“The battle line between good and evil runs through the heart of every man.” This quote by Aleksander Solzhenitsyn embodies the most important theme displayed in To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee’s historical fiction is set during the Great Depression and follows the life of a young girl named Scout Finch and her brother Jem as they grow up and learn the ways of the world. Two of the novels other main characters are used throughout to illustrate this idea of good vs. evil. The contrast between Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell is used to explore the morality of human beings and poses the question: “Are people naturally good or naturally evil?” First, Lee shows the difference in intelligence and work ethic between Atticus and Bob Ewell. Atticus Finch is an educated, highly intellectual man who works for the state. “Atticus met [Scout and Jem’s mother] when he was first elected to the state legislature.” (7) We know he has formal schooling because you must be educated to be elected to most offices. Atticus is hard working, and his job helps the community therefore they value him, whereas the town often comment on how they haven't seen the Ewell’s do one honest day of work. Bob Ewell is an ignorant drunk who has eight kids and no job. His intellectual capacity is nowhere near that of Atticus Finch’s. Judge Taylor is forced to read the riot act to the spectators in the courtroom following Bob Ewell's accusation and “The judge cautioned Bob, too, but Mr. Ewell reminded [Scout] of a deaf-mute. [She] was sure he had never heard the words that Judge Taylor directed at him.” (233) Bob Ewell can’t comprehend half of what people say to him and isn’t very intelligent. Because of this contrast in intellectual capacity, Atticus and Bob are on very di... ... middle of paper ... ...that black n****r yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” (231) Here, Bob likens Tom Robinson to an animal and never uses his name. He clearly shows his hatred for African Americans while in the courtroom and it is obvious that he has no compassion for others. In contrast to Bob Ewell’s racism and prejudice, Atticus acts as a symbol of tolerance and equality, which further develops the conflict and suspense created in the beginning of the book. The stark contrast between Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell throughout TKaM perfectly illustrates the theme of good vs. evil and is instrumental in finding a deeper meaning within the book. Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell are very different when it comes to intelligence, family, and their views on prejudice/racism. The contrast between these two men heightens the conflict and turns the story into a struggle of good vs. evil, right vs. wrong.
Atticus Finch is a very essential character in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. He is not only the father on Jem and Scout, but he is also defending Tom Robinson. Along with all of the obstacles and challenges that Atticus faces he is still an exceptional role model for the children. He also overcomes the diversity of Negroes and whites that is displayed during his time by standing up and fighting for Tom Robinson and his triumph in court against Bob Ewell. Lee presents Atticus Finch as understanding of Tom Robinson, caring with the children, and calm throughout the Tom Robinson trial.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses Atticus and Bob Ewell as foil characters to reveal the theme of courage and cowardice. These two characters are complete opposites in everything they do such as how they solve problems, how they dress, how much education they received, and how they raise their
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, the most important character trait portrayed by Bob Ewell is prejudice. Throughout the book, Bob Ewell demonstrates how prejudice has been kept alive through ignorance and fear. First, by blaming Tom Robinson for beating Mayella. During the trial, Bob Ewell stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson "I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella"(84)! Bob Ewell emphasizes Tom’s race over everything else. He doesn’t care who he is as a person all he cares about is the color of his skin. Towards the end of the trial, Atticus has one last chance to prove the Ewells wrong. Atticus asks: “About your writing with your left hand, are you ambidextrous, Mr. Ewell? I most positively
The main theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is the coexistence between good and evil. "There are just some kind of men who—who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” (Lee 60) This quote demonstrates a sense of wisdom and cleverness which contrast the other
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, racism is a major theme. Atticus Finch, the narrator’s father, defends a negro, Tom Robinson, in the court of law against a white man, Bob Ewell. Robinson had reportedly raped a young white girl, Mayella Ewell. But according to Robinson he had gone to help Mayella, as he often did, with work around the house. As he starts helping Mayella, she tries to get Tom to kiss her and will not let him out of the house. Bob Ewell sees this and chases Tom out of the house and accuses him of raping his daughter. Atticus goes against almost everyone in Maycomb County’s opinion in defending Tom Robinson. Throughout the course of the novel, racism effects many characters such as Tom and Helen Robinson, Scout and Jem Finch, and Mayella and Bob Ewell. All these characters had there lives
Firstly, Atticus Finch acts justly, fairly, and always helps others who need it. One of his clients, Mr. Cunningham, pays Atticus in entailment. Scout asks her brother, Jem what the meaning of paying in entailment is, “Jem described it as a condition of having your tail in a crack … one morning Jem and I found a load of stovewood in the back yard … Mr. Cunningham had more than paid him” (Lee 20-21). Atticus believes that no one should get any disadvantages because of one’s lower financial state. He shows justice by allowing Mr. Cunningham to pay him in different sources other than money. Also, Atticus is a very wise man. He talks to his daughter with full empathy and understanding to try and help her. When Scout is complaining about her teacher’s attitude towards her, Atticus gives her great advice that, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his shoes and walk around it” (30). He is teaching Scout to be just. He tells her to look at things from a different perspective and notice the difference from hers to someone else’s. Similarly, Atticus who is a white lawyer takes on a case of a black man, Tom Robinson. Therefore, Scout is made fun of for having her father d...
