Harper Lee utilizes a tone of macabre through images of the maltreatment of different people, the unjust structure of society, the new generation growing up and the unresolved resolution. The development of Jem, Scout, and Dill enforce a theme of coming of age. The revelations of society’s injustices and the abuse Maycomb’s citizens suffer evokes a tone of macabre.
First, Harper Lee creates a tone of horror and dismay through the discrimination that holds Maycomb. Not even the Finches can escape the prejudice, shown by Aunt Alexandra declaring “We don’t need her” when referring to Calpurnia (156). Scout’s aunt displays her dislike for Calpurnia, even though Cal has taken care of the household and raised Atticus’s children. Alexandra’s bais
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The systems that Maycomb County uses create enormous problems. The complications in the town result in the poverty of the Ewells. The lack of conviction to resolve these issues result in a substandard education, unsanitary living conditions, isolation, financial need, substance abuse, child abuse and aggressive behavior. Burris Ewell and Mayella Ewell portray these behaviors by unknowningly disclosing the conditions they endure. On Scout’s first day of school, she meets a boy called Burris, the “filthiest human” she has ever seen (29). His filth, language, aggressive attitude, and undeveloped intellect provide a prime example of the disfigured education system in Maycomb. The schools, content with letting these children suffer, only make them attend the first day of school and stand aside as they wither from malnourishment and disease. Burris’s sister, Mayella, paints a dark, vivid picture of their povertous lives and explains that “it was everybody for himself” at home (209). Their lifestyle stunts the children’s mental growth, subjects them to a disgusting lifestyle, and makes them emaciated. The children are not socialized, as shown when Mayella believes Atticus to be “makin’ fun o’me” when asked if she has friends (209). The isolation and lack of a proper education has forced the children into inadequate mental and physical health. The general view …show more content…
Society has not achieved the utopia humanity desires, equality. Blind with hate, Maycomb cannot address it’s own prejudice. The school system teaches prejudice obtusely when they disregard the similarities between the Jew’s persectuion and black people. Scout’s teacher, Miss Gates, explains the tragedy of genecide, yet announces publically that black people should have recieved Tom Robinson’s verdict as a lesson because of them “gettin’ way above themselves” (284). The ironic and unreasonable logic directly draws Scout’s attention to the injustices of racism. The community annahilates any credible suggestions of equality. Bob Ewell attempt to destroy this credibility by attacking the Finches. When Mr. Ewell threatens Atticus, the lwayer responds in a “right dry” way (249). Mr. Ewell attempts to demolish Atticus’s credibility by showing his lack of retaliation and passiveness. The quiet nature of Atticus creates a meek persona when compared to Bob’s aggressive tendencies. Mr. Ewell’s chaotic nature best him in persuading him to assault the Finch children. Only the fearsome “Boo” Radley saves Scout and Jem from becoming the victims of murder. Once Arthur Radley verifies the children’s safety, he returns home. Arthur Radley is cautious and almost fearful of the dastardly world he lives in and whispers in the voice of a “child afraid of the dark” for Scout to guide him home
This shows that Atticus and his family are put on a lower level than normal citizens. Pre-conceived opinions are able to make people opposed to changing them as well, with the ideas sticking in Maycomb. The hierarchy or order of people is severely deformed in Maycomb, as normal, well-meaning people are discriminated against and put at the bottom of the pack simply because of the colour of their skin.... ... middle of paper ...
To Kill A Mockingbird displays an environment where one must be inhumane to another in order to become socially compatible. Maycomb has established a hierarchy where social compartmentalisation is the way of life. Men with a profession and a career are superior, while the farmers are near the bottom of the social strata and are considered inferior. No matter which remarkable qualities Negroes possess, they are always s...
