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Essay about atticus finch
To kill a mockingbird essay on atticus finch
A literary analysis for to kill a mockingbird
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In To Kill a Mockingbird Taylor shows his stance on equality and the unfair treatment of Black people on a few occasions. Although he never says anything directly about the topic his actions speak louder than words. Judge Taylor through his actions shows that he wants everyone to be given a fair shot. Judge Taylor shows his stance on equality first when he appoints Atticus to the case of Tom Robinson. Judge Taylor does this for one reason, to give Tom a chance at a fair trial. Any other lawyer who was assigned to the case would have sat back and let what happens happen. However, Judge Taylor knew that Atticus would fight for what he knew was right and he does just that, as Judge Taylor knew he would. One part that this is shown is when Scout, Jem, …show more content…
Miss.
Maudie, and Dill are talking about the case. Jem says something along the lines of “who in this town did one thing for Tom Robinson, just who” to which Miss. Maudie replies with “… People like Judge Taylor… Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident? That Judge Taylor Might have had his reasons for naming him.” (Lee 289). This quote is showing how Miss Maudie and now Scout realizes that he did it on purpose. Rather than just follow the wishes of the town and let Tom loose and be convicts Judge Taylor appoints one of the best lawyers in the county. He wants to give a fair chance to Tom. Another place where this is shown is when Atticus is questioning Bob Ewell and he asks if he would be allowed to have Bob write his name, ‘“ Mr. Ewell can you read and write?’ Mr. Gilmore interrupted ‘Objection’… Atticus said ‘Judge, if you’ll allow the question plus another one you’ll soon see’ ‘All right, let’s see,’ said Judge Taylor, ‘but make sure we see Atticus. Overruled’” (236). If Judge Taylors goal was for Tom to lose and have him just be convicted he would have stopped
him and not allowed him to sign his name. This evidence points out that Mayella would have had to be hit with a person who was left handed however Toms left hand was completely disfigured and Bob was in fact left handed. Something that if Judge Taylor was against Tom he would have tried to put an end to. Judge Taylors actions show his view on equality. He appoints Atticus to defend Tom instead of just any lawyer. He also lets Atticus show evidence that would help Toms case of innocence. Judge Taylor is someone who although he does not speak of equality he does what he can with his power to help make justice equal and fair.
“[T]here is one way in this country in which all men are created equal- there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller; the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court” (Lee 233). These are the words uttered by Atticus Finch, an important character in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus is a lawyer, and at this point in the novel, he is trying to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who was accused of raping a white woman. This reflects upon how society was in the 1930’s, when the color of your skin affected your chances of winning a trial. In fact, it is speculated that To Kill a Mockingbird is loosely based off of the trials of the Scottsboro Boys, a famous case from this time period. Most of the main characters associated with both trials share similar traits, experiences, and backgrounds.
During the court scene a lot of difficult things happen and it becomes a very hard case for Atticus to solve and explain. Jem and Scout are both very upset about Tom Robinson being accused of the things he didn’t do. Atticus begins to tell Jem that it’s going to be okay and that he wants Jem to not worry about what the outcome is. Atticus is trying to teach him that even if the case doesn’t go the way they wanted and the way that it was supposed to go, that they still did the right thing and that they would keep trying to help Tom Robinson in any way they could. This is what Atticus tells Jem, “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till the truth’s told.” “Atticus’s voice was even. And you know what the truth
In they story, Atticus shows love towards Tom Robinson throughout he whole case. Atticus took Tom's case because he believes that everyone's equal "This case is something that goes to the essence of a mans conscience- Scout, I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't try to help that man. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a persons conscience." (Atticus, 139). This quote shows that Atticus believes Tom is the same as everyone else and that if he didn't defend Tom he wouldn't
To Kill a Mockingbird - Equality & nbsp; Since the Civil War, civil rights of African Americans, as they are now called, have been fought over and disputed. During the Reconstruction era which followed the death of Lincoln, Blacks possessed the same rights and privileges as the whites. "But with the return of white man's government to the southern states, the blacks suffered under unfair rights and privileges compared to whites; (World 357). On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy, a 30-year old shoemaker, was put in jail for sitting in the "White" car of an east Louisiana Railroad train. Although Plessy was only one-eighth black, he was still required to sit in the colored car according to Louisiana state law.
