Passage Analysis Essay Diversity does not constitute difference, it is our strength. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are two kids, Scout and Jem, that are exposed to racism in the city of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. On the contrary, Jem and Scout contradict the town’s beliefs, saying they were raised to be loving towards individuals of any race or color. This conservative town in the South repeatedly throws many encounters at these kids, causing them to mature each time. In chapter 12 of the book, Lee uses literary elements to show setting, conflict, and character that incorporate coming-of-age moments for these children. Firstly, the literary element of setting is shown when Scout and Jem visit a black church, an …show more content…
Scout and Jem understand that Lula’s thoughts do not represent the entirety of the black community. They know that not everyone is going to like them for a number of reasons, but that does not represent the majority. Finally, the third literary element, character, is portrayed when Calpurnia talks differently around white and black people as if she is living two different lives. Calpurnia “made [Zeebo] get a page of the Bible every day, and there was a book Miss Buford taught me out of—bet you don’t know where I got it” (Lee 142). To which Jem replies, “‘That’s why [Calpurnia] don’t talk like the rest of ‘em’” (Lee 142). Therefore, Jem understands that Calpurnia can read and write because of the way she was treated by the people in her life. Also, Scout is enlightened when she thinks “That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that [Calpurnia] had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one, to say nothing of [Calpurnia] having command of two languages” (Lee 142-143). Thus, Scout learns that people are affected by the environment that they live
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.
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.
Shaw-Thornburg, Angela. “On Reading To Kill a Mockingbird: Fifty Years Later.” Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: New Essays. Meyer, Michael J. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2010. 113-127. Print.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has many topics described in the book. With all t How the kids were affected throughout the story will be the topic of this essay. The children are dynamic characters, they change for the better, when different events take place. (Introduction isn’t finished)
The novel that will be discussed in then next few paragraphs will be the well known To Kill A Mocking Bird written by Harper Lee. The shown theme of the essay is Scouts loss of innocence as the novel progresses. Scout, the main character of the novel is put in front of many obstacles in order to see the innocence slowly fade before her eyes in to a box of racial, prejudice, single story evils. This is clearly portrayed throughout the novel to show how many different events can contribute to these ideas. There are many factors that contribute to these ideas such as the results of the court case that made scout see the world differently. Even when Jem said the sentence "There's four kinds of folks in the world. There's the ordinary kind, like us and the neighbors, there's the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negros."(302) Scout was influenced by this sentence because she looked up to her brother. That one sentence changed her point of view on her way of life. Instead of just seeing the world the way she had thought it up to be in her head, this single story implanted a new idea in to her head, affecting the way she thought. Scouts innocence though seemed to be attacked countless times by the evil that progresses in the book is not destroyed in the end because she is able to overcome the obstacles in her way to see the goodness in life and is able to overlook the single story told to her about Boo Radley when he finally reveals himself.
The novel’s narrator, Scout, gives the reader insight into the point of view of a child contrasted by adult perspectives, as well as Jem and Scout giving the reader a view of male against female, and finally the case of Tom Robinson and Mayella Ewell shows us the white and black perspectives. The contrasting perspectives allow the reader to see the reasons for the characters acting out in certain ways, allowing for the ability to relate to characters. Harper Lee raises the question, What is the right way to raise our children in America?, as she discusses the morals that children are given in the
TKM Essay “Oh, Great Spirit, keep me from judging another man until I’ve walked in his moccasins. ”-Jane Elliot. Jane Elliot was a third grade teacher who experimented on her class by separating them into brown eyes and blue eyes and then telling them one group was better than the other. The better eye colored group was discriminating, prejudiced, and judgemental against the opposite eye color.
Similar to Atticus, Calpurnia takes a stand against racism and believes everyone is equal. Due to Atticus’ and Calpurnia’s morals toward racism, Jem and Scout are heavily influenced by their views, and will most likely take after them. Calpurnia seeks every opportunity possible to educate Jem and Scout that racism is unacceptable. For example, Calpurnia takes the children with her to her black church called First Purchase, and because of this, the children are able to better understand the vast separation of race. Scout learns that not only are white people prejudice, but black people are also prejudice. Most of the negroes at First Purchase were very welcoming as the three entered except for Lula who made them feel unwelcome. "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here—they got their church, we got our'n” (136). Clearly, Lula is prejudice towards white people, similar to how white people are prejudice towards black people. In addition to these prejudice ways, Scout realizes how differently Calpurnia acts around her folks. Calpurnia stated that talking white folks in her church would be “out of place”, and how “folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do” (143). As a result, Calpurnia talks colored-folks’ at her church so she fits in with everyone else, rather than speaking more advanced, which ultimately shows
All in all, Harper Lee used racism in her novel to develop the characters in it and relay certain messages, and not history, to the readers and these are the purposes of any literature, which are fulfilled by using specific themes and merging them into one meaningful piece of literature. So, while racism is one of the important themes of the novel, it is not the only theme that the novel is focused on. Therefore, there are some differences between racism in her novel and racism in the United States of America in the 1930s. However, while those differences could affect our comprehension to a certain extent, they should not prevent us from appreciating the novel and the messages that it conveys through racism.
