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Essays on harper lee's life
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Essays on harper lee's life
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The secret mind of a quiet soul Intriguing. That is the word that comes to mind when reading Harper Lee's novel “To kill a Mockingbird”. The novel is filled with so many different view points, attitudes, feelings, etc. all in which, bring to mind a wide range of feelings. In particular, in reading chapters 8-14 of this novel, you really get an extra bit of insight into the “intriguing” sense of the characters. To be specific, in the following chapters, we get to know more about each character a little more. One person, in particular, who these chapters are seem to focus on, is Atticus Finch. Atticus is one of the main characters, father of Jem and Scout Finch, and is the main inspiration to my idea of being intriguing. In chapters 8-14 of this book, there are so many interesting and mind-boggling passages that it is hard to decide which ones really get your hair standing up most. For example, A passage that was pretty interesting was “...nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything—like snot-nose. It's hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebodys favoring negroes over and above themselves” (Lee 68). It has …show more content…
There are other kinds of mysterious passages in this book, told by Atticus, or just in general, but none seem to quite compare to this one. This sentence seems to be implying that just because we have setbacks in our life, they don't give us any good reason not to try and win the fight. Take someone who was abused as a kid, they might have been through hell and back for years, but that doesn't mean they have to forever be entrapped by the abuse. As hard as it may be, there is always a way to win the fight! Overall, this is such an empowering passage that deserves to be acknowledged for reasons beyond
This quote shows how fair Atticus is, he’s trying to understand other people in different situations. His advice is very true and is valid throughout the entire book, it could even be considered a theme on it’s own. Atticus’ quality of respect is very high and continues on into the trial further into the book which helps him during the case and helps Lee build to the theme: “‘Gentleman,’ he was saying ‘I shall be brief, but I would like to use my remaining time with you to remind you that this case is not a difficult one, it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant. To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white,” Lee 271 Atticus voices in his final words at the trial.
Harper Lee is an American writer who won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The protagonist of “To Kill a Mockingbird” is Scout Finch, a young girl, who lives in the fictional town, Maycomb, with her brother, Jem Finch, and her father, Atticus Finch. This town is in the Deep South, and deals with tough racial issues. Atticus is a Lawyer, and is chosen to represent a black man. Atticus chooses to defend him despite his race, and this causes him and his children to suffer assaults from others in the town. “To Kill a Mockingbird” deals with themes such as innocence, gender roles, and racism. Mayella Ewell is an antagonist in this novel. She is the daughter of Bob Ewell, the town drunk. Mayella claims she was raped by Tom Robinson, the black man Atticus Finch is defending. However, the reality is that she was trying to seduce him, and when he refused, she pretended that was his intention. Mayella Ewell is willing to testify saying that Tom Robinson raped her even though it is a lie, and knowing that his life was at stake.
Chapter six first begins at Miss Rachel's fish pool where Jem, Scout, and Dill are all enjoying one last summer night together before Dill has to leave Maycomb to return home for the school year.
Innocence is one of the most commonly destroyed traits in human beings. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is a well known novel about a young girl named Scout, and her adventures with her brother and best friend, in the town of Maycomb. The book shows the heavy racism that was common during this time, and how abolitionists, like Scout’s family, struggled against the discrimination of them and other races. The mockingbird in the title is a representation of multiple characters, Harper Lee uses tone, setting, and symbolism throughout the book to describe the innocence that all humans display throughout life.
To Atticus real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. This is an important life lesson everyone should
Response To Literature- To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee “Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Is this lesson so significant that it's worth putting it on the cover of the book? It is. This quote is an essential expression of the theme of To Kill A Mockingbird.
Atticus is shown as a courageous man because he stood up for his beliefs even though it could possibly ruin his reputation. Defending
The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee takes place in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s during the time of segregation between blacks and whites. Two of the main characters, Miss Maudie and Atticus, say it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Miss Maudie is an old lady that lives down the road from Atticus and his two children: Jem and Scout. Several times in the novel they say this is a sin because of a mockingbird’s innocence. The title, To Kill a Mockingbird, is appropriate for this novel because it follows the meaning of the book and two of the main characters, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, are innocent people.
