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Harper lee to kill a mockingbird critically analysis
Harper lee to kill a mockingbird critically analysis
Harper lee to kill a mockingbird critically analysis
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Why is it wrong to shoot a mockingbird? After Uncle Jack taught Jem and Scout to shoot guns, Atticus told them they could shoot bluejays, but to “remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”(119). Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird explores the idea of prejudice through this metaphor of shooting at birds. More than one bluejay exists in Maycomb County, but Bob Ewell is the most destructive. In Maycomb, Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Atticus Finch are mockingbirds. To illustrate how the majority of people give bluejays free rein to do harm even though they deserve to be ‘shot’, Lee uses Ewell as an example. Through Boo, Tom, and Atticus, Lee demonstrates how mockingbirds are nothing but altruistic, despite the fact that they are victimized. Bluejays …show more content…
Tom is a man who has done nothing wrong. Living with his wife and three children, he is a clean man. A man who has nothing to hide. He even went out of his way to help Mayella Ewell. With no obligation to help her, Tom does so out of the kindness of his heart. Despite Tom’s kindhearted nature, others think of him as guilty before the trial. Many people in town believe that Atticus shouldn’t do much about defending Tom. Largely because he is a Negro and to the people of Maycomb “all Negroes lie”(273). Maycomb’s townsfolk takes the word of a white bluejay like Ewell over a black mockingbird like Tom. When several of the Cunninghams attempt to lynch Tom, it demonstrates how the town has already decided the fate of one mockingbird. Even in a court of law, which is where a person “ought to get a square deal”(295), Tom receives the fatal ‘shot’. His jury convicts him on little evidence. In fact, no concrete evidence is provided to prove that Tom does anything to Mayella. The jury sentences Tom to death based off prior prejudices. Because of this decision, Tom Robinson is literally shot. He gives up hope and tries to escape because he has been metaphorically shot one too many times. The jurors are directly responsible for the death of a …show more content…
Mr. Finch is a man with a deep, ingrained sense of right and wrong. In spite of, or perhaps due to this moral code, he respects those in his town who do not share his beliefs. He feels obligated to help anyone and everyone. In Mr. Finch’s bid to save a mockingbird, he becomes one and like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, he does nothing to deserve the treatment he and his children are subjected to by the people of Maycomb. Whenever Jem and Scout would go to town, the people on the street would whisper about them, making their criticism of Atticus undeniable. Harsh words are not confined to the adults though. At school, Scout is teased about her father defending Tom and even gets in a fight about it. This altercation reveals how others are disapproving of Atticus’ decision and telling their children. Kids, being kids, make of Scout and are taking out their parents’ disapproval of Atticus on his family, which is what he cares about more than anything else. Some members of Atticus’ family, Jem and Scout, are also scorned, but other also condemn Atticus. Aunt Alexandra originally disagrees with Atticus. She repeats her concerns to her grandson Francis, who later tells Scout. According to Alexandra, Atticus is “ruinin’ the family”(110) since he decides to do the right thing and help an innocent man. Maycomb is pushing Atticus off a cliff as no one in town is brave enough to do what
Jem and Scouts’ father, Atticus, is very misjudged by their children. They believe that Atticus is a very semantic man that goes to work, comes back, and has no skill whatsoever in sports. Scout criticizes Atticus by saying “Atticus did not… or do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone”(118). This demonstrates that Jem and Scout are not satisfied with Atticus’s physical and amusing skills. They thought of him as an old man in his fifties that had no energy left, and had a routine of going to bed and reading in the living room instead of running around. Later, they visit there across the street neighbor, Mrs. Maudie to talk about how boring their Dad is, when Mrs. Maudie says” ‘Well, he can make everybody’s will so airtight can’t anybody meddle with him’… ‘Well, did you know he is the best checker-player in this town? Why down at the Landing when we were coming up, Atticus Finch could beat everybody on both sides of the river”(120). This establishes that they find out that their Dad isn’t so useless anymore. Even though the children find out all these activities he is excellent at, sometimes even the best, they are still not overly impressed. After Calpurnia calls the cops on the dog, Tim Johnson, The sheriff and Atticus arrive at the scene “ ‘Take him, Mr. Finch’. Mr. Tate handed the rifle to Attics; Jem and I nearly fainted…’’d you see him, Scout? ’d you see him just standing there?...’n’ all of a sudden he just relaxed all over, an’ it looked like that gun was a part of him’”(126-129).
