To Kill a Mockingbird
When scout and Jem start to take on the bigger matters in life, they realize that not everything is as it seems. First published in 1960 Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird is about a girl’s childhood in the small southern town of Maycomb and how her life changed forever. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird illustrates the cowardice of the county adults and their ingrained prejudices and the braveness of their good hearted children.
Everyone has an innate fear in them and if not careful the fear will come out into the open acting as cowardice. Scout finds gum in the knothole of a tree outside the Radley place; to take someone’s personal item out of greed is stealing and wrong “one afternoon as I raced by something caught my eye and I and caught in such a way that I took a deep breath, a long look around, and went back” (Lee33). Mr. Ewell also has been one for committing mean spirited acts. “This morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, then told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life”. (Lee290) This is evidence of Bob Ewell’s cowardice, threatening Atticus because he was defending a black man. These tie into Françoise’s quailing acts “François jerked loose and sped into the kitchen ‘nigger lover!’ he yelled(lee83).” He insulted Scout then attempted to hide behind someone who would protect him. Now these are some of the moments of cowardice but there are also moments of bravery.
There are many important traits in a good person, honesty, integrity, compassion—bravery. Atticus shows bravery in not wanting to kill a rabid dog that’s threatening the town “I haven’t shot a gun in 30 years”(Lee33). He thinks he has an unfair advantage of life due to his amaz...
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...e lake that is the cold hard truth. Scout followed dill into that lake when she was asked “watcha gonna be when you grow up, jean Louise?” (Lee229) this question got rid of the last shred of scouts childhood, forever, and her life will never be the same again because it makes us focus on the future instead of the present and they say that “you can clutch the future so tightly with to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present” (Jan Glidewell).
To Kill a Mockingbird illustrates the cowardice of the county adults and there ingrained prejudices and the braveness of their kind hearted children. The novel shows that the grownups fearfulness of others and their ability to condemn the Negros to a subservient lifestyle; the children’s consequential qualities which allow them to forgive, to be honest, and to have an infallible sense of equality.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a remarkable novel following the childhood of Jem and Scout, the son and daughter of Atticus Finch. Living in a small and drama filled town of Maycomb County they encounter a great deal of people who do not stand by their word. Hypocrisy occurs throughout this novel first by a man named Dolphus Raymond, then by two women Mrs. Merriweather and Miss Gates.
When children grow up, they face difficult problems, and. they learn to cope and take responsibility. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a flashback about two kids that spans over a few years. Jem ages from ten to thirteen over the course of the novel, and undergoes much change, as his sister describes him. Over the years, he is exposed to issues adults face, and eventually shows an understanding of racism and innocence. As Jem grows up, his view on courage also changes. Jem follows his father's footsteps, and gets much of his knowledge from him.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.
Atticus Finch shows through his actions that bravery can show up in many different ways. Although he lives in Alabama, surrounded by racists, Atticus shows extreme bravery in the way he defends Tom Robinson. Not only does Atticus defend Tom Robinson’s case in the courtroom, he also pours his heart and soul into protecting Robinson and his whole family from the angry mobs of Maycomb. When Atticus explains to Scout and Jem, “I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again,” he models bravery and the importance of doing the right thing even under the most difficult circumstances (Lee 75). This is typical behavior for Atticus Finch. Standing up to the whole town of Maycomb is not an easy thing to do, but Atticus is determined to show his children to stand up for what they believe in and take time to understand others. However, this action could be regarded as atypical behavior in the 1930s in Maycomb, Alabama. Southern Society scorned any white person who would help a black man. On the other hand, when Jem sees Atticus pull the trigger and shoot a rabid dog, who is threa...
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee sheds light upon the controversy of racism and justice in his classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The notion of equality in accordance with the law and the pursuit of justice are hindered by racial discrimination. The essence of human nature is pondered. Are we inclined to be good or in the wrath of evil? The novel reflects on the contrasting nature of appearance versus reality.
