The movie To Kill a Mockingbird recounts of the brutal childhood memories of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Located in the town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s, To Kill a Mockingbird outlines the racism and evilness during the Great Depression in America.
Mockingbird
“Remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Atticus had told his children after he had shot the wild dog, reasoning they mockingbirds only made music for them. In analysis of the title, there had been three “mockingbirds” in the story. These mockingbirds were once pure and innocent, but had been exposed to a cruel reality ahead of them.
In a way, Arthur “Boo” Radley was a mockingbird. He was an innocent and caring man, giving presents to Jem and Scout throughout their years at Maycomb. Boo had also saved the lives of Jem and Scout when they had been attacked by Bob Ewell on their way back home. In reality, Boo Radley had been punished and abused by his father severely. The evil father was not killing him, but tearing away his youth time after time.
A similar case is that of Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch. Jem had been an extremely innocent boy, idealizing that the world was equal in every aspect. These beliefs were shattered when the jury had decided Tom Robinson as guilty when he was evidently not. Jem had directly
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witnessed the injustice and racism of the real world’s evil. Like Boo, Jem’s idealistic youth had been ripped apart. The last mockingbird in the movie was the man falsely brought to trial, Tom Robinson. He was a black man who would even go out of his way to help Ms. Ewell in her daily life. The innocent black man had even felt sympathy for the white woman. But, the all-white jury had accused him of guilty. Unlike the other mockingbirds, he had been killed for being honest and doing the right things, like a mockingbird just creating music. Wealth/Education Another apparent theme of the movie is of the impact of wealthiness (Social Class) and education. When one is wealthy, he or she can afford to live a comparably better and more sophisticated lifestyle than one that is poor and on the bottom of the social ladder. Take for example, the difference between the Finch family and the Cunningham family. Scout Finch resides in a wealthy family, while on the other hand, Walter Cunningham is poor, so poor that his father would payback Atticus with fruits of his own. When Walter had been invited to come over to eat, he had dumped his food in molasses, showing the difference in wealth of the two families. Also, one could see that Jem, Scout, and Atticus were all extremely educated people-Atticus was a lawyer, compared to Mr. Cunningham, an uneducated farmer. What does wealth and education impact? For many rich families, traits one may observe include higher morals and greater education, past school teachings, but through experience and lessons passed down from parents. On the top of the social ladder, Atticus Finch had taught his children lessons of equality, had told them not to kill mockingbirds, and had even taught them to step in the shoes of others to see their perspective over the many daily issues faced. Therefore, Jem and Scout had grown to become innocent children with mindsets different than many other whites. The two had even sat in the balcony, or colored section of the court, and were also called “nigger-lovers” in school. On the other hand, white poor families were and still are associated with racism, selfishness, and low morals. Both the Ewell family and Cunningham family are poor, and both fathers of the family are extremely racist and violent. Mr. Cunningham had been part of a lynch mob, while Bob Owells had lied in court and had attacked Atticus’s children. Inequality In his personal appeal to the audience of the court, Atticus explains how in the Declaration of Independence, it describes, “All men are created equal.” But today, in America, nothing is equal. Around 80 years ago, and also in the movie, every aspect of life was not equal too. The story tells of many events, all describing how life is, in fact, not fair. For being the lawyer of a black defendant, Bob Ewell had sworn vengeance towards Atticus. For being morally right, Jem and Scout were discriminated against other whites and were also called “nigger-lovers.” For learning how to read and write at home, Scout was scolded by her teacher. There will always be prejudice and inequality. Most significant is the trial of Tom Robinson.
Robinson had been falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus had proved that Tom was not the rapist of Ms. Ewell, yet still, the white jury had lied that he was guilty, and he was brought to jail but was later killed. In a country like America, the government is expected to be just. Yet, decisions are not made on what is right or what is wrong-they are made on what the majority wants. In this case, Tom Robinson was right, yet the majority, racist whites, wanted him guilty. In the society back then, everything of a white was greater than anything of a black. So, a white’s life, words, and actions were more important than that of a
black’s. In the story, it is shown that Atticus was a self-righteous man. Atticus was brave for defending a black man against a white crowd. Atticus was courageous enough to face a lynch mob with no weapons in hand. Atticus even disliked using the gun. Atticus, Jem, Scout, Robinson, and Boo were all brave enough to persevere and do the right thing, even though the odds were against them. In life, sometimes the morally right actions are not the realistically best options. Relationship Between Childhood and Adulthood Throughout the story Jem and Scout move on from their playful childish games with Dill to more adult-like matters including racism and prejudice. Their childhood only hinted at a problematic future that revealed a hard truth to teenagers like Jem and Scout. Regardless, Scout’s experience at school was similar to Scout’s account of Tom Robinson’s trial. In school, Miss Caroline Fisher was Scout’s first grade teacher. Ms. Fisher was taught in college to teach a specific method. To Scout, it was ineffective, rigid, and dull. She could not adapt to teach effectively to Maycomb students, so she was became infuriated realizing that Scout had already learned to read and write. In the courthouse, Atticus, who defended, sympathized, and understood Tom Robinson’s story. Yet the court system introduced an all-white jury that always sided with the whites, causing innocent blacks to be guilty, and therefore killed. As an outcome, Ewell had pleaded vengeance after the trial to the Finches. In a way, Scout was like her father, Atticus. Both contradicted the impersonal system with either more knowledge of reading and writing than expected, or with a sympathetic outlook. In both settings there is Miss Caroline Fisher and also the jury. As Atticus once taught Scout to place herself in another’s shoes, Miss Caroline Fisher and the all-white jury failed to place their shoes in the shoes of Scout, Atticus, and Tom Robinson. The two rigid and faulty systems failed to adapt and to choose the right path. As an effect, Ms. Fisher had