The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, tells the story of Scout, her brother Jem, and her father Atticus as they struggle with racism, loneliness, and lies. The story takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930’s. Not only is the Great Depression affecting life, but it is also a time of racism and inequality for African Americans. Tom Robinson, an African American man, is being accused of raping a white woman. Atticus, a well known lawyer, takes the case to help Tom. Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill walk through the path of life while trying to figure out where they belong in the system. Lee reveals that the social caste system into which a person is born dictates his or her place in society. This theme appears in the novel when Burris Ewell shows up to school, when Mrs. Dubose insults Atticus, and when Dolphus Raymond helps Dill when he is crying. One of the first scenes that …show more content…
Dubose insults Atticus in front of Scout and Jem. Mrs. Dubose, a grouchy elderly woman, has an illness and is being taken care of by an African American girl. Whenever, the children want to go to town, they have to pass Mrs. Dubose’s house first. When they walk by, Mrs. Dubose always throws insults their way. Mrs. Dubose yells, ‘“Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”’ (Lee 102). Suddenly, Jem’s face turns into a scarlet red color. He hears insults about his father, but never from an adult. After hearing Mrs. Dubose’s insult, he retaliates by destroying her flowers. As soon as Atticus finds out he confronts Jem by telling him no matter how rude Mrs. Dubose is, he should always act like a gentleman. Even though the town is angry at Atticus for defending an African American, he is still on top in the system because after the trial period ended everyone stopped with the insults and went back to admiring him by re-electing him as state
The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” takes place in the 1930s during the depression. It is narrated by a young girl named Scout. Some of the main characters are Jem, Scout's brother, and Atticus, Scout and Jem's father. Throughout the novel the theme of racism is displayed through the book. Jem ,Scout, and their friend Dill are fascinated about a character named Boo Radley or Arthur Radley.
Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is based during the era of racism and prejudice. This era is commonly referred to as The Great Depression and is during the mid-late 30’s. The novel is set in a small town and county called Maycomb, Alabama. The novel follows the story of the Finch’s and their struggle before, during, and after a rape trial that is set against an African American by a white woman and her father.
When Atticus discovered what Jem had done, he was furious and punished him by making him go read to Mrs. Dubose everyday. He knew, though, in his heart that she had it coming. Atticus had told Scout that "when summer comes you'll have to keep your head about far worse things it's not fair for you and Jem, but
In chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose says some hateful words about Atticus, which leads Jem to smash her flowers. As a punishment, Jem had to read to her every day after school for two hours. A conversation between Atticus and Jem shows how he felt about her in the beginning, “Did she frighten you?” Said Atticus.
Atticus’s children are in confusion and constantly ask their father about his case. Atticus said”. If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature. i.e. a.75. Clearly we can see that he has lots of respect for this county and for blacks.
Jem has become victim of this through Mrs. Dubose, the Finch’s neighbor, through a period of time. After destroying her flowers and her rocking chair from his anger over what she said about his father, Jem is sent to read to her as an apology made by Atticus. While doing this, she passes away, and Jem is confused. He asks why Atticus can still call her a lady, in which Atticus retorts with “...Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her view, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.”(Lee 93). What he means is that not everyone is all good or all bad, which Jem had yet to
Although she struggles at first, Scout develops a higher level of maturity which allows her to control her temper and simply defend her father with her words, without being rude. Jem is also faced with these type of situations and struggles with his anger, for instance when he attacks Mrs. Dubose’s flowers. Atticus goes to great lengths to teach his children that in life, they must learn to stay calm and be kind to everyone, despite how cruel those people may be. Scout and Jem face several situations in which their control is tested, which leads them to “come of age” and develop skills necessary for adulthood. They learn to defend Atticus and themselves by using words and developing self-control.
Before the trial starts, Scout had to endure her classmates refer to Atticus as ‘nigger lover’ because of his defense of Tom. Scout and Jem also hear comments and gossip being made about their father in Maycomb, and they see the support Tom gains from the black community when they visit his church with Calpurna. The kids see the anger and evil of the society when they help Atticus from the lynch mob at the jail before the trial. Scout and Jem attend the trial in person, and they witness the evidence given and they agree that Atticus has made a substantial case for
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
...e through understanding Bob Ewell and his misdeeds, appreciating Boo Radley and his valorous actions, and acknowledging Atticus’s moral advice. At the end of the novel, it is evident that the children mature into more sympathetic, sensitive young people, indicated by their ultimate understanding of those of whom they have encountered. Furthermore, as Atticus hints throughout the whole novel, the positive characteristics of an individual will almost always prevail, demonstrated to Jem and Scout as they meet different kinds of people and hone their notions about the world around them. Above all, Jem and Scout’s appreciations for human goodness are altered for the better: their ability to sincerely understand the way in which individuals work and feel emerges at the end of the novel, when the children are finally able to accept the contradictory parts of human essence.
Jem recognizes a different perspective of bravery from Mrs. Dubose, a vile, elderly woman’s perspective. In chapter 11, Harper Lee uses literary elements such as character, conflict, and setting to establish Jem’s new outlook on life. The use of Jem’s character later leads him to recognize different points of view as he grows up. They saw Mrs. Dubose more as Tom Robinson’s case went into court.
The novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a simplistic view of life in the Deep South of America in the 1930s. An innocent but humorous stance in the story is through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch. Scout is a young adolescent who is growing up with the controversy that surrounds her fathers lawsuit. Her father, Atticus Finch is a lawyer who is defending a black man, Tom Robinson, with the charge of raping a white girl. The lives of the characters are changed by racism and this is the force that develops during the course of the narrative.
By Jem recognizing the injustice of his town, Maycomb, his character is able to develop maturity. Jem is a growing young boy who is struggling with the harsh words against his father because of the trial. His father, Atticus is a wise man who sees around the conflicts of the town and as for Jems little sister, Scout she is also a child who is under the influence of those around her. Consequently Jem was stunned by the trail and the cruel way whites treated blacks, Jem states, “ Atticus” Jem said bleakly. He turned around. “ What, son?” “ How could they do it? How could they?” There petite house allows Scout to over hear many of Atticus and Jem’s Conversation, she questions herself on weather Jem is interested in the case or not. Although at this point Jem is emotionally involved to the trial. The case consists of a black man named Tom Robinson who was accused of being sexual active with a young white woman called by the name Mayella . Mayella Ewell comes from a very poor family that treats others with rude manners and no respect. Her father
Use of character interactions, Maycomb’s culture, and numerous conflicts reinforce the notion that racial prejudice is the cause of certain wrongdoings. Jem, Scout, and Dill interact with other people in the community which ultimately results in them finding out about the evils of racial segregation. The culture in Maycomb supported the theme in various manners. Numerous conflicts are encountered throughout the plot that point towards unnecessary segregation. Atticus taught his children not to interpret a person by his skin color but rather based on his actions and his viewpoint. Everyone is equal, and as Scout said: “I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.” (304).
Mrs. Dubose is overtly racist, representing the ‘bad’ part of the town. In chapter 11 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Mrs. Dubose repeatedly insults Jem and Scout because their father, Atticus Finch, is defending a black man, Tom Robinson, accused of rape. The theme is revealed in chapter 11.