Tim Johnson, the mad dog, symbolizes the mob and the injustices encompassing Maycomb County. According to Scout, “He reminded me of a car stuck in a sand-bed.” (Lee 123) This description shows how Atticus continuously has many troublesome experiences that he cannot avoid projected at him that he has to solve for the sake of Macomb County. Enotes.com is a source that states the correlation between Tim Johnson and Tom Robinson. Just as Atticus takes care of Tim Johnson, he represents Tom Robinson in the trial. Both Tim Johnson and Tom Robinson have the same fate: being shot. As Scout observes Tim Johnson, she notices how “…he seemed dedicated to one course and motivated by an invisible force…”. (Lee 126) Tim Johnson, a rabid dog, is a symbol
that foreshadows the fate of Tom Robinson. For example, on shmoop.com, the article titled “Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory” states “It's tempting to try to map out the symbolism here—is the gun the legal process? Are the bullets the jury? Is Tim Johnson racism?”. This quote displays the interrelationship happening between the characters Tom Robinson and Tim Johnson. Another symbol, the knot hole, which Nathan Radley seals up, displays the disconnection Boo Radley has from the outside world.
Boo Radley is more subtle in showing how he represents the mockingbird, as he is more of a quiet, shy character. Boo was confined to his home but is still aware of the people around him. The children view him more as a superstition than a person in the beginning of the novel but Scout realizes just how good of a person Boo really is when he saves her and Jem from Mr. Ewell. Tom Robinson represented the killing of the mockingbird. He was looked down upon by most of the community but he was an innocent man who had no intention of harming anyone, yet he was still convicted of the crime and sentenced to
(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. .
TJ is not only thoughtless, he is also quite sly and knows how to get
Secondly, Tom’s voice is ignored just like the innocent fragile songbird. In the 1930s black people are ignored on the basis that they are viewed as compulsive liars and generally unpleasant people. At the end of the novel Atticus says ““The witnesses for the state have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption-the evil assumption-that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all ***** men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber. Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin,
The definition of a good father is as individual as the individuals involved themselves. A good father is able to support his children’s strengths, along with being able to help them overcome their weaknesses. He is able to do this without appearing to be a know-it-all. The ability to show by example how to live life, while not being afraid to make mistakes and not to be perfect all the time are also very important characteristic.
A lawyer in Maycomb and the father of Scout and Jem is a well respected person because of his judgment, intelligence, and morality he demonstrates to other people. Atticus practices the ethic of humbleness and understanding that he teaches to Scout and Jem to never hold a grudge against the people of Maycomb. Despite their cold indifference to racial inequality, Atticus sees much to admire in them. He recognizes that people have both good and bad qualities, and he is determined to admire the good while understanding and forgiving the bad. Atticus passes this great moral lesson on to Scout; this perspective protects the innocent from being destroyed by contact with evil.
Boo Radley and Tom Robinson come from very different backgrounds. Both face similar stories of prejudice and unfair judgments. These men faced some of the same hardships throughout their lives. Boo and Tom are both good men who were put down because they are considered “different” than others in the town. Scout learns important lessons from the way the people in town treat Boo and Tom. The title of the book To Kill A Mockingbird takes on different meanings as the author tells the story of these two men from the south.
“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.” – Anne Frank (Goodreads). In the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird, Atticus, Bob Ewell and Walter Cunningham are parents who each parent differently, and obligate values that are influenced on their children. The children are able to grow up with these influences that they are used to, and this contributes to their overall development and forming as an individual. Atticus being a lawyer has helped him progress intelligence and a sense or morality that is applied to his children Jem and scout. Atticus is able to endure parenting skills more and more everyday. Bob Ewell poorly shows good parenting from developing
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.
Throughout the novel, Atticus reveals his bravery. He demonstrates this quality by killing Tim Johnson, the rabid dog. Jem and Scout are looking for squirrels to shoot when Jem spots a suspicious-looking dog down the road. Immediately, he tells Calpurnia who confirms the dog is rabid and calls Atticus at his office. After she proceeds to tell the neighbors, Atticus arrives, along with Mr. Tate, the sheriff of Maycomb County. As the dog comes near the Radley house, Atticus and Mr. Tate argue over who is going to kill Tim. Atticus then steps out in the middle of the road and pushes up his glasses, and in unison, he pulls the trigger and Tim Johnson crumbles the ground—dead. Atticus again demonstrates his valor when he guards Tom Robinson’s cell. The Maycomb jailhouse is near his office; therefore Atticus passes it every day. With red bricks and steel bars along the windows, the jailhouse adds a solid look to the town. The jailhouse is the main conversation topic in Maycomb. Scout, Jem, and Dill are out for a walk when they spot Atticus. As Atticus sits outside Tom’s cell, a group of men walks towards him. The group of men want to get to Tom, but Atticus would not let them. Scout, Jem, and Dill walk up to the group, but that did not distract the men from their goal. One of the men grabs Jem, the man falls to the ground; Scout kicks...
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 the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is an ideal father, who sets a great example for his kids. A picture of Atticus is important to Scout because Atticus teaches Scout many important life lessons about life. Firstly, as Atticus talks to Scout about Miss. Stephanie, he states “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee,30). Scout realizes that one can never feel someone’s pain, happiness, or glory until she looks at their point of view of things; she learns to consider other people’s situation and feelings. She also understands that she will never know what goes in other people’s lives, and therefore she cannot judge anyone. Scout matures as she learns to apply Atticus’ wise advice to understand Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley, who are individuals that are misunderstood by the community. Furthermore, as Miss Maudie talks to Scout, she states “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (Lee, 46). Miss Maudie knows about Atticus’ personality quite well. Miss Maudie explains to Scout Atticus is a man with moral principles, he does what he believes is right even if others are not there to praise him. Through Atticus’ exemplary role, Scout understands the importance of integrity, and strong moral values. Finally, when Scout questions her father about the possible outcome of the trial, Atticus states “simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to try to win” (Lee, 76). Atticus teaches Scout toleration, determination and moral courage. He already knows he is going to los...
In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, the character Mayella Ewell is powerful based on gender, class and race, some more than others. Mayella is stuck in an issue of her father caught her kissing a full-grown african american male. Now in our time period, interracial relationships and what not are okay, but, in the 1930’s, well… not so much. See in the 1930’s there were these laws called “The Jim Crow Laws”, and they practically prohibited any white male or female to be with an african american male or female, and if these laws were violated, these people would go to jail for almost two years or more. Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell, is an alcoholic and he abuses his daughter. All Mayella has ever wanted is freedom from her father, and it seems she was willing to take whatever risk she could just to get out. Mayella lives in a small town called Maycomb in Alabama. Nothing goes around that town without everyone knowing. Basically, everybody knows everybody else’s business all the time. The rest of the citizens know how Bob Ewell treats his daughter, they also know in court that what Mayella did was wrong,
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 for classic literature that everyone should take the time to read and appreciate for their execution of style and the importance of their content.
Tim Johnson could symbolize the prejudice and mob mentality of Maycomb at the time and because Atticus shot Tim this represents Atticus’s moral beliefs about stopping racism and creating equality. The Mockingbird used in the title of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is the most important symbol depicted in this novel. One day Atticus told Jem that he’d rather Jem shoot at tin cans, but he knew Jem would go after birds. He gave Jem permission to shoot all the blue jays he felt like, but it was a sin to kill a mockingbird. Jem then went to Miss Maudie to ask about what Atticus had just said, "Your father’s right," she said.