became infuriated at Scout, and also Bob Ewell was mad too. Overall Opinion In all honesty, before actually watching the movie, I thought To Kill a Mockingbird was a book in the series of Hunger Games, as both titles ended with a bird. I did not expect a movie describing of America’s past racism problems. Unlike many movies, this movie left me pondering on the world we live in today-it was that great of a movie. Throughout the story I was able to relate to Jem. When he had been shattered by the reality of the court system back then, he was really emotional and broken. I too felt very idealistic of the world when I was growing up. Ever since I had been up-to-date with politics, I have been broken to hear such small things like Bernie Sanders losing against Hillary Clinton. We share the same feeling overall. One point in the story had me very wowed. The power of a caring and forgiving attitude is greater than anything else. When Scout had said to Mr. Cunningham to say “Hi” to his son when he was in a lynch mob with many other white farmers, Scout had disbanded the mob by a simple act of sweet politeness and innocence. The story overall strengthened my hatred towards white southerners. I knew Tom would be guilty; I knew how the story would play out, but the story basically added kindling to my bonfire of dislike. If the movie was this great, the book would be greater. I’d rate the movie a straight up 10/10-I loved the content and the centralized issue of the movie. I’d recommend the movie to anyone who is mature enough to watch the horrible truth of America 80 years ago.
First, Tom, formally known as Thomas Robinson was a black man who worked for a man named Link Deas. Tom was 25 years old, had three children and a wife named Helen. When he was 11 years old Tom’s left arm was caught in a cotton gin and he lost feeling in his left arm. Tom was accused of rape by a white woman named Mayella. Everyone hated him because it didn’t look good for a black man to be accused of raping a white woman. During his trial he had a white lawyer named Atticus, who did his best to prove that Tom was innocent and Mayella and her dad Bob Ewell were lying. Atticus says,”Did you resist her advances?, Mr.Finch, I tried to ‘thout bein ugly to her. I didn’t wanta push her or nothin.” stated Tom(Lee 195). Tom did not want to kiss her but he didn’t
Boo Radley, also known as Arthur Radley, is the scary, evil creature that lives in the creepy old house down the street from Jem and Scout, and is misjudged at first. Jem and Scout, two main characters, first see Boo as some sort of scary monster. Jem described him in the first chapter as “...six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks...” and said “...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...” Jem also mentioned Boo had 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.” Scout and Jem also call Boo a “...malevolent phantom...” As if that isn't bad enough, the kids hear and tell horrible stories about Boo. One is of how he stabbed his dad with a pair of scissors; another tells how he was locked up in the courthouse basement. Even with such a grisly initial perception at the beginning of...
A person that was stuck behind bars for most of his life escapes and saves the lives of two innocent children. Boo Radley whose real name is Mr. Arthur is like a prisoner in his own home because he is afraid to face the real world. Boo Radley plays a major role in the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" because he acts like a second father to the children. He does this by creating a strong bond with the children, he saves Jem and Scout's lives and he is like a mockingbird to the children. Boo Radley show us that a complete stranger can become your best friend in a single moment.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the main plot, the Tom Robinson case, parallels that of the Boo Radley subplot in many ways. In the Tom Robinson plot, Tom, a black man, gets falsely accused of savagely beating and raping Miss Mayella Ewell, a 19 year old girl who lives in poverty with her father, Bob Ewell, and her many younger siblings. Though the evidence points to Bob Ewell as the abuser, the townsfolk, including the jury, take the Ewell’s word over Tom’s purely because of his skin color. The subplot in this novel is focused on Arthur “Boo” Radley, the mysterious neighbor of the Finch family. They know very little about him, as he hasn’t left his house in many years. In the midst of the Tom Robinson case, the Boo Radley subplot trails off, almost
One instance “Mockingbird” characters being affected would be Jem when Mr. Bob Ewell attacks him and Scout evidently breaking his arm. The narrator states, “‘[Bob Ewell]’s been after my children. Jem’s hurt. He’s got a bad break, as far as I can tell now it’s in the elbow. Like somebody tried to wring his arm off.’” (263,264). By demonstrating that Jem did not instigate the attack upon him or his sister, Lee is able to show that Jem is a non instigator also known as a “Mockingbird” because he did not do anything to bring the attack upon himself or his sister. Also, Lee demonstrates the none “Mockingbird” Mr. Bob Ewell by attacking the young Finch children. Another instance of “Mockingbird” characters is Tom Robinson, a hardworking, family loving African American who was put up for his life against the word of two white people even though he had not committed any offences he was being charged for. Tom Robinson was found “Guilty. . .guilty. . .guilty. . .guilty. . .” (211). By using only four guilty’s, Lee is able to demonstrate that the word of two white people has a greater effect than that of an African American even though the man who was put up for his life had not harmed, nor had he ever damaged anything he came
The reason behind Robinson was accused, probably because he was an African-American and it seemed that Bob Ewell did not happen to like African-American. Both stories can inform that there are misconceptions and discriminations toward Robinson and Radley are relatable to today’s misconceptions. Today’s misconceptions are found anywhere such as stereotypical arguments, racism, police brutality and more political arguments. It is tragic and frustrating to notice that people are easily triggered from explaining the truth, morality, and decency; similarly to Bob Ewell when Atticus the defender for Tom Robinson explains evidence to Robinson’s actions to Mayella but also explains Ewell and the town folk that all men are created equal; “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal" (205). In conclusion, in my opinion, both characters’ stories bring together a message for today’s society that decency must be established in order to benefit the society to not misjudge others simply by appearance and
Boo Radley is a squirrel eater. Boo Radley is one of the important characters in the book To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. Boo’s real name is Arthur Radley. People call him Boo because they rarely see him and they do not understand him. That being said they came up with a way to explain his mysterious ways of living by making up stories about him. Despite what people say about him, he shows that he is kind, reclusive, and courageous.