During the novel, there are many instances in which we begin to understand the cruelty of human beings through the eyes of Scout Finch. Scout, Jem and Dill treat Arthur (Boo) Radley with a certain level of inhumanity and although Boo Radley is unable to comprehend exactly what they are doing, we as readers are still able to understand that they are wrong to be judging Boo Radley so harshly. Even Atticus tells them to, “stop tormenting that man,” showing that although they are quite naive and are merely being childish and playful, they are still indirectly ‘tormenting’ him. However some examples of inhumanity found in the novel are not as innocent. A notable scene is when Nathan Radley fills up the knot hole with cement, with the excuse that the tree was dying. However, even Jem understands that this is not the true reason; he is able to realize that Nathan Radley only did that so that Boo would have no connections with the outside world, which would further alienate him and take away his only source of happiness, which unquestionably came from the children. The realization that even a brother can be so cruel to another bro...
Hypocrisy is as much a part of Maycomb’s society as church and community spirit. For example, Mrs. Merriweather talks about saving the poor Mruans from Africa, but she thinks black people in her community are a disgrace (p.234). The hypocrisy of this teaching is shown as soon as she mentions the word ‘persecution’. This is due to the fact that she herself is persecuting the black people of Maycomb by not raising an eyebrow at the killing of innocent black men. Furthermore, it is obvious Bob Ewell is abusive to his daughter, Mayella, and that he is the one who violated her, not Tom Robinson (p.178). Since there is such hypocrisy in Maycomb, there are excuses made for whites. The jury probably thinks that if they pronounce Tom innocent the citizens will mock them as they do to Atticus. Harper Lee uses hypocrisy to show how the people of Maycomb are so engulfed in a variety of elements that they unknowingly complete acts of unjustified discrimination.
Throughout the story, Aunt Alexandra’s behaviors indirectly teach Scout that prejudice is a disease with deep and far reaching roots. As Scout is exposed to Aunt Alexandra’s ideas regarding the hierarchy of society, she also begins to understand why Aunt Alexandra holds such opinions. When Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with the children, she also brings along her unending gossip about other families in Maycomb. Scout explains that “Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land, the finer it was” (173).
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.
A small city nestled in the state of Alabama, Maycomb has got its faults, just like any other place in the world, but one of its main faults or (pg.88) “Maycomb's usual disease,” as Atticus calls it in the book is prejudice. Jem and Scout learn a lot about prejudice when a black man named Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell and their father, Atticus, is called on to be his lawyer. They realize the hate that people have buried deep within their heart when they see a black man accused of doing something only because of his color. On pg.241, Scout starts understanding this and thinks, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” As the case continues, up until the death of Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout learn more and more about prejudice and how the hate that people have towards others causes them to take wrong actions. They also see how unfair it is that a white man can get treated better and think of himself better than a black man only because he was born white. This prejudice and the trial cause Jem and Scout to get in argum...
The hatred that the citizens of Maycomb felt towards the black community extended to anyone who became involved with them, especially the Finch family because Atticus was appointed to defend Tom Robinson. Scout and Jem suffered the most from this hatred because their peers were children, who are nearly always less candid than adults. Most of the people who were unhappy with Atticus would just try to keep away from him, which was bad enough. The children however, verbally abused Scout and Jem. Scout responded to this with physical violence, even though it was discouraged by her father. The sad thing is that they were mistreated even by members of their family, like Scout’s cousin Francis.
Few people are the same as they are on the street in their homes. Few people can treat others equally; no matter what colour their skin is. Atticus Finch is one of those precious few. Racism in the town of Maycomb is nothing but disguised by the polite smiles and ladies missionary meetings; although it is the strongest belief that each person of the town holds apart from some such as Atticus. Racism is an issue of great importance, yet to the eye of a visitor waltzing through, it's just a slight whisk of air.
Therefore, through the uses of character foil, characterization, and the theme of society in equality, Lee was able to accurately depict her view of the white society in Maycomb by the characters in this novel. The difference in level of politeness, occupation, and behaviors implies how people like the Finches are representing higher social class in Maycomb, because they do not prejudge people based on their skin color.
