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Justice and Courage: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch shows us how to balance the pressures of being a lawyer and a moral teacher while teaching his kids. It takes courage to do something that is morally good, but is worthy of making someone shunned. That is exactly what Atticus displays when he accepts Tom Robinson’s case. Robinson is on trial for rapping and beating Mayella Ewell. He was innocent of the charges brought upon him, but being an African-American in their society, not many people took Tom’s side. Atticus knew that the jury would be stacked against him. ”Confident that you gentlemen would go along with the assumption--- the evil assumption--- that all negroes lie.”(273) …show more content…
Atticus was one of the few who believed him, and he did everything he could to illustrate his innocence. Tom had his left hand gravely injured and it was not usable, and Atticus knew this so he threw a glass cup and Tom caught it with his right hand thus proving his left hand is not able to be used.
This is important because the wounds Mayella displayed were received from someone who led predominantly with their left hand. That was not enough to convince the jury that Tom was innocent, but when Atticus had Bob Ewell sign his name he used his left hand, his dominate hand. “What’s so interestin‘?” he asked. “You’re left-handed, Mr. Ewell,” said Judge Taylor.” This disproved any medical evidence that Tom could have been guilty of beating Mayella. Atticus shows sympathy toward Mayella. He believes that her father has put her in a difficult position and in her place it may be difficult to do the right thing. So in Atticus’ closing remarks, when he utters, “I have nothing but sympathy for the chief witness of the state,but my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man’s life at stake, which she has done in an effort to get rid of her own guilt.” In Atticus’ closing remarks he uses the phrase “In the name of God, do your duty” Thus showing he is a religious man who believes in Tom’s innocence. Atticus Finch took a case he could not win, stayed confident he could win the appeal until Tom’s death, and was applauded by the African american community for his
efforts when Reverend Sykes says, “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin‘.”
In the novel, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee some characters suffer in the hands of justice and fairness more than others. Many characters in the novel are discriminated against such as Calpurnia, Dolphus Raymond, Helen Robinson, Burris Ewell and more. However I will be focusing on the discrimination against Tom Robinson for his race, Walter Cunningham for his low socioeconomic status and Boo Radley for the rumors and supposed mental instability he holds. I chose those three because they are the most prominent and I will discuss how the discrimination against the characters therefore leads to their injustice or unfairness.
In this story Atticus defends Tom Robinson with compassion. Atticus is a very respected upper class white. He comes from an old family and works for the state legislature. He was asked to just be the lawyer not to actually defend. When Atticus states, "I'm simply defending a Negro his name's Tom Robinson. (Lee 75) I think that the quote secures the position that Atticus clearly wants to defend him. He wants everyone in the courtroom to know the truth. "That boy may go to the chair, but not till the truth's been told….."(Lee 46) When Atticus says this I begin to see that his courage is amazing. In this time racism is high and Atticus stands up for what is right no matter if his life is endangered. Even though there was evidence proving that Tom Robinson was innocent the lop-sided jury found Tom guilty. Atticus insured Tom that he would make an appeal.
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
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
When most people were against him and are trying to convince him not to, Atticus was determined to continue defending Tom Robinson (an African American who was accused of raping a white lady name Mayella Ewell - Mr. Ewell's daughter). (Make it active voice ?) Due to his good morals, Atticus felt like he needs to help Tom Robinson “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience --- Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man” (108). As addressed in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jim Crow laws manipulated individuals ethics to think that blaming African Americans is fine since all they do is not good (change the wordings). This type of discrimination made African American victims of jails and crimes that they did not even consider doing but were thought of doing because of racial segregation enforcement (popularity?) within the Southern society of the US. However, Atticus was different and believed that Tom robinson is innocent since he understood (understands?) how people discriminate others and was aware (is aware) of different types of prejudice (in that time period). So, due to Atticus’ good morals and values, he was willing to try his best to support the truth (who was right or something) and help Tom Robinson which makes him a great parent because (he is a person of morals?) of his good morals and values (delete morals and values?). Atticus (atticus’s ?) belief (of noting using one’s power to hurt each other … ?) that people should not harm each other should be admired. For instance, Miss Maudie (Atticus neighbour) was confirming to Scout that what Atticus said about Mockingbirds is right “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They
Throughout History, men have looked down on blacks and women. But this does not justify the view that blacks and women are below white men. When people look down on blacks and women, they preform injustice. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is full of injustice. During this time period, everyone looked down on blacks and women, which makes Maycomb one in the same with the discriminators. In particular, the people in Maycomb looked down on Tom Robinson, and many others looked down on Scout. Around the Finch household, Aunt Alexandria always tries to do away with Calpurnia, the black housekeeper and cook as Alexandria says, “We don’t need her (Calpurnia) now.” (182). Injustices in Maycomb include the case of Tom Robinson, the way Aunt Alexandra treats Calpurnia, and the way people treat Scout.
Tom is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, and is faced with the charge of spending his life in prison. As a state in the south during the 1930s, racism was a commonplace in Alabama. However, Atticus’s thoughts are different from many of the people around him. Contrary to many of the other folks, he believes that blacks (and all people) should be treated in an equal way. Although he knows what the town will think of him if he accepts the case, after barely any hesitation, Atticus agrees to defend Tom. This was mainly done on his own terms, but also taking into considering the impact it will have on his children. He explains to Scout reasons why he is defending Tom, “the main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). He works as hard as he can to defend Tom in the best way possible, even though he knows it may very well be of no use, as the outcome of this case was basically predetermined at the
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.