...st in school by learning about Hitler and the horrible historical events that have happened in the world. Her maturity is expressed by what she has learned about the world around her and can apply those things to her every day life. Moreover, Scout has matured greatly in the novel and she has learned many lessons about life, family, and womanhood.
There is no doubt that Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a famous novel known for its themes, most of them containing wise life lessons, racial inequality being an obvious and important one. Firstly, racism illustrates the lack of justice and people’s views on prejudice in Tom Robinson’s case. Secondly, the novel touches base on diction notably the racial slurs used. Finally, with racism being a theme of the novel, it affects the characters’ personalities. Harper Lee uses life lessons, diction and characters throughout the novel because it develops the main theme of racism in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Despite cultures and conflicts, the fundamental bonds remain: We all belong to a common family. The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a timeless classic about coming of age in a small southern town in the 1930’s. The book follows Jem and Scout, two siblings, who must face the harsh realities of life. Hypocrisy and racism together make the two most important themes.
Growing up is hard, but when you add in nosey neighbors, scary houses, a stuck up aunt, and taunting children, it becomes more difficult. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee that was published in 1960. The story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Scout Finch is a six year old narrator. She lives with her father, her brother, and Calpurnia, their black cook. Scout spends her summers playing with her brother, Jem, and her friend, Dill Harrison. Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, is a lawyer and he is defending Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. The story is an account of the next three years of Scout’s life in Maycomb. Throughout the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, it takes a couple years for Scout Finch to grow and mature into an understanding, empathetic, polite, young lady.
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.
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is an excellent story that gives a profound meaning to many essences in life. The story showcases many cases of great qualities such as fear and courage. Also this book contains characters with impressive personalities, but in contrast there are many characters with poor qualities and personalities. Back in the 30s, when a negro faced a white man in a courtroom, the white man will win whether he is lying or not. This would give many negros tons of fear. In addition to this book, there is a lot of mystery within the story. For example, there is a very mysterious character in the story. In the form of courage, there are many situations where characters defy odds and take huge chances for little reward. There will be 3 subjects about qualities or feelings of fear and courage. They are about the Radley family, Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson.
Many students believe that Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird displays social issues in early America. In this time standing against common customs was unacceptable, a violation of society. People believe that today courage has overcome adversity that was displayed in early America. Courage is the common subject of To Kill a Mockingbird, which allows Lee’s novel to defy the changing times of humanity. These morals are bound to the “impartiality” and “fairness” taught to people as children, but become unavoidably invisible though selfish actions. The characters in To Kill a Mockingbird express audacity along with resilience in the face of cowardice.
Atticus demonstrates having courage is when he faced a rabid dog. Yes, he had a rifle but he hadn't shot a rifle in a few years because of his bad eyesight. He had to have trust in himself. As a father, it would be hard killing an animal right in front of your own kids.
Atticus was courageous because he took on Tom’s case. Atticus knew that the chances of him winning were small. From the very beginning, the odds were not in Tom’s favor. He was a black man being accused of raping and beating a white woman. It seemed as if the whole town had already found Tom guilty even with the little evidence and respect people had for the Ewells, he was a black man which in these times was enough evidence for them. Atticus knew that he was the best man for the case. He would make it a fair trial and he did everything he could to make one.
Harper Lee illustrates the children's characters to portray typical kid behaviors. For example, being able to sympathize isn’t something that people are born with, and Scout struggles with this trait. On the first day of school Scout has a new teacher. Before lunch Miss Caroline checks if everyone has lunch. She notices Walter Cunningham with no food and offers him a quarter to buy lunch, but he won’t take it. Miss Caroline doesn’t understand why and the students urge her to get up and say “Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham,”(20). Scout thinks that was explanation enough because in the small town of MAycomb, everyone knows everyone. She fails to realize Miss Caroline’s perspective, and that she’s new and doesn’t know who the Cunningham’s are.