Dialectical Journal For To Kill A Mockingbird

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Emily Kehner Mr. Day English Honors 9 10 April 2024 Title In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch teaches his young daughter the most important lesson while suffering the biggest loss of his legal career. When Atticus's client, Tom Robinson, is found guilty of rape, Atticus calmly gathers his belongings and leaves the courtroom passing the colored seating area. In the To Kill a Mockingbird passage in which the guilty verdict is read, Scout focuses on her father's reaction, while the author Harper Lee uses a plot event and symbolism to help develop the theme that even in difficult situations reacting with grace and dignity can have a significant impact on those around you. To illustrate the significance of this trial, Lee …show more content…

This shows that this case was important not only to Atticus and Scout, but to the jury and spectators as well. As the reader, you get a relatable feeling of the silence and tension occurring moments before a major event takes place. Scout not only recognizes but is able to comprehend these seemingly minor details throughout the case helps show how her maturity level is growing. Similarly, the tension builds as Scout braces herself and feels the pain her brother is experiencing. She paints the picture and states, “I shut my eyes”. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: ‘Guilty.guilty.guilty.guilty.’ I peeked at …show more content…

Likewise, Lee uses the symbolism of Atticus leaving the courtroom while the colored section balcony honors him to establish a valuable lesson for Scouts. The author shows how Scout is focusing solely on her father at this moment. Scout narrates: “Someone was punching me, but I was reluctant to take my eyes from the people below us, and from the image of Atticus’s lonely walk down the aisle” (241). This clearly demonstrates symbolism in that Atticus’s lonely walk shows his solitary fight against racial injustice. Scout is taking away the lesson of one man trying to overcome his struggles, knowing he did his best to protect Tom Robinson. In the same way, Lee describes how Atticus purposely leaving the courtroom alone and defeat has inspired the colored balcony to rise in his honor. Scout voices “I looked around”. They were standing in the room. All around us and on the balcony on the opposite wall, the negros were getting to their feet. Reverend Skye's voice was as distant as Judge Taylor’s: ‘Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin’”

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