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Atticus and scouts relationship
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In the narrative, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, chapter nine is one of the most revealing episodes of the book. If the chapters in the book had a title, chapter nine would be called “Defending the Defender”. In chapter nine of the writing, Harper Lee described, “Francis looked at me carefully, concluded that I had been sufficiently subdued, and crooned softly, ‘Nigger-lover…’ This time, I split my knuckle to the bone on his front teeth,” (Lee 112). Francis was calling Atticus a “nigger-love” because Atticus defended an African-American in a court of law and this didn’t make Scout very ecstatic. I decided to call chapter nine “Defending the Defender” because Scout was standing up for his father because Atticus argued in a black person’s
In Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" shows and teaches many lessons throughout the passage. Some characters that learn lessons in this passage are Scout, Jem, and Dill. Scout and Jems father Atticus, is taking a case that affects their lives in so many ways. They all learn new things throughout the story and it impacts their lives greatly. There are lots of things including the trial mostly that change the perspective of the world they live in. The kids are living in the Great Depression and it shows just how bad things really where. Scout, Jem, and Dill have experiences that force them to mature and gain new insight.
In the first part of the novel, there is a very important quote used: "Shoot all the Bluejays you want if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. " 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is a novel about a young girl named Jean Louise Finch or Scout growing up in a very prejudiced American town in the 1930's. Her life is fairly normal until her father, a lawyer named Atticus, is asked to defend a black man charged with the rape of a white girl, Mayella Ewell. Atticus knows there is no chance he can win because his defendant, Tom Robinson is black and therefore guilty but as Atticus said himself: "Just because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win. " The jury persecutes Tom Robinson in his trial.
Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior, to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, and the struggle between blacks and whites. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single parent in a small southern town in the 1930's, is appointed by the local judge to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping a white woman. Friends and neighbors object when Atticus puts up a strong and spirited defense on behalf of the accused black man. Atticus renounces violence but stands up for what he believes in. He decides to defend Tom Robinson because if he did not, he would not only lose the respect of his children and the townspeople, but himself
When a group of children known as the Little Rock Nine stepped onto the campus of Central High School of Arkansas on September 4th, 1957, they changed history forever. By being the first black students to attend a traditionally white high school, the nine students helped move America toward a more fair and constitutional attitude toward colored people. To Kill a Mockingbird was written during this time period and deals with many of the same cultural issues even though it’s story takes place a few decades earlier. If this were not the case and the novel’s characters had grown up during the same time as the Little Rock Nine, there is no doubt that Scout, Atticus, Bob Ewell, and many other characters would have had strong opinions about and may have even taken action for or against the Little Rock Nine or the Civil Rights movement as a whole.
Back in the time period of To Kill A Mockingbird, blacks were referred to as “niggers”, and blamed for most things, even when they were innocent. An example of this is when a character named Nathan Radley hears someone in his cabbage patches. He shot his gun in the air and when people asked what happen, he automatically told them it was a “nigger”.
Scout is exposed to an unfair situation when the kids at her school start talking about and making fun of Atticus about defending a black person in the Tom Robinson case. “He announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended Negros. I denied it.” Scout said on chapter nine, page ninety nine. This shows how Scout was in an unfair situation and was confused as to why Atticus was being accused of defending negros.
The author George Elliot once said “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Appearance can be very misleading, and you shouldn't prejudge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone. This philosophical idea has been included in many works of literature, including the timeless classic To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. The novel takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Many citizens of Maycomb tend to make judgements based on outward appearances alone. In the novel, Lee uses minor characters such as Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose, and Tom Robinson to convey the book’s theme of prejudice.