Robinson resembles a mockingbird because he does not cause any harm to the town of Maycomb. This particular mockingbird is killed when Mayella Ewell falsely accuses him of rape. Although all the evidence proves that Robinson is innocent, it is a battle between an African American and a white woman. “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 carry their resentments right into the jury box” (Lee 220). Robinson is eventually convicted because of the prejudice and racism that clouds everyone in the jury and every citizen of Maycomb. “Tom Robinson’s a colored man, Jem. No jury in this part of the world’s going to say “We think you’re guilty, but not very on a charge on like that.” It was either a straight acquittal or nothing” (Lee 219). Tom Robinson may not be guilty of raping Mayella, but he is guilty of feeling sorry for a lonely, white
Think you know Boo Radley? Not many people do. Boo Radley is a shy, mysterious character from Harper Lee’s: To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout the book, Boo is thought of as a monster within the book’s setting of Maycomb County. He’s also known to be mentally ill and violent due to many stories about his past. However, I believe he’s just misunderstood. Boo Radley is actually a caring and courageous human being. Examples that benefit this idea include: Boo Radley giving gifts to Scout and Jem and saving Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell. Furthermore, throughout To Kill a Mockingbird; Boo Radley is shown to be misunderstood, caring, and courageous.
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus tells Jem and Scout to, "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird," he is referring to the notion that a mockingbird is a harmless creature and does nothing but sing and bring happiness to the world. Harper Lee takes the title for her novel from this passage because the imagery of the mockingbird is analogous to the characters of both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. These two characters are "harmless songbirds" who are sinfully destroyed.
This quote encompasses the idea that even though Tom Robinson was proved to be an innocent man by Atticus, he was still considered a “bad guy” due to the color of his skin. Back in the 1930’s, caucasian people were always viewed as the more valued race. Despite if a colored person convicted a crime or not, it was always going to be a caucasian’s word over a colored person. This was why Mayella had an advantage over innocent Tom Robinson. Also due to the fact of Tom Robinson being colored, when he was proven guilty by the jury and hauled to the jail, the guards shot him for trying to escape. When Atticus found this out, he disappointedly said, “Seventeen bullets in him. They didn’t have to shoot him that much” (Lee 238) . This strongly withheld the idea that if a white man were to get placed in jail, they most likely would not get shot seventeen times, despite their crime. But when Tom Robinson went to escape for something he didn’t do, he paid the price of death. Even though many people may be innocent, just as the mockingbird, it tends not to be viewed by all, which creates a great conflict that
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
Tom Robinson’s trial, and in fact his entire life, was badly affected by racism. It is truly a testament to the corruption of society when a person who has earned a bad reputation is held in higher esteem than a person who was born with it, as is the case with Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson. Even though Tom was obviously honest in his testament, the jury sided with Bob Ewell because he was white. They made this decision despite the fact that the Ewell family was widely known to be a worthless part of society. Jem, not being racially prejudiced, could not understand this mentality. As Atticus pointed out, “If you (Jem) had been on the jury, son, and eleven other boys like you, Tom would be a free man.”
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.
First impressions of people are often lasting impressions, especially in the minds of children. Many times these impressions, aided by misunderstanding and prejudgment, cause unjust discrimination against an individual. To kill a Mockingbird depicts the themes of misunderstanding and prejudice that portray Arthur (Boo) Radley as a villain. Through the progressive revelation of Radley's character, the children realize that their negative impressions and fear of him were unfounded. Through gradual stages of change, from total misunderstanding of Boo, to a realization of an error in judgment, to a reevaluation followed by a change of heart, to a growing trust and acceptance of Boo, and finally to an appreciation of his true character, Jem's, Scout's, and Dill's impressions of Radley are dramatically altered.