To Kill A Mockingbird takes place during the 1930’s, a time of economic slump and despair. During this time, especially in Alabama, racism was copious. Naturally, Maycomb landed into the racist manifest. The town abhorred Atticus Finch for his acts of defending Tom Robinson. The immensity of the prejudice is so abundant, no one would dare go against what is politically correct. Unless, of course, equipped with enough moral courage. Harper Lee illustrates that Atticus is a man with an immense amount of courage and sense of justice. Atticus Finch proves to us how the defeat of prejudice is possible with moral courage. Atticus is very aware “[Tom Robinson] [will] face the chair, but not until the truth’s told” (195). Atticus refuses to allow a man, so clearly innocent, to face the chair without the unpardonable truth being told. It is prominent that black people face extreme prejudice and racism, and due to this are convicted much faster. Atticus’ moral courage to defend Tom Robinson made the decision last so long, that Judge Taylor fell “sound asleep” (280). The jury took roughly 6 hours to inescapably convict Tom guilty. The tremendous amount of time it took to convict Tom Robinson made Atticus think “ this may be the shadow of a beginning. That jury took a few hours. An inevitable verdict, maybe, but usually it takes ‘em just a few minutes” (297). Atticus states that maybe things are different, now. Maybe all the evidence against Tom being able to commit the crime was taken into consideration rather than solely the fact that he is black. Atticus’ moral courage defeated the prejudice for a short period of tim , but a period of time nonetheless. If perhaps, the jury had as much moral courage as Atticus, then they would speak up for what is true. Another instance where moral courage oversteps prejudice is when Boo Radley, the Finch’s
A possible reason as to why the book was called “To Kill a Mockingbird” is because a mockingbird is a harmless and innocent animal. Therefore, when it is killed, peace is disturbed. In the story, Tom Robinson, a black man, was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Due to this, innocence and peace have been disturbed.
People are responsible for acting according to their conscience. The justice system was created in order to be our aid in making moral and ethical decisions, but when the Justice system fails, we should still be able to follow our conscience to make the right the decision. In Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” one of the characters, Atticus Finch, helps not only characters in the book, but the readers, understand that the legal system does not always serve justice, in fact, the legal system only is as moral and just as the community it serves. In the town of Maycomb, just like many towns in the American south during the 1930s, racism as a personal feeling and racism as a cultural, legal, and economic institution are practically one
In the first part of the novel, Atticus tells Scout and Jem that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Miss Maudie later explains why it’s a sin: “they don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us” (75). This reason reflects on the innocence of the individuals who deserve to be given true equality for their righteousness. No society or entity should be permitted to shoot down one who has committed no crime or one who is, in a sense, a mockingbird. This principle comes into play later for Atticus when he is appointed to be the defense lawyer for Tom Robinson. Many member of Maycomb believe it is foolish for him to accept the case but Atticus tells Scout that the case is “something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience-Scout I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man” (87). The fact the Atticus does not want anyone else to have the case establishes his belief he is one of the only noble people who would truly fight for the justice that Tom deserves. Atticus wants Scout to know that his conscience is telling him to do the case and that he would not be able to live with himself if he let another person brush over the case with a corrupted mind. After Tom is convicted guilty, it appears that only a few of Maycomb’s residents view it as an act of injustice. However, Jem Finch is one of the few that are upset and he cannot seem to comprehend the fact that many adults do not see the fault in the jury’s conviction. When Jem asks Atticus about the jury’s verdict, his father tells him that, “they’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it- seems that only children weep” (180). This response is a reference to Atticus’s earlier declaration that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest” Ellie Wiesel. Readers may find the amount of injustice in Harper lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird a little shocking. This could be why it’s such a popular book. People like the suspense of knowing someone’s right, but still being found guilty for something they did not do. There are many times throughout the book when people are powerless to prevent injustice but they still protest it. This shows that even when people unjustly punish there should always be someone to protest it. The theme of injustice is a common one in harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, whether it be through racism, misinformation, or Arrogance.
“It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime...” is a quote from The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini that proves that no matter how long ago it was, a life judgement can affect someone for the rest of his or her life. Judgement can always be challenged throughout life. With just a single choice, the future of one’s existence can change in an instant. Tom Robinson goes through the struggle of racism in order to attempt his freedom from a crime that he did not commit. In To Kill a Mockingbird, fair judgement is clouded by racism because of predominantly white juries, peer pressure, and biased people.
Maya Angelou, an American author, poet, and civil rights activist, once said, “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” Social injustice came about because of a community’s ignorance to appreciate the life they are given, instead of taking advantage of others. The inability to recognize a person’s experiences, either good or bad, and continuing to exploit their weaknesses is possessing no empathy--one of the main themes in To Kill A Mockingbird. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, our eight year old narrator, develops maturity throughout the book in the prejudiced town of Maycomb County (Alabama in the 1930s) in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Through the use of irony, symbolism,