Tom was shot by 17 bullets for no reason, they killed him so they could prove to the others that they would chose a white man word over a black man's anyday. Likewise, mockingbirds are killed for no reason too, just for personal enjoyment. After Tom’s death, Mr. underwood writes an editorial that describes Tom’s death as the “senseless slaughter of a songbird”. This means that the innocent and warm hearted Tom was judged by the color of his skin and was misjudged by people in Maycomb, just like how the mockingbird was killed by people. Tom realizing that he’s going to be stuck in prison forever tried to make a run for it “we had such a good chance. I guess Tom was tired of white men’s chances and prefered to take his own”. (Pg.236). Tom tried to escape just like a mockingbird that escapes from it’s cage to only be shot by men. The people in Maycomb never understood that what they did to Tom was wrong and never knew that Tom was trying to escape from his death, this can relate to the mockingbirds that get killed by people without them noticing that they mean no harm and that they’re only here to bring us happiness with their music. Tom Robinson lives like a mockingbird, he’s an innocent, kind, loving person who is destroyed by evil
In part one of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus proves that he has a civilized heart by informing Scout and Jem about the sin of killing mockingbirds, showing his views about equality and the Ewells, and defending Tom Robinson even when the odds of winning are slim. Firstly, when Scout begins taking interest in guns, Atticus proclaims one rule for her to follow when he says, “‘Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’” (10). Mockingbirds are known for singing loud and beautiful songs. Atticus believes that one should not mindlessly shoot at something that works hard to please others. Also, the mockingbirds do not harm other birds, thus Atticus concludes that they should
To begin with, Tom Robinson is an innocent being that resembles a mockingbird because he is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He is a black man that believes in equality. '''Yes suh. I felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em-''' (Lee, 209) This honest statement Tom Robinson makes is a big mistake because back in the 1900s, there was a lot of discrimination which meant black people should never feel sorry for white people. It is a sin to kill Tom Robinson because he is a harmless citizen that means no harm to anyone in Maycomb. The death of Tom Robinson was typical to many white citizens in Maycomb because if black people were ever convicte...
Aunt Alexandra challenges the demeanors of Jem and Scout wanting them to behave in a different way. “ ‘She [Aunt Alexandra] asked me to tell you you must try to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are’ ”. Both Jem and Scout express confusion to their fathers words. They do not understand why their father is asking them to do such a thing. Jem and Scout were raised by Atticus to treat everyone with respect and honesty. The children are understandably in a state of shock when Atticus tells them to change how they act. Atticus then tells the children “ ‘I don’t want you to remember it. Forget it.’ ”. He then leaves the room, presumably to talk with Aunt Alexandra. Atticus realizes that he would rather have his children be themselves then force upon the behaviors Aunt Alexandra desires. Atticus shows courage by willing to possibly tarnish the Finch name and go against his sister if it means that his children are
Tom Robinson is at the stand being questioned by Mr. Gilmer. Dill starts to feel sick because of how Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom. The narrator explains, “Well, Dill,after all he is just a negro” (Lee 266).This piece of evidence shows that prejudice is used as an antagonist in the novel by giving an unfair trial to Tom Robinson. The quote states “he is just a negro,” which shows that the trial is unfair just because of the towns racial views on people of color. The jury is all white and the case is black versus white. The jury is very biased towards the case. The prosecuting lawyers and defending lawyer are giving their closing statements. Atticus ends with a powerful speech that prove Tom is innocent and his views on race. The jury thinks over all the evidence for a long time and come to a verdict. The author of To Kill A Mockingbird quotes, “Guilty...Guilty...Guilty...Guilty…” (Lee 282). This quote shows the jury is very prejudice. There is more than enough evidence to prove Tom did not rape Mayella and that Bob Ewell beat her. Even though there is enough evidence to proves Tom’s innocence the jury’s verdict is guilty just because of their hate and their prejudice towards African Americans. Ultimately, prejudice is being used as an antagonist is very thoroughly shown throughout the entirety of the
Atticus Finch is a brave person because no matter what people say to him he will do what he feels and knows is right. After Tom Robinson, the man Bob Ewell accused of raping his daughter Mayella, Is arrested and put into Macomb County Jail Atticus goes to the jail house to protect him from a mob. He doesn’t show how scared he is when his children barge into the middle of the mob, instead he keeps calm and sends them home. Luckily they refuse and Scout ends up stopping them just from talking to the “leader”. Later in time when Tom is found gui...
