because the townspeople do not understand why Atticus is actually going to try to win. As the trial comes to close it becomes apparent how much people came around to understand the truth about Tom Robinson. "The kitchen table was loaded with enough food to bury the family… "They-they