The Motif of Family History in Maycomb How does family history affect relationships within communities? Does family history have any influence on communities? For most people, their family history involves their communities. The connectivity between the community and family history can be important for many places and leads to a greater sense of togetherness. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she employs the motif of family history to characterize both Atticus and the community of Maycomb as connected. The setting of the community of Maycomb is mainly connected through shared family history because of the limited population. Every Finch and even some other families in Maycomb can trace their history back to “Simon Finch, a fur trapping …show more content…
Furthermore, Simon Finch’s homestead “Finch’s Landing” traditionally hosted “the men in the family” (Lee 4). Finch’s Landing created a beacon of familiarity for the Finches and is considered a notable part of Maycomb’s setting. Being associated with such a significant landmark helped the Finchs spread into Maycomb and become a respected family within the community. Atticus’s childhood residency in Maycomb made him a known community member through his family and personal experience there. Atticus was “Maycomb County born and bred”, familiar with the people and his family history made him “related by blood or marriage” to almost “every family” in Maycomb (Lee 5). Without his family's history in Maycomb, Atticus would be less intertwined with the tight-knit community. Being “born and bred” in Maycomb adds credibility to him from a different point of view, making him appear more reliable than someone who isn’t as involved historically. Additionally, many of Atticus’s neighbors grew up with or close to him, tightening their relationship. His neighbor, Miss Maudie, as well as his brother Jack “grew up together” at Atticus’s family’s historic home, “Finch's Landing”(Lee
The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, takes place in the 1930s in a small Alabama county called Maycomb. The novel is about the Finch family of three. Atticus, the father, Scout the older brother and Scout the younger sister, who acts like a tomboy. Scout may be a lady, but does not like to act like one, she likes to play and get dirty with her brother. Being young, both children learn lessons throughout the novel by many different residents, such as, Calpurnia, the maid, Miss Maudie, the neighbor, and their father, Atticus. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird various citizens in the town of Maycomb play an important role in the lives of Jem and Scout Finch
Atticus Finch lives a fairly normal life as a lawyer in Maycomb, Alabama with his two children Jem and Scout and their helper Calpurnia. Atticus is perceived as
In the town of Maycomb, a man who stands up against racism forever changes people’s views on racism. Scout, Jem and Atticus Finch all stand together against racism and prejudice in the tiny town of Maycomb. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, in the town of Maycomb, prejudice is a disease, but Jem, Scout, and Dill are immune to this illness because of the people who raise them. For example, when Cecil and Francis told Scout that Atticus is a disgrace to defend Tom Robinson, even though Francis is Scout’s cousin. When Scout and Jem hear the verdict of Tom’s case they both cry and are angry about the sentence while the rest of the town is ecstatic. And finally when Scout doesn’t want Walter Cunningham to come over for dinner because she thinks that he is a disgrace. For all of these reasons, the Finch family must not be racist or prejudiced.
Atticus Finch is a lawyer and father of two children whose names are Jem and Scout. In the novel, Atticus chooses to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who is accused of raping a white woman, even though most of Maycomb is against Tom Robinson due to its racist time setting. He understood that racism was inhumane and innocent people must be defended no matter what race they are. Atticus holds his ground and tries his best to defend Tom Robinson in court, despite the community being against him. Atticus even reminds his children to steadfast during this time of challenge regardless of what other people tell them.
Atticu Finch is one of they key characters in the book who leads by example and shows what courage is. In chapter nine, Atticus takes a case to defend a Negro who has been accused of raping Bob Ewell’s daughter Mayella444. Atticus, the father of main characters Scout and Jem Finch, loves and cares for his children, although since the children’s mother passed away when they were at a young age, Atticus is not always sure of how to fill her role. In chapter thirteen, Aunt Alexandra stays with the Finch family so that she can help them if anything happens while Atticus defends the black man, Tom Robinson. Atticus has always been respected in the town of Macomb, until he takes the Robinson case, which leads to controversy within his friends and his family. On several different instances, the towns people tried to convince him not to, and o...
Atticus Finch is a great father but a better man. Atticus isn't just a regular man in the 1930’s, in Maycomb, Alabama. He is, I quote from the book, “Atticus represents the moral backbone of the town of Maycomb.” Atticus demonstrates his empathy, integrity and acceptance throughout the book.