Atticus Finch, an outstanding role model for any person trying to become a perfect father and outstanding citizen. Atticus’s actions differ from social norms so much that he is considered “too good to be true”. Atticus rushes home to word of a rabid dog, Atticus drops his glasses to take his shot and breaks the lens. Atticus “stooped and picked up his glasses, ground the broken lenses to powder under his heel” (80). Atticus taking the time to grind his glass lenses into powder so no one got hurt represents his astounding thoughtfulness for other people. Atticus has an outstanding ability to step back and observe his reality. Atticus while already knowing the outcome of the trial takes on the challenge and defends Tom Robinson to the best of his ability despite ridicules from the town. Atticus explains to Scout that “ In our courts when it 's a white man 's word against a black man 's, the white man always wins. They 're ugly, but those are the facts of life” (187). Atticus knowing this going into the trial shows his dedication and conscious decision-making skills unparalleled to anyone in the novel. Finally, Atticus’s ability to stay calm in intense situations perfectly develops his outstanding personality. Bob Ewell, the father of Mayella Ewell, confronts Atticus about the trial. Bob, with Atticus“ was a veteran of an obscure war which Atticus 's peaceful reaction prompted him to inquire. Too proud to fight you nigger-lovin’ bastard? Nope too old.” (185). Atticus’s calm reaction and ability to walk away from a fight develops Atticus’s character even further. Atticus corrects his mistakes, stands up for others, and controls himself in high-intensity situations. Lee Develops Atticus’s character to explain that even people with the most upstanding features and qualities, still fail. Lee does this to tie her philosophy on how people should be treated together with a
... very arrogant, self important man. Bob Ewell demonstrates his sexism through his jokingly derogatory reply to the judges question on whether or not he was Mayella’s father, ‘Well, if I ain't I can't do nothing about it now, her ma's dead," . This quote depicts to the audience his utter lack of social awareness and human decency as he is disrespecting not just his own daughter but also the memory of his dead wife. His subsequent proclamation to the courthouse that he’d ‘seen that nigger yonder ruttin on my Mayella’ exposes to the audience his racial prejudice against Tom Robinson as the use of the verb ‘ruttin’ suggests that he doesn't perceive him as a man but a mere animal. Also his use of the contempts term ‘nigger’ resonates with Atticus’s earlier teaching to scout and the audience and is consequently used by harper lee to imply that he is a very ‘poor person’.
Defending a black man caused havoc around town as no one supported Atticus. After the trial was over, Bob Ewell the father of Mayella Ewell who Tom Robinson was accused of raping confronted Atticus outside the courtroom where he spat and cursed on him and also threatened to kill him. “Too proud to fight, you nigger-lovin’ bastard? “(pg 217) said Bob, Atticus wanted no part of this and he took everything in. When Scout hears about what Bob did she is frightened, she knows Bob is an ignorant and poor man who is known as a drunk. “We’re scared for you, and we think you oughta do something about him,” (pg 218) said Jem, Scout and Jem let Atticus know that they are scared for him and he should do something about Bob before he does something. No harm occurs to the Finch family until...
First, the trial of Tom Robinson is an eye-opening experience for Jem and Scout; there they discover hatred, child abuse, and lying. Seeing pure hate is new and strange for Jem and Scout. They know that prejudice does exist, but listening to and watching Bob Ewell during the trial is astounding to them because Bob Ewell abhors all blacks, especially Tom Robinson. Bob’s daughter, Mayella, makes an advance on Tom, which is absolutely unspeakable and shameful at that time. In addition, Bob Ewell’s hate grows (especially for Atticus) because after the trial his reputation and respect is ruined, even though he does not have a high degree of integrity to begin with. Also, through the
Thus, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley are all victims of rumour, humiliation, and prejudice. Firstly, Atticus is humiliated by his family and his neighbourhood because he has stood up to an African American man, and then, is nicknamed “nigger-lover” for his decision. By strong evidence, Tom Robinson is proven innocent of rapping a young white woman, but is still convicted, and then shot to death because he is black. Finally, Arthur Radley is greatly misunderstood because of his mysterious background and is forced to isolate from society to escape the awful and untruthful rumours about him in Maycomb. Through the storytelling of Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley, the reader understands how the mockingbird symbol is used to represent those who are innocent, and have good intentions at heart.
There are no two characters in To Kill a Mockingbird that differ in identity as much as Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell. Atticus is a man of the law. He defends Tom, an innocent man wrongly convicted, despite the flack his family get from it. “‘ My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an’ that nigger oughta hang from the water tank!’” (Lee 76) He sets a good example for his children. He calls everyone he know ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma'am’.
Growing up happens during the magical times of freedom given to children in their early years. Wise parents discern when freedom is necessary for their children, are very clear about their expectations, and determine fitting consequences for actions out of line. Harper Lee personifies this role of a wise and caring parent in the father figure of her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch, a character made to mirror the author’s own father, is a lawyer and a well-respected citizen of his Southern Alabama town. Through Atticus, Harper Lee establishes a standard of good and evil, developing the theme of morality during his interactions. Atticus establishes right from wrong in most every relationship, especially with his children, his friends and family, and his occupational ties. These relationships come to the reader filtered through the childlike lens of Scout Finch, Atticus’s young daughter, as she begins to encounter the weighty topics of the adult world.
middle of paper ... ... Atticus would help a man if it is the right thing to do, he does not consider what people think of him, he will only be bothered if he does not help, then he is going against his moral beliefs. Atticus demonstrates his beliefs, truthfulness, and justice. The moral dilemma of whether Bob Ewell died by accident, or Boo killed him in order to save Jem?s life, or Jem killed Bob in self defense has become the decision that he must face in order to tell the town what had happened.