To Kill a Mockingbird In the town of Maycomb, people are racist. Even today, people still have prejudices. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird there are two races, the people of European decent, and the African American decent. The black characters in To Kill a Mockingbird contribute to the development of the white characters rather than appearing as individuals in their own right. The black characters are there in the novel, but, the author doesn’t really expand on their personalities.
Although it was written more than fifty years ago, Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, addresses many current topics including society's attitudes towards the mentally handicapped. Boo Radley, the only mentally handicapped character in the novel, gives insight into mental illness and how its viewed. The 1930s attitudes and treatment towards the mentally handicapped, as shown by Maycomb's view of Boo Radley, was a central theme in To Kill a Mockingbird and demonstrates how society's view of mental illness has not changed much in the last fifty years.
In a democracy, the majority vote dictates what we do, how we live, and how we’re punished. But what about how we think? When Harper Lee wrote the quote "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience," she wanted to tell her readers that what is popular isn't always right, and vice versa. We can see this coming into play in the situations where Atticus first says the quote on page 140, in more of Atticus' life, and with other characters and situations.
Atticus knew it would be a long shot to win and yet he entered it with a passion because knowing him, a man full of excellent morales, he knew that everyone involved with it would come away with something positive, even if that thing was simply a different outlook or perception on the black or life in general. Atticus 's great compassion for Tom and his community as well as his understanding for his side of the story would soon come with multiple consequences that himself and his kids would have to endure. For instance on (p.104) he explains to scout the trouble she may up endure but to keep a positive outlook, "When summer comes you 'll have to keep your head above far worse things...it 's not fair for you and gem, I know that, but sometimes we have to make the best of things, and the way we conduct ourselves when the chips are down-well, all I can say is, when you and Jem are grown, maybe you 'll look back on this with some compassion and some feeling that I didn 't let you down...." He instils that once Scout and Jem are mature enough to understand these things, that they will know he never let them down. This excerpt/example further exemplifies his understanding of Jem and Scouts sake and what they will go through as little kids but
The setting of To Kill a Mockingbird was Maycomb county Alabama. The books main plot was based in the time period of 1933 to 1935. This was a significant period of time in history because it was during the great depression. Also, during this time the Jim Crow laws(the laws restricting African Americans from there rights)were still in effect. Maycomb is a very small quite town were everybody knows each other. The story takes place before the civil rights movement and some of the characters are racist.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird there are multiple heroes and some anti-heroes. Some examples of heroes are as follows: Atticus Finch, Scout and Jem Finch, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Some examples of anti-heroes are: Aunt Alexandra, Bob and Mayella Ewell. This essay will portray Atticus and Boo Radley as the heroes of the story and Bob Ewell as the anti-hero. Atticus is portrayed as the main hero in the novel because of his natural courage, his fairness and tolerance towards everyone to treat them all equally, he is known as a big role model in the town of Maycomb. Boo Radley is also portrayed as a hero in the novel, he doesn’t like to go outside but faces his fears and ends up saving Scout and Jem. Bob Ewell is portrayed as the anti-hero
In chapter 20 of “To kill a Mockingbird”, Harper Lee wrote about the great divide between black and white people in Maycomb County, and why the public should not judge them too harshly. The Author explains all this through Atticus who is fighting on Tom Robinson’s behalf, that Tom did not rape Mayella Ewell. Atticus tried to persuade the jury beyond reasonable doubt, that Mayella was simply claiming Tom had raped her, to cover up for her wanting to kiss and tempt Tom Robinson (A black man). Atticus explained that Mayella had obviously broken no law, but “a rigid and time-honoured code of their society” and whoever broke this code would be “hounded from their midst as unfit to live with” (page.224). Atticus explains that guilt was her motivation, Mayella was just one among thousands that would be ashamed to have any relationship with a black man, other than him being a “servant”. Mayella simply did not want to be tormented or seen as a “Negro lover”, so she decides to get rid of the evidence, Tom Robinson’s life.