Confidence is a feeling of self-assurance and trust in yourself. A responsible act is an act that someone commits that serves their role or purpose, it is acting on your obligations. Some characters that develop confidence to act responsibly are Jeremy “Jem” Finch and Jean Louise “Scout” Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Awasin Meewasin in Lost in the Barrens by Farley Mowat shows this confidence. The Narrator in “The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant,” by W.D. Wetherell shows the confidence to act responsibly. Rolfe Carlé in “And of Clay are we Created,” by Isabel Allende and translated by Margaret Sayers Peden also shows this confidence. Growing in confidence to act responsibly results in completing an obligation to care for something or fulfill a role.
Jean Louise “Scout” Finch develops this confidence to act responsibly. This confidence begins to develop when Atticus Finch tells Scout that you never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view and until you walk in his skin. “Dill asked if I’d like to have a poke at Boo Radley. I said I didn’t think it’d be nice to
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bother him, and spent the rest of the afternoon filling Dill in on last winter’s events”(150). This act is responsible because it reflects Scout’s maturity and the confidence she gains from what Atticus tells her. This act shows Arthur “Boo” Radley the respect he deserves. Now that Scout realizes that she does not understand what life is like for Boo, she knows that she would not like to be bothered the way she bothers Boo. This results in her understanding other people in a more open way, allowing her to be confident in her interaction and opinions of other people. Awasin Meewasin achieves the confidence to act responsibly. This confidence is gained throughout his life as an Indian and his understanding and connection to the wilderness. “Best forget about Otanak, Jamie, No use blaming the wolves. If anybody is to blame, it’s us. It almost always happens when you take a wild animal and make a pet of it”(Mowat 145). This act is responsible because although Awasin is also sad and distraught over Otanak’s death, he still understands that they must move forward and survive, no matter what happens. This is a direct result of the development of confidence because Awasin knows from past experience that