Have you ever been in a arduous dilemma and you don't know whether to choose what you morally think is right or what is right in the eyes of society. In to kill a mockingbird the historical context of the book being the south in the 1930's, many characters like Atticus, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, and Mayella Ewell have troubles deciding to do what they think is right or what society agrees with. Throughout Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird she shows how society can impact the characters ethical and moral dilemmas.
Many of these ethical and moral dilemmas are faced by Atticus who always does what he thinks is right and fair, not just for himself but for everyone around him. Scout is asking Atticus why a kid at her school was saying derogatory
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comments about Atticus defending Tom Robinson and Scout asks why Atticus is pursuing the case. Atticus speaks "For a number of reasons," Atticus goes on saying. "The main one is, if I didn't l couldn't hold up my head in town I couldn't represent this country in the legislature. l couldn't even te you or Jem not to do something again (Lee pg.100) lf Atticus doesn't continue the case he will feel as if he can't face anyone and he won't be able to represent anyone ever again and he needs to do this whether or not society agrees because he morally knows it's the right thing to do. Atticus is facing a very difficult and touchy dilemma and although most people in maycomb would do what society agrees with Atticus does what he morally thinks is the right thing to do. Scout is asking why Atticus just let Bob spit on his face and insult Atticus without a fight Atticus says "So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take." (Lee pg. 292-293) Atticus understands that the kids in that house are not treated good and he will do anything to save them from one more beating. Unlike most people in maycomb Atticus understand what other people are going through and he has the choice to do what everyone else would and fight back or to help the kids and do what he thinks is right and he chooses to help the Ewell children. Atticus is a character to do what is morally right not only for himself but for other but sadly not many characters are like that. Mr.
Dolphus Raymond Is another great example of someone facing moral and ethical dilemmas regarding social classes and where he belongs. Mr Dolphus Raymond is introduced and scout doesn't understand why he's sitting with black people and not the white folks Scout says "'Why's he sittin' with the colored folks?' 'Always does. He likes "me better'n he likes us, I reckon. Live by himself way down near the country line. He's got a colored woman and all sorts of mixed chillun (Lee pg.214) Dolphus would sits with the black folk because he prefers their company and knows that they have better morals than most o fathers white folk in Maycomb. Dolphus goes with his moral gut feeling that to stick with the high social standards, he risks all respect the town has for him because he wants to be in a place where he feels he belongs. Scout and Dill are outside of the court because Dill felt sick and they are talking to Mr. Dolphus Raymond and he is explains why he fakes being a drunk. "You mean why do l pretend? Well, it's very simple,' "Some folks don't— like the way I live. Now I could say hell with 'em, l don't care if they don't like it. I do say l don't care they don't like it, right enough- but l don't say hell with 'em, see?" (Lee pg.268) Mr. Dolphus Raymond is explaining to the kids that he doesn't care what people think but he does care about the people and if he needs to pretend to be drunk to explain his actions so the white folk have something they can understand, he'll do it. …show more content…
Mr. Dolphus Raymond is in between moral and society solutions in his dilemma because he does what he wants to and what he thinks is right but he gives the Society a reason why that they accept. Mr. Dolphus Raymond has a strange but smart solution that provides him to do and think what he thinks is morally right without getting the acceptance from society at the same time. Mayella Ewell is a character who has many issues and many chances to make the right decision and do what she thinks is right but never can.