These injustices have begun long before Tom’s trial, but it is his trial which epitomizes the problems with our society. The first witness was simply just a misguided fellow named Heck Tate who it seems didn’t have much to offer to the case. Next, Atticus Finch called Bob Ewell to the stand. When I saw Ewell take the stand such a fierce hatred rose within me that I began to shake and tremble. Ewell wrongfully accused Tom of raping his daughter Mayella, however, with the grace of God, Atticus Finch had shown that it was very possible that it was Bob Ewell who because he was a lefty could have beat Mayella. If it were not for great men like Atticus Finch I would have lost all hope for this world. As I watched Mayella take the stand I wondered how such a kind looking person could be someone of such poor character. Her words seemed to paint a picture of a sad life; one where a father neglects her and she has fallen under hard times. Atticus, after pointing out it was probably Bob who beat her, asked Mayella who it really was that beat her. Mayella made it clear it was Tom Robinson, upon which Atticus asked Tom to stand. To the astonishment of the court Tom was handicapped! Tom was then called to the stand where he laid open for all to see the truth, explaining that it was Mayella who came on to him (that treacherous woman!). Soon enough the trial ended and every one awaited the verdict of the jury. The next few hours were the most nerve wracking of my life.
Scout Finch, the youngest child of Atticus Finch, narrates the story. It is summer and her cousin Dill and brother Jem are her companions and playmates. They play all summer long until Dill has to go back home to Maridian and Scout and her brother start school. The Atticus’ maid, a black woman by the name of Calpurnia, is like a mother to the children. While playing, Scout and Jem discover small trinkets in a knothole in an old oak tree on the Radley property. Summer rolls around again and Dill comes back to visit. A sence of discrimination develops towards the Radley’s because of their race. Scout forms a friendship with her neighbor Miss Maudie, whose house is later burnt down. She tells Scout to respect Boo Radley and treat him like a person. Treasures keep appearing in the knothole until it is filled with cement to prevent decay. As winter comes it snows for the first time in a century. Boo gives scout a blanket and she finally understands her father’s and Miss Maudie’s point of view and treats him respectfully. Scout and Jem receive air guns for Christmas, and promise Atticus never to shoot a mockingbird, for they are peaceful and don’t deserve to die in that manner. Atticus then takes a case defending a black man accused of rape. He knows that such a case will bring trouble for his family but he takes it anyways. This is the sense of courage he tries to instill in his son Jem.
Harper Lee’s Novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The story is told by a young girl who experiences growth through the events happening within her small town. Maycomb is a town with close-minded people who find that the way things have always been are the way things should always be. Which creates a path for the girl to learn about mature topics and the reality of someone. In this novel, Scout-the young girl- shows the difference between the appearance of someone versus who they are by learning how the rumors and reputation a person has can be wrong.
In Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird the protagonist Scout face offenses by others because of her father's justice for defending an African American in court. Scout Finch lives with her brother Jem, and their father Atticus, in the sleepy town of Maycomb during the Great Depression. As Atticus, the father of the protagonist faces the moral dilemma in chapter 29-30 of the incident with Bob Ewell. Atticus moral dilemma will reveal his character and his beliefs. Bob Ewell attempted to hurt Atticus children in order to get revenge on Atticus for defending the African American who was accused of raping his daughter in court. Atticus has a hard time of choosing whether to tell the town that Bob Ewell died of an accident, or his son or Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell. Atticus is a famous lawyer in Maycomb and he believes in legal justice.
Social Media has brought on an epidemic of sleep deprivation to people of all ages. All through the night they wake with the “beeps” and “dings” of new messages. They have been craving the sound of a new message and when it comes, no matter what time of the day (or night), they are quick in responding to whatever and whoever the message may be about. This addiction has been kept in-check but with the cost of a good night’s sleep. Today’s generation has been leaving the thought of sleep behind only to lose valuable relaxation time. Many people “…text, tweet, check messages, and post things right before sleeping” (Addiction). This had been proven to “…reduce melatonin in the brain” (Addiction) thus taking away minute by minute of our precious sleep. We put our phones down when we think necessary and go to sleep only to be awaken again within the next half-an-hour. The fact that we keep our devices on through the night does not help our case.