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Racism in literature
Racism in American Literature
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In Maycomb, a small, quiet town with people of biased and stereotypical opinions, Miss Maudie does not follow in their prejudice ways. The twisted and dramatized rumors of Boo Radley that have spread around the town for years did not seem to faze her. She grew up knowing Boo, whose real name is Arthur, and describes him as kind when he was a young boy( Lee 51). Even though she believes that secrets can happen behind closed doors, she rejects the assumptions from people who jump to conclusions( Lee 51). During Scouts visit to her house, she teaches her not to judge people for being different, since as a kid, she tends to follow the misconceptions from older people. She became a huge part of Scout and her brother Jem's life that they both had
2 What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo Radley ? How does this compare with what Scout already believes?
The book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee gives insight to society's prejudice against age, gender and especially race and how it impacts communities and individuals in a destructive way. Lee establishes how women did not have the same rights as men when she writes, ""For one thing, Miss Maudie can't serve on a jury because she is a woman-" "You mean women in Alabama can't-?" I was indignant." The use of aposiopesis is effective in conveying how shocked Scout felt after hearing this discriminating rule. The hyphen also displays the way Scout precipitously interrupted Atticus in disbelief. This reveals how Scout knew if Miss Maudie could be on the jury, Tom might have been ruled fairly. It proves that gender prejudice made the difference
Frances O'Grady, the first woman to be General Secretary of the Trades Union of the UK once said "You just wish sometimes that people would treat you like a human being rather than seeing your gender first and who you are second." To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was about how evil human behavior can change people for the worse in many different cases for example Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Both were hurt by the evil doings of others around them. Boo by his own father and Tom by the Ewells and their supporters. Scout and Jem's father Atticus was a young black man named Tom Robinson's lawyer in the trial after he was falsely accused by the Ewells who said the he raped 19 year old Mayella Ewell. Sadly he was charged with rape and sentenced
She was our friend.” (Lee 59) This was how Scout described Miss Maudie, Scout was explaining her perspective of herself and that she wants to be treated like an adult and that the only one to do so was Miss Maudie. Consequently, this helps the reader understand Scout. Also, Miss Maudie helps to develop Jem’s character by giving him a big cake when he’s supposed to have a small one like Scout and Dill.
What does the flowers symbolize in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee? There are several different flowers that symbolize different things. For instance, the characters all have different personalities. There are many different characters, for example, Miss Maudie symbolizes pink azaleas, Mrs. Dubose symbolizes white camellias, and Mayella Ewell symbolizes red geraniums.
When Atticus’ own sister lost faith in him Miss Maudie didn’t “Have you ever thought of it this way, Alexandra? Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we’re paying the highest tribute we can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It’s that simple.” showing Alexandra that Atticus is someone she should stick up for, not because they are family but because it is virtuous.(316) Even though Miss Maudie didn’t know him she stood up against speculation against Arthur Radley. When Scout starts asking questions about Arthur and keeps using assumptions and fiction Miss Maudie explains “His name’s Arthur and he’s alive, … Arthur Radley just stays in the house, that’s all. Wouldn’t you stay in the house if you didn’t want to come out?”(58) Even with the supposition against Arthur Radley Miss Maudie made it seem like it was nothing to Scout. If she knows you or not, or has to go against your family, Miss Maudie is there for you,
He is always available to give advice to his children, even if they made a major mistake, because he wants them to have discipline. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch shows this with his advice, his actions and his respect towards his children, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, and Jem Finch.
Among many things, Miss Maudie teaches Scout that she should not judge people based solely on rumors she might hear about them. Scout, being only six years old at the time of the story, believes everything that reaches her hears and takes most things literally. Rumors she hears about a man named Boo Radley, who many consider the town freak because of his different lifestyle and because nobody ever sees him, create in her the belief that he is a crazy maniac. The activities she takes part in with her older brother Jem and their friend Dill only fuel her theories about Boo. When Jem and Dill begin shunning Scout aside, she spends her time with Miss Maudie instead, and they develop a kind of friendship. Miss Maudie, a Baptist who loves nature, has high morals, and treats everyone as equals, aids in Scout discontinuing her belief about Boo Radley’s state of mind. At one point, they have a conversation regarding Boo. They discuss the rumors Scout has heard thus far about him, and Miss Maudie shoots down her beliefs. When Scout asks Mi...
Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, many characters develop and mature in unique ways. Boo, who fears talking to others, Aunt Alexandra, who is against people of other races or social classes, and Scout, who is young and is not aware of life’s challenges, constantly suppress their emotions and personality. Their life choices and decisions that they make throughout the book, lead them to be more accepting of others and less prejudice. As the book progresses, Boo, Aunt Alexandra, and Scout learn life lessons and develop into mature adults.
One of the first lessons taught in Mockingbird is the power of understanding other people’s perspectives. Initially, Scout has trouble empathizing with other people, especially her first Grade Teacher, Miss Caroline, whom Scout becomes frustrated at for not understanding Maycomb’s complex social structure. After hearing his daughter complain, Atticus tells Scout that she'll “get along a lot better with all kinds of folks [if she] considers things from [their] point of view” (39). After ‘standing in the shoes of another person’, it is much harder to be prejudiced towards that person. Indeed, this may be because a key tenet of prejudice is disregarding the views of whoever is being judged. Nevertheless, it proves difficult for Scout to grasp this relatively simple concept, who begins to hear rumors of Boo Radley, an enigma who has not been seen outside his home for over 30 years. Thus begins Jem and Scout’s quest to make Boo Radley come outs...
Boo Radley is the next door neighbor of the Finch’s. He is an outsider of the community, because he does not leave the house. He got in some trouble as a teenager, so his father locked him up inside the house. After his father died, his brother moved in with him. While Boo was locked up inside is house, the people of Maycomb County made up stories about him. The legend of Boo Radley was well-known to the people of Maycomb. Jem describes Boo, “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.” (Lee ). Boo is an innocent character because all he does stay inside his own house, and does not bother anybody. Yet the entire town believes that he could be a murderer. Harper Lee is showing that if you do not fit into southern society, they will make you into an outsider and a bad legend. Another example of Boo Radley being an innocent character is when he gives a blanket to Scout. Miss Maudie Atkinson, one of the Finch’s neighbors, had a house fire. Atticus (Scout and Jem’s father) woke up the kids and made them go outside, in case the fire spread to their house. While Scout was not looking someone gave her a blanket, “‘Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up.’ ‘Thank who?’ I asked. ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.’”(Lee ). Boo Radley is an innocent character because he helped warm up Scout in the cold, yet Scout was still scared that Boo had been near here. Harper Lee is showing us that Boo could do a nice thing, and yet Scout would still be scared because of his reputation. Finally, another
They have many misconceptions of people, places, and concerts in Maycomb county. However as they are young and don't really have opinions themselves. They abide by those presented them. At the start of the novel Scout and Jem see Mr. Arthur Radley or "Boo", as a dangerous, crazy, and rather isolated man. Although never being in his presence or in association with him they always make assumptions about him. They constantly pestered his household and played games that mocked him, "..time to play Boo's big scene...steal the scissors...Jem would fake plunge into Dill's thigh..."(LEE40).They also had the misconception that Boo was kept inside forcefully by his family. Boo was also blamed for unresolved events. As time goes by they mature and start to develop more of an understanding of Boo, "..I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in his house all this time...he wants to stay inside"(LEE227). Jem develops an understanding as to why Boo Radley stays inside. It's not because his family forces him to stay inside. He realizes that when living in a town like Maycomb, there is an incredible amount of judgement and labeling that occurs. It becomes evident to him that Boo has no place and isn't welcomed into the society. Especially with having a stereotype "glued" to his identity. Scout then has an
Prejudice is arguably the most prominent theme of the novel. It is directed towards groups and individuals in the Maycomb community. Prejudice is linked with ideas of fear superstition and injustice.
Maudie Atkinson is a modern day woman in her mannerism compared to a traditional woman such as Alexandra Hancock. Miss Maudie's futuristic view point is very apparent through her actions. She says in a conversation with Scout and Jem about the trial that is about to occur, “'Just because it's public, I don't have to go'”(Lee 159). Lee shows the characterization of Miss Maudie as a strong, rebellious woman for not attending the court case even though it was an event in the town's history where most citizens of Maycomb attended. Miss Maudie shows her independent thinking of modern day women in the society of Alabama.
First impressions of individuals are frequently long lasting, especially in the thoughts of kids. Numerous times these impressions, supported through confusion and prejudgment, cause undeserved discrimination and judgment against any individual in which in this case is Boo Radley. In To kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee illustrates the themes of misinterpretation and bias. For example, when Boo gets into some trouble with the law and gets charged with assault and battery. Also, when Boo returns fifth- teen years later and its stated that he tried to kill everyone in his household, which was considerably untrue. This portrays Arthur (Boo) Radley as an antagonist, although throughout the book we noticed Radley's true character/personality when,