The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is about a family of three including their black cook Calpurnia. They live in a town called Maycomb in Alabama. Atticus Finch the widowed father is a lawyer and is outgoing, kind, and true to himself. This book is a very popular book throughout many states in America because this book tells a meaningful message. Atticus teaches his two kids Jem and Scout to always do the right thing no matter what the situation is. Harper Lee uses the character of Atticus Finch to teach values and beliefs from seeing things from another point of view, to do what is right all the time and to be integrative to yourself.
Atticus Finch is a well-rounded and respected resident of Maycomb County, Alabama. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus takes on the duty of being an attorney and a single father of two adventurous children. He believes in equality among races, although a lot of Maycomb County’s white community thinks they are high and mighty compared to the black folk. In a time of injustice, Atticus represents an innocent black man accused of rape, making him respected among the black community. At home, Atticus taught his children important life lessons about equality and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Atticus Finch is a lawyer in the town of Maycomb In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, he is a father of two children, Jem and Scout Finch. He is a man of wise character and considerate soul. He knows his morals and tries to help his children grow up to be successful and happy. Throughout the novel, Atticus acts justly, loves tenderly, and walks humbly by the way he perceives the people in his life, how he succeeds in his job and treats his family.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, tradition is notoriously known in Maycomb. Maycomb County, as portrayed in the novel is a poor, lonely area in Alabama, where the majority of people obey tradition. However, a single family that consists of two siblings, Scout and Jem and a lone father, Atticus Finch, is simply different. The family faces color discrimination from their own eyes throughout the whole novel. However, tradition and ongoing customs are what keeps this conflict going since the start. In Maycomb, as Scout and her town acquaintances grow older and tradition stabilizes, tradition develops to have negative effects such as interracial conflict.
To Kill A Mockingbird Generations of family, living in the same community can leave an identity for themselves, making them live with it for generations to generations. The Finches, The Ewells and Dill's family are three families who are all criticized and sometimes applauded for their way of living. The Ewells are “ the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations.
Parents that grow their own discriminatory attitude rub off ideas on their children and soon enough they will catch the infection as well. Because of Atticus’s interracial correlation, his family turns away from him. Francis, Aunt Alexandra’s grandson, reveals his family’s despise for Atticus’s doings. As Scout and him get in a fight, Francis accuses Atticus of being a “N***** Lover.” A child could not have developed those words alone. Scout voiced “Cecil Jacobs made me forget. He had announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended N******” (Lee 85). Cecil, being Scout’s age, does not even comprehend what the meaning of the words are. The children of Maycomb follow the trends of their parents. One that is content with their own well being will direct their children from right and wrong, as Atticus is demonstrating throughout the novel in his
Scout Finch got into a misunderstanding, argument during class with her teacher, Miss Caroline, about why Walter Cunningham Jr. refuses to take a quarter from Miss Caroline. Atticus Finch once told his daughter about the Cunningham family, the family was poor but refused to take anything given to them for free, but when needed Walter Cunningham Sr. would pay off people with items such as firewood. Scout tries to tell Miss Caroline this, but instead blurted out that Walter Cunningham Jr. “ain't got a quarter at home to pay you back with, plus you couldn't use any firewood”, Miss Caroline was new therefore she was blind to the family's reputation. Atticus finds himself in a situation where the consequence in his sacrifice won't affect his own identity, but will sacrifice the identity of his family that could pass on for generations, Consequently, Atticus does not only sacrifices identity but drags the safety of his children, owing to Maycomb's love for racism shown by Maycomb's pet. Pets are loved and cherished by their owners, which shows that Tim, who represents racism, is loved and cherished by Maycomb which consistently drives the town do anything to save racism if anyone would dare to harm it. Racism
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.
Growing up in Maycomb County, Scout Finch had found out about the many negative aspects of the people that live there. Scout has been exposed to situations with explicit indications of racism, judgment, and discrimination; and through those experiences, she becomes conscious of the severity and cruelty of the residents of Maycomb. Aspects of Maycomb residents are revealed in some of the events that Scout is involved in. During Scout’s visit to First Purchase African M.E. church, she discovers the impact of discrimination on African-Americans. Dolphus Raymond informs Scout on the judgmental personalities of the people who live in Maycomb, and Scout becomes cognizant of the repercussions of racism and prejudice during the Tom Robinson case in court. Throughout these events, various aspects of Maycomb’s residents are revealed to Scout.