Viewed as a progressive hero in To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shocked her readers as Atticus Finch grew and changed his indication of African Americans around the time of the Civil Rights movement in America. As evident in Go Set a Watchmen, Atticus is not a racist, but a victim to change. Progressive ideas of the north and the outcome of Brown v the Board of Education in 1954 scare the south as they see the ideas as a means to an end in their status quo of a hierarchal society. While both Jean Louise and Atticus have strong opinions about differences of their ways of life as they age, Atticus worries more about his changing role in society, while Jean Louise has uncertainties with the changes of her childhood town, her friends, and her …show more content…
family. Just as she was in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louise remains a rebel to society but expecting her father to fix her behavior, she finds that he is too a rebel to the changing times.
While Jean Louise goes against the norms of society by her taboo clothes and unmarried lifestyle, Atticus rebels his decaying traditions by attending Citizens Council meetings. Which, according to his brother, Jack, is just as their ancestors did during the Civil War, “all over the South your father and men like your father are fighting a sort of rearguard, delaying action to preserve a certain kind of philosophy that’s almost gone down the drain” (188). Jean Louise embodies the opposite of what the old south wants out of a young lady just as Atticus positions himself against young progressive ideas and tries to save the old ways of living. Friends and family of Jean Louise agree with Atticus and she is afraid of the change in her father especially. The interaction with Atticus the morning after she discovers him at the Citizens Council meeting proves the change, “Now, isn’t it better for us to stand up with him in court than to have him fall into wrong hands?”(148). In To Kill a …show more content…
Mockingbird, Atticus teaches Scout that she should accept and treat everybody equally, now Jean Louise is disheartened to find that Atticus takes the case not to help an old African American family friend, but to halt the NAACP from disrupting their judicial system. Jean Louise does not have a strong opinion of the problems of African Americans as she says that “You aren’t aware of them,” (181) but she is upset that she does not share the same ideas as the man how taught her morals; her father. Atticus does not believe African Americans should serve in office, nor should they be granted rights such as voting because some rights are a privilege that needs to be earned. Adding complexity to her character, Jean Louise agrees with her father on a few issues. Similarities are found between the two in how they hypocritically argue their opinions.
Even though African Americans suffered, Jean Louise and Atticus both use their suffering as a means to be victimized. Atticus blames his troubling change in society on the want for equal rights, which in turn would weaken his power. Likewise, Jean Louise faults the change of her nostalgic thoughts on a split created by racial differences; the struggle for equality has turned Jean Louise’s mother figure Calpurnia against the family she cared for, revealing that she had hated them, “I’ve got to know. Did you hate us?” “Calpurnia shook her head.”(160). Neither Atticus nor Jean Louise agreed about the Supreme Court decision of Brown v the Board of Education even though Jean Louise wants equality. Atticus spots her hypocritical views during their argument, “You are inconsistent… You slang the Supreme Court within an inch of its life, then you turn around and talk like the NAACP.”(243). Jean Louise claims to care more about the right of the states 10th Amendment rather than the rights of African Americans,” Good Lord, I didn’t get mad with the Court because of the Negros…I was ravin’ at what they were doing to the Tenth Amendment and all the fuzzy thinking.”(243). While Jean Louise agrees with Atticus by disagreeing with the NAACP and the Supreme Court’s decision, they still believe they are each bigots by not admitting that they agree on the subject. According to Uncle Jack, Jean Louise
behaves like a bigot, “What does a bigot do when he meets someone who challenges his opinions? He doesn't give. He stays rigid. Doesn't even try to listen, just lashes out.”(267). The two resolve their problems by realizing that they are different and that is okay, Jean Louise states that “They're the drag and we're the thrust, together we make the thing fly”(277). Simply put, Jean Louise wanted to be her own person while also sharing views of her father. She tries to be her own person but feels like she was raised by Atticus and now he has betrayed her by his views. Her Uncle Jack tells her that “Every man’s watchman, is his conscience.”(265) and she realizes that she must respect her father’s opinion even if she does not agree with it. As a reference to the beginning when Jean Louise bumped her head on the car, she is able to get into the car with no mistakes at the end of the book symbolizing her growth in maturity.
Lee presents Atticus Finch as understanding of Tom Robinson, caring with the children, and calm throughout the Tom Robinson trial. Lee illustrates Atticus Finch as a very understanding character, especially during the Tom Robinson trial. During the revolting times of the 1930s, it was outlandish for a white man to stand up for a Negro man. For example, when the towns’ people are
Atticus Finch is the most significant character, in To Kill a Mockingbird, who challenges racial prejudice as he does not follow the norms, in Maycomb, of being racially prejudice towards others. At first, Atticus Finch is reluctant to take on Tom Robinson’s case; however in the end, he willingly accepts. Unlike the majority of Maycomb residents, Atticus is not racist and makes no distinction upon race, he sees Negroes, just like Tom Robinson, as the same equality as any other person in the Maycomb community. For this reason, he believes they should be trea...
Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published in the year of 1960, and is one of the few American classic novels awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The racism that is prevalent in many southern American towns in the 1930s is brought to life with profound imagery in To Kill a Mockingbird. There are several characters in the book, yet the true main character is the narrator's father, Atticus Finch. He is a man of great integrity and intelligence. A very heroic figure in more ways than one, Atticus possesses traits like being principled, determined, and, more importantly, he teaches others. When looking at To Kill a Mockingbird, one can see that Lee uses lots of description, dialogue, and actions to portray Atticus as a heroic individual.
In addition to being a lawyer, Atticus enjoys being a father to Jem and Scout. When Jem and Scout found out that their father would be defending a black person, they knew immediately that there would be much controversy, humiliation from the people of Maycomb and great difficulty keeping Tom alive for the trial. It was not long when Atticus had to leave the house very late to go to jail, where Tom was kept because many white people wanted to kill him. Worrying about their father, Jem and Scout sneak out of the house to find him. A self-appointed lynch mob has gathered on the jail to take justice into their own hands. Scout decides to talk to Walter Cunningham, one of the members of the mob. She talks about how her father Atticus thought that "entailments are bad "(154 ) " and that his boy Walter is a real nice boy and tell him I said hey"(154). Upon hearing this, the mob realized that Atticus cannot be all bad if he has such a nice daughter as Scout. Atticus, with some unexpected help from his children, faces down the mob and cause them to break up the potential lynching of the man behind bars. Having gone to a black church earlier, the children found out that Tom is actually a kind person, church-going and a good husband and father to his children.
3. "She did not stand alone, but what stood behind her, the most potent moral force in her life, was the love of her father" ( Lee 117). All of Jem Louise's life she has looked up to Atticus as her role model respecting all his decisions and learning her life lessons from him. Now that she knows about Atticus's racial beliefs everything seems like it is falling apart.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper lee in 1960. The novel tells the story of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer, and Tom Robinson, a black servant, accused of raping a white female. Finch defends Robinson in court arguing lack of evidence as his main point. However, the judge and jury still believe the woman’s testimony and orders Robinson to be killed. The novel has been praised for its outstanding literature since its publication. However, it remains a banned book by the American Library Association for its use of racial slurs and profanity. Due to it being banned, many high schools have reconsidered the notion of teaching it to their students. Two prominent authors wrote articles pertaining to this piece of literature: Angela Shaw-Thornburg wrote an article on her re-reading of the novel and her opinions on it; while Malcom Gladwell wrote an article comparing Atticus Finch to a state governor liberalist, James Folsom, and the restraints of liberalism in the south. In addition, Rebecca Best contributes her thought on how the novel should be taught by introducing the idea of “the other.” Regardless of the modern day political arguments surrounding this piece of literature, this novel contains a large insight into the time period of the 1960s which is an influential topic that should be taught to young high school students.
As Martin Luther King Jr. quotes in A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that” (qtd.in. Goodreads.com). Atticus’ words of wisdom for the duration of To Kill a Mockingbird are used as a guiding light for not only his children, but the nation as a whole during the Civil Rights Movement. Through the 1950’s and 60’s African-Americans all over the U.S. were fighting to end Jim Crow Laws. Their movement inspired many and was what also influenced by Harper Lee’s to write her first literary work. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Lee uses the character Atticus Finch as a moral compass to show that true courage comes from
As most everyone knows, there are differences between a book and it’s movie adaptation. This is applicable to the book and it’s movie counterpart To Kill a Mockingbird, as well. But aside from the differences, there are also similarities between these two.
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.
Even though extraordinary changes have been made in the past to achieve racial equality, America is still racist, especially in schools. In the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” written by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is criticized for defending a black man accused of raping a white woman. During the 1930s, the time this novel took place, America was a very segregated country. At the time when Harper Lee wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird," America was fighting a civil rights movement. The events of racism in “To Kill a Mockingbird” reflect the time period.
The story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee portrays many different scenarios of racial discrimination. Discrimination occurs in the book and many people are affected by the racial slurs and other occurrences. In the story, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson are all people that are discriminated against or are affected by discrimination. Racial discrimination is a major part of Kill a Mockingbird. Scout is a young, elementary school girl and she is the main character and narrator of the story.
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.
In addition, Tom Robinson is a black man who was accused of raping 19 year old Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch bravely and courageously took on the case even though he got the idea that it would take a miracle to win. By taking on the Tom Robinson case, it proved that Atticus was not a follower which separated himself from the rest of the town. During the trial, Atticus says, “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.” (Lee 274). Atticus is referring to his beliefs and how they are legitimate. He stands up for righteousness and justice rather than the majority. Additionally, Atticus believes that violence is not the appropriate answer. He wants his children to keep their fists down and heads up in every situation they encounter. In other words, the event with Mrs. Dubose was very meaningful. Mrs. Dubose is an old lady who lives two doors up the street from the Finch 's house. Atticus ' son, Jem destroyed Mrs. Dubose 's flowers because she had said disrespectful things about Atticus which brought out Jem 's anger. Even though Atticus was very upset, he does not believe violence is the appropriate
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.
“You never really understood a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around it.” Atticus Finch is a man of extreme integrity. He, as both a lawyer and a human being, stands up for his democratic beliefs and encourages his children to stand up for their own, though they may stand alone. Harper Lee showed how far respect went in To Kill a Mockingbird when Atticus defended Tom Robinson in his rape trial. He did not think twice about being ridiculed by th...