The novel of To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the timeline and era of the 1930s which was synonymous for the renowned Great Depression. A tragedy in which social and economic change was urgently required yet old traditional beliefs and racial hierarchies including the Jim Crow laws were kept firm in position. These beliefs along with other aspects including behavior are clearly represented in the novel which leads the reader to infer that the time and setting of To Kill a Mockingbird is the 1930s. There are various methods and pieces of evidence that we draw upon that leads to the conclusion that the setting of the novel takes place in the
Scout Finch is a strong-headed figure who stands up for what she thinks is right, especially when defending her father. Even though she might not understand the exact implications of a slight to her father, she is quick to rush to defend him. Although her anger is sometimes misplaced, Scout’s frustration initiates from a boundless love for Atticus, and a wish to protect his reputation. In one instance, after Atticus is called a “nigger lover”, Scout pounces and pummels the instigator of the taunt. She later told her Uncle Jack, “I ain’t very sure what it means, but the way Francis said it…
was Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. In this novel Atticus is defending Tom Robinson in his case. He was called a, “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 somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves…. I certainly am [a nigger-lover]. I do my best to love everybody” (Lee 144). This quote illustrate how Atticus has nothing against colored people and treats them as how he would treat his normal clients. During his court trial, the white people kept on questioning why he defends Tom Robinson. “’If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doin' it?’ ‘For a number of reasons,’ said Atticus” (Lee 100). Atticus knows that society wouldn’t accept his actions and thus, he is practicing civil disobedience. Like King, Finch also practice civil disobedience in the name of
Throughout the time approaching the trial, Atticus is commonly called a, “N****r Lover.” Mrs. Dubose even says, “Yes indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I'll tell you! Your father's no better than the n****rs and trash he works for” (Lee 135). This quote shows the strong hatred that the citizens have toward the Negroes and anyone who supports them. They have this strong hatred for the Negroes for no real reason other than their skin color. Scout realizes what is going on with the racist remarks and cruel comments, but can not understand how one human could be so mean to another. However, the evils related to race are not the only evils that Scout experiences during the
Needless to say, because Atticus is defending Tom Robinson, an african american, it gets his family criticized for defending “Negros”. Cecil Jacob tells Scout that her father “defends nigger” (Lee 74). Mr. Bob Ewell calls Atticus a “nigger lover” for defending Tom Robinson. Ever since Atticus took the case for Tom Robinson, The Finches became from being applauded to criticized for defending Robinson, and again applauded for trying his best to defend Tom
Although there might be many themes of To Kill a Mockingbird one of the biggest one that stands out is the meaning of Harper Lee title. To Kill a Mockingbird’s title is symbolising that you don't want to kill something that isn't bothering or harming anyone.Tom Robinson got charged for a crime he did not do, and Boo Radley got rumors about him.It is wrong to kill a mocking bird, just because you dont like its
Atticus Finch does not let anyone else's opinion affect what his beliefs are. In chapter eleven of "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus explains to Scout what a "nigger-lover" is. He tells Scout, "It's hard to explain-ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want to use a common, ugly term to label somebody" (Lee 113). Obviously, Atticus doesn't believe the term is funny or clever. The southern town of Maycomb, Alabama had adopted this term as a racial slur. All throughout the trial of Tom Robinson, racist white people judged Atticus for defending a black man. This racism has now been transferred into schools across the country.
Scout Finch, the youngest child of Atticus Finch, narrates the story. It is summer and her cousin Dill and brother Jem are her companions and playmates. They play all summer long until Dill has to go back home to Maridian and Scout and her brother start school. The Atticus’ maid, a black woman by the name of Calpurnia, is like a mother to the children. While playing, Scout and Jem discover small trinkets in a knothole in an old oak tree on the Radley property. Summer rolls around again and Dill comes back to visit. A sence of discrimination develops towards the Radley’s because of their race. Scout forms a friendship with her neighbor Miss Maudie, whose house is later burnt down. She tells Scout to respect Boo Radley and treat him like a person. Treasures keep appearing in the knothole until it is filled with cement to prevent decay. As winter comes it snows for the first time in a century. Boo gives scout a blanket and she finally understands her father’s and Miss Maudie’s point of view and treats him respectfully. Scout and Jem receive air guns for Christmas, and promise Atticus never to shoot a mockingbird, for they are peaceful and don’t deserve to die in that manner. Atticus then takes a case defending a black man accused of rape. He knows that such a case will bring trouble for his family but he takes it anyways. This is the sense of courage he tries to instill in his son Jem.