Harper Lee’s only book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is the stereotypical tale of childhood and innocence, yet it successfully incorporates mature themes, like the racism in the South at the time, to create a masterpiece of a work that has enraptured people’s minds and hearts for generations. According to esteemed novelist Wally Lamb, “It was the first time in my life that a book had sort of captured me. That was exciting; I didn’t realize that literature could do that” (111). Scout’s witty narration and brash actions make her the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for, and the events that take place in Maycomb County are small-scale versions of the dilemmas that face our world today. Mockingbird is a fantastically written novel that belongs on the shelves of classic literature that everyone should take the time to read and appreciate for its execution of style and the importance of its content.
Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, focuses on the maturation of a brother and sister in the "tired old town(Lee 3)" of Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930ís. Maycomb, a classic southern town full of gossip, tradition and burdened with a legacy of racism, seems a strange place to stage a drama which encourages equal treatment and non prejudice. However, the narratorís fresh outlook on the sleepy town furnishes the reader with a multitude of viewpoints on civil rights. The traditional Southern racism of Maycomb is looked at through the eyes of our young narrator, Scout Finch. Scoutís innocent perspective compels her to ask questions about why whites treat blacks the way they do. These questions are crucial in Scoutís search for her own identity. Scout must come to terms with the racism of her town and how it affects the people in her life. She must find her own position and what role she will play in the whole racial game. A number of people greatly influence Scout. The two major role models in her life, her Aunt Alexandria and her father Atticus, pull Scout in two opposing directions. Through their dealings with Calpurnia, the Finch's black housekeeper, both the reader and Scout are able to distinguish what path each individual wants Scout to follow.
In the opening chapters of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Harper Lee introduces several subtle instances of racism. However, when Jem and Scout are welcomed into Cal’s Church in chapter 12, the reader really gets to travel behind the false disguise of Maycomb County’s white society to see the harsh realities of the injustices suffered by the blacks. The black community is completely separate from the whites -- in fact, Cal lives in a totally different part of town!
She is portrayed as a motherly figure towards Scout who teaches her some valuable lessons throughout the years. First off, Calpurnia teaches Scout to be well-mannered and treat everyone well no matter their class, race or religion. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. When Walter Cunningham comes over for dinner and pours syrup all over his food, Scout tells him that it is not the proper way to eat. “‘Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo’ comp’ny and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty!’” (Lee 33). Calpurnia explains to Scout that everyone has their way of living and it is not very lady-like to criticize someone. Scout seems to have learnt her lesson later on in the book when Aunt Alexandra invites her missionary circle to the house. “‘Can I help you Cal?’ I asked, wishing to be of some service” (Lee 306). Scout asks Calpurnia if she can help since they have guests over and she is trying to be polite by serving them. Moreover, Calpurnia teaches and shows Scout the harsh reality of the world (racial segregation). For instance, Scout has been told that she should respect everyone and treat them equally but when she went to church, what she sees is the complete opposite. “‘You ain’t got business bringin’ white chillun here- they got their church, we got our’s’” (Lee 158). Ms.Lula is judging Calpurnia for
Within the family, Calpurnia creates her authority and independence despite being a black woman in the racist world of the time. She gave Scout and Jem attention and disciplined them as if she was shown as a mother figure in the book. Scout points out, “Calpurnia was something else again. She was all angles and bones; she was near-sighted; she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard” ( Lee 6 ). This shows Calpurnia as a strong, capable woman who challenges society's expectations for the stereotypes placed on her ethnicity.
"So it is naturally with the male and the female; the one is superior, the other inferior; the one governs, the other is governed; and the same rule must necessarily hold good with respect to all mankind." Aristotle’s quote rings especially true in reference to the Victorian Era. In the late 1800s and early 1900s men were considered the dominant of the two sexes. Because of this, “For most of history, Anonymous was a woman” (Woolf 51). Female genius was undistinguished or nonexistent in the century in which Virginia Woolf lived, because it was completely and utterly dominated by males. Her surroundings influenced her to explore the history of women in literature through an unconventional examination of the social and material circumstances necessary for the process of writing. Virginia Woolf asserts that female genius cannot be attained in a society that solely praises the masculine desire for status and seniority because it opposes creativity, which is essential to the education and independence of women, which fosters genius.