Tom was very confused when he was accused of this incident because he had never been anything more to Mayella Ewell than an acquaintance. “The older you grow the more of it you’ll see. The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box”(Lee 220). This is how Atticus described the trial to his son Jem because he could not comprehend how unjust the trial was unfolding on a daily basis. The proceedings were not equitable towards Tom Robinson because everyone should have realized at the trial that he had not done anything wrong. In the end, Atticus lost the trial. Not because the jury and judge thought Tom Robinson had committed the crime, but simply because he was black and they were racist. Tom was sent to jail for doing absolutely nothing wrong, except being black. He never had the luxury to grow into old age, as his life was taken from him when he was shot seventeen times during his attempt to escape from jail. Tom Robinson’s life would have been completely different if he had not been black. The discrimination would not have occurred and the accusations would not have been leveled or
It was clear based on the evidence that Tom was innocent, but with the jury consisting of only white men in 1930's Alabama, they decided to convict Tom only because it was a white man's word against a black man's. This upsetted Jem and Scout as they were sure that Tom and Atticus would win the case. It made them realize that people with prejudice will make unfair decisions, even when it's clear that they are making the wrong decision: "...but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed." (Lee 323). Seeing this changes Jem and Scout's perception of the people living in Maycomb, as they start to question whether the people of Maycomb were as good-hearted as they thought. Nowadays, there would not be racial prejudice in a courtroom, however the jury that was biased during Tom's trial could be the modern equivalents of people who use racial profiling, racial bias, and stereotyping. The kids and the reader learn that people who make judgements and decisions based on prejudice are people who should not be considered
Although Tom’s innocence is undeniable Atticus explains that, “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (pg. 295). Atticus’s statement proves that the jury was clearly biased. Moreover, it reinforces the fact that Tom was convicted only because of the color of his skin. In the novel, Scout states that Atticus views the Ewell family as “the disgrace of Maycomb” (pg.40). However, because the Ewells are a white family, they hold a more power and influence than the people of color This is why Bob Ewell can be so condescending on Tom and why the jury feels it must convict Tom of a crime they know he didn't commit. To do otherwise would upset the balance of society. To allow a Black man to go free after being accused of attacking a White woman, even one as poor and low class as Mayella would have been
The town was separated by blacks and whites and had several rules regarding the segregation of the two. In spite of the discrimination against him, Tom Robinson was a kind and sympathetic man. Mayella Ewell took advantage of his kindness and lured him into her house for what Tom thought was to assist her, but we discover it was for other reasons. Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella, a charge that would not have occurred if their colours were reversed. Even though all evidence is clear that Tom was the one to be taken advantage of, Tom was found guilty by a biased all white jury. If the racial judgement hadn’t have existed, Tom would have his freedom. He was judged by something as petty as his appearance, and the town was willing to allow injustice happen due to a mere colour. “When it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins.” Says Atticus in chapter 23, stating how ineluctable the verdict was. A moment in the courtroom that represents great prejudice against Tom Robinson is when he shows sympathy for Mayella Ewell. "You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?" Mr Gilmer couldn’t believe it. They couldn’t comprehend why a black man could possibly perceive that he was better off than a white person, as being black was considered the undermost position. Tom Robinson’s life revolved around the colour of his skin, and it even
The significance of Tom Robinson's trial in To Kill a Mockingbird is integral for readers to understand the grasp of how Maycomb handled racial and social prejudice. Lee utilizes Robinson’s case as an approach to explicitly reveal the trial’s hidden motives and layers of harsh irony. The fact that Atticus evidently proved Tom’s innocence yet was still deemed guilty of his ‘crime’ shows the degree of racist attitudes that prevailed throughout American society. Along with the blatant contradictions found in their respective cross-examinations, Robinson’s injustice in the court system with unfair treatment, and Bob Ewell’s lies to protect his pride; the trial uncovered hidden hypocrisy
Atticus bravely volunteers to defend Tom even though he already knows the outcome of the trial. All evidence points to the innocence of Tom, however because he is a black man he is pronounced guilty. “A jury never looks at a defendant it has convicted, and when this jury came in, not one of them looked at Tom Robinson.” (349) Because of the color of Tom’s skin, he must now serve time in prison for a crime that he did not commit. Instead of honorably listening to the facts of the case and constructing a wise decision based on the evidence, the jury determined their decision well before the trial began. It was completely impossible for Tom to walk away from the courtroom as an innocent, and free man. Racism remains one of the most common forms of injustice throughout
In his speech he says, “I’m no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system--- that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality. Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up. I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence that you have heard, come to a decision and restore the defendent to has family. In the name of God, do your duty.” (Lee 274 275). Atticus is addressing the jury because he knows Tom is innocent, and the jury knows he is innocent. Tom was really helping Mayella until Bob Ewell came home yelling. Tom is judged by his race and was guilty according to the jury. He is a mockingbird because he was there to help her, not harm her. He helped her all the time without harming her. Later in the story, after being sent to prison, Tom was shot and killed by guards. According to them he was trying to escape prison. The town talked about it for two days. In the story Lee says, “To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no
People line up outside the jail and heckle Tom, and Bob Ewell is continuously harassing Tom's wife. But yet the first thing the citizens of Maycomb do is blame Tom. In chapter 25 it says, “To Maycomb, Tom's death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger's mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw...You know how they are.” The death of Tom Robinson shows us of the tragic injustice done to Tom. The whole town was against the innocent man right from the beginning. Just because he was a black man and they couldn’t accept him as a human being of the world, he was guilty before there was a trial. The harsh reality of what Scout and Jem see brings them to maturity sooner than Atticus had wanted it to. Atticus had tried so hard to keep the ugliness from the kids, but they were thrown right in the middle of it. Jem and Scout saw first hand just how mean, hateful, and racist people can be due to a lack of compassion that leads to demeaning prejudice toward others. By the town reacting the way they did, just goes to show us what the people of Maycomb really thought of