After the trial was completed and Tom was convicted guilty, Jem was devastated due to the realization that the court which was supposed to be “the one place where a man ought to get a square deal… be he any color of the rainbow”(pg.220,paragraph 3) was corrupt with racial prejudice and segregation. Atticus explains to Jem that “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. 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.” (pg.220,paragraph 3) Atticus foreshadows to when he said that it was a sin to kill a mockingbird in this quote because he is saying that it is wrong to kill a mockingbird no matter who you are. This also helps the reader understand the racial segregation going on at the time. Lee once again reveals the dangers of being vulnerable and innocent by having Atticus say “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life.” It shows how often white men take advantage of blacks who are vulnerable individuals
Yet he took the case with no hesitation. Atticus knows the difference between what is fair and what is true justice. He is well aware that whites and blacks have many differences with one another, but is also educated enough to know that there truly is no diversity in equity, and tries to teach everyone including his children this. ”You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around it.(30)” Atticus is encouraging Scout to respect everyone and consider their true potential without considering false accusations in this quote. He applies what he teaches to his children to the people attending the Tom Robinson trial. Atticus is just one man, but with an unprecedented amount of sense of pride, intelligence, and justice. He reflects the image of the town’s people by showing them what they’ve allowed themselves to become based on their beliefs. He genuinely expresses their deepest consternation. In this quote he tells the audience what they are afraid to hear, but need to hear, “She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old uncle, but a strong young Negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards.(272)” After stating his point and releasing the profound truth Atticus causes for Mayella and Bob Ewell to lose their composure. Nevertheless people of most of the white people of Maycomb continue to refuse to believe that a white woman kissed a black man. But they undoubtedly believe that a black man with a useless left hand beat and raped an “innocent” white woman. Atticus could have predicted the outcome from before he even took the case and refused to defend Tom Robinson. But he
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.
To begin, parallel and conflicting characteristics can be realized by exploring the judges of the two cases. Judge Horton and Judge Taylor both presided over the cases. Judge Horton was the second of three judges in the Scottsboro cases, and Judge Taylor was the fictional judge in To Kill a Mockingbird. The two both exhibited undeniable sympathy to the defendants in the cases. Judge Horton sympathizes with the nine Scottsboro boys by declaring, “You are not trying whether or not the defendant is white or black … you are trying whether or not this defendant forcibly ravished a woman” (People and Events). It is obvious that Judge Horton was unprejudiced and believed the boys should be treated with equality. This attitude is akin to the one of Judge Taylor; Taylor assigned Atticus Finch, a notable lawyer, to the case of the fictional black character Tom Robinson. Maxwell Green, an inexperience rookie, should have been assigned the case; however due to Taylor’s empathy, Tom obtained a decent lawyer who would do h...
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
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 an open minded person, it makes sense for Atticus to take a stand for Tom Robinson.
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 has a clear mind. He will not sit by and watch as his two children are abused and their views twisted to match the society of racism they live amongst. Atticus builds his morals up in the children very evidently, although no so much as to draw attention. He speaks words of wisdom to them in their distress, but also with the treatment and position of Calpurnia, he is able to demonstrate a precise view of his own conscience. Atticus knows that because of this, he is considered one of the most non-racist people in Maycomb, therefore being offered Tom's case. Judge Taylor knows the right man for the job.
Tom Robinson is a virtuous and warm-hearted African American who works very hard to raise his own wife and kids everyday. He is reported that he hurts a white woman and takes advantage on her.Atticus was appointed by the court to defend Tom.Because of that, a lot of kids laugh at Scout and Jem so Jem and Scout do not really understand Atticus about why he wants to do this. As they are confused about their father’s choice, Atticus told Scout that this case is the one that he had to argue with, not because of the appointment, instead, he wanted to preserve the justice and truth. As the case going on, Jem and Scout are very excited and they all supply their father. When the judge finished and Scout lost the case, and Jem feels really upset too. “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd.” (243 Lee)As a kid, Jem not only thinks about his own thing, he also cares about Atticus’ case, he feels down when Atticus fail, this is the most obvious evidence of Jem’s growth and his admiration on
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.