Mayella is explaining her side of the story and she’s messing up a bit while explaining. “‘ No, I don’t recollect if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me’ Atticus says ‘Was your last sentence your answer?’ Mayella says ‘Huh? Yes, he hit— I just don't remember, I just don't remember . . . It all happened so quick’” ( Lee pg.248 ). Mayella isn’t the best liar and she can barely keep her story straight and most of that is because of the guilt she has accusing Tom when he did nothing. Mayella knows what she is doing is wrong but because if her father and how social classes are set up in the town she is choosing the solution that benefits the society more than the people in it. Tom is explaining his side of the story about what happened between him and Mayella Ewell that night. Tom Robinson says “‘She reached up an’ kissed me ‘side of th’ face. She says she never kissed a grown man and before an’ she might as well kiss a n*****. She says what her papa do to her don’t count.’” ( Lee pg.260 ). Mayella is hurting in a big way and she feels as if she has no way out. Mayella is doing what she thinks is morally right, maybe she thinks she’s protecting family or maybe she is really just protecting herself but there is no way in denying that her choice benefits society’s ideas or social classes and is hurting her morally. Mayella has to make many
hard decisions and she’s doing what she thinks is right but in reality it’s just hurting everyone around her. Atticus, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, and Mayella Ewell face many difficult dilemmas and have to decide to do what they think is right or to follow society’s rules, but not everyone can follow what they believe so easily and these characters stories can teach us to treat people equal like they should be treated. Just because racism and prejudice behavior was here before us doesn’t mean we can’t try to stop it.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a remarkable novel following the childhood of Jem and Scout, the son and daughter of Atticus Finch. Living in a small and drama filled town of Maycomb County they encounter a great deal of people who do not stand by their word. Hypocrisy occurs throughout this novel first by a man named Dolphus Raymond, then by two women Mrs. Merriweather and Miss Gates.
In addition, Scout learns about morality from Atticus after she is taunted at school. Cecil Jacobs begins giving Scout trouble at school because Atticus is defending a black man. Scout isn’t sure what he means by that or why it is such a bad thing, so she consults Atticus to learn more about the matter. Atticus explains to Scout that he is defending Tom Robinson, a black man, in a trial. Atticus says he has to do it although he knows he isn’t going to win, he says “‘ If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t this county in the state legislature. I couldn't even tell you and Jem not to do something again’’’ (100). Atticus wants to fight for what he believes is right, even if there is almost no chance of him winning. In addition, Atticus asks Scout not to fight when someone makes comments about him or this case. Through Atticus actions, Scout learns to have integrity, even if it means making tough decisions. For example, Scout walks away from a
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.
Why is it important to have moral values? To know what’s right in a situation? To put the well being of others before yourself. For most people in the small fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, values and fairness are not important. The Maycomb townspeople only follow the social norms based on racism, and their decisions are influenced by these norms.
Atticus is a great leader of his family, teaching his children morals and life lessons. He makes them better people by showing them how to deal with the trial and people making fun of them. Atticus teaches Scout how to respect other people. First, Scout learns to respect Atticus, then to respect "Boo" Radley, and finally to respect a whole race of people, negroes. He makes it a common practice to live his life as he would like his children to live theirs, and thus displays the attributes of an honest, respectable, and kind man. Throughout the trial process, Atticus shows Jem and Scout that true courage is standing up for what you believe in and that all human beings, despite their race, deserve respect. "You never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." This quote shows that Atticus wants his children to get along with people, and so other people will respect them for whom they are.
As further evidence is procured, this is proven to be false. The truth is that Mayella’s father beat her for making romantic advances towards Tom. Mayella is unlike the rest of the Ewells in the sense that she likes to keep herself tidy, and lives in a more sophisticated manner than the rest of her family. This makes me infer that she is quite taciturn, and a kind-hearted person who wouldn’t lie about what happened that day if it weren’t for something taking over her conscience. Being threatened by her acrimonious father to lie about what really happened set aside what she knew to be right and pushed her to lie in the trial. Both pressure and fear make people do what they know is not the right thing to do, even though their conscience tells them otherwise. Doing the wrong thing may dispel fears or pressure that is put on for a certain instance. There are many reasons why people do what they know isn’t right even though their conscience tells them not to, but sometimes this can help them construct their values, and improve on how susceptible they are to their
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, many notable themes arise, but the most prevalent theme is undeniably the theme of man’s inhumanity to man. At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to Scout Finch, who is naive and oblivious to the discrimination that occurs in Maycomb. However, through many events and through meeting many characters, we soon begin to realize that the world may not be so nice after all. Our suspicions are only confirmed once we witness the terrible injustices that occur during the trial. The predominance of inhumanity throughout the novel is what makes it such an important theme.
Every day when Tom walked by Mayella’s home, he helped her since he felt sorry for her. During Atticus’s speech at the courthouse, “And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry’ for a white woman…” (Lee 204) If Tom Robinson felt sorry for what her father has ne to her, he wouldn’t attempt to harm her. When he stood on the witness stand, he described the story in his own words, Tom remarked, “She reached up and kissed me ’side of th’ face…” (Lee 194) Tom didn't follow Mayella and kiss her, however she kissed him. Since this is against the rules of society, she made it have the appearance that he disturbed her so she wouldn't be in trouble for kissing a black
One of the values of Maycomb is racism. However, there are a few that does not believe in this value, including Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Mr. Dolphus Raymond is a white man married to a black woman and has mixed children. He does not believe in society’s ideology regarding racism and knows that some citizens of Maycomb antagonize him. However, he does not care, as he prefers the colored people over white. He knows how unfair society is, from the way he gets treated. Moreover, Jem realizes the falsities of society, due to the injustice he sensed. After Tom’s verdict, Jem’s first clear sense of injustice provided a new perception on the world. When he was young, he believed that the people of Maycomb are the best folks, but the outcome of the trial changed this thought. Furthermore, Scout’s realization of the falsehood in society is with the hypocrisy of Miss Gates. She was taught by Miss Gates how Americans do not believe in persecution. However, Scout saw Miss Gates talk about the African Americans in an adverse way. Learning about the falsehood in society is part of
The first half of To Kill A Mockingbird contains many classic dilemmas that serve as models for more important problems later to come. For example, Atticus is forced into a choice between disobeying Scout's teacher and doing what he feels is right for Scout. Atticus wants Scout to retain her respect for the teacher and to continue following her instructions. Yet, he knows that the time he shares with his daughter is very important and is something that will h...
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is an ideal father, who sets a great example for his kids. A picture of Atticus is important to Scout because Atticus teaches Scout many important life lessons about life. Firstly, as Atticus talks to Scout about Miss. Stephanie, he states “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. 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” (Lee,30). Scout realizes that one can never feel someone’s pain, happiness, or glory until she looks at their point of view of things; she learns to consider other people’s situation and feelings. She also understands that she will never know what goes in other people’s lives, and therefore she cannot judge anyone. Scout matures as she learns to apply Atticus’ wise advice to understand Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley, who are individuals that are misunderstood by the community. Furthermore, as Miss Maudie talks to Scout, she states “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (Lee, 46). Miss Maudie knows about Atticus’ personality quite well. Miss Maudie explains to Scout Atticus is a man with moral principles, he does what he believes is right even if others are not there to praise him. Through Atticus’ exemplary role, Scout understands the importance of integrity, and strong moral values. Finally, when Scout questions her father about the possible outcome of the trial, Atticus states “simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to try to win” (Lee, 76). Atticus teaches Scout toleration, determination and moral courage. He already knows he is going to los...
“Learn to deal with the fact that not everyone is perfect, but everyone deserves respect, honesty, justice and equality, I’m for truth no matter who tells it, I’m for justice no matter who it is for or against” (anonymous)
During our lives, we develop morals and values through life experiences. They can be influenced by our society and the people we surround ourselves with. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates courage, social inequality and prejudice through the characters and events in the book. We experience life lessons through the protagonist Scout Finch as she develops her own values. This is displayed through a variety of life lessons and values throughout the novel.
Many students believe that Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird displays social issues in early America. In this time standing against common customs was unacceptable, a violation of society. People believe that today courage has overcome adversity that was displayed in early America. Courage is the common subject of To Kill a Mockingbird, which allows Lee’s novel to defy the changing times of humanity. These morals are bound to the “impartiality” and “fairness” taught to people as children, but become unavoidably invisible though selfish actions. The characters in To Kill a Mockingbird express audacity along with resilience in the face of cowardice.
In Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird, the protagonist Scout faces offenses by others because of her father's justice for defending an African American in court. Scout Finch lives with her brother Jem, and their father Atticus, in the sleepy town of Maycomb during the Great Depression. As Atticus, the father of the protagonist faces the moral dilemma in chapter 29-30 of the incident with Bob Ewell. Atticus moral dilemma reveals his character and beliefs. Bob Ewell attempted to hurt Atticus children in order to get revenge on Atticus for defending the African American who was accused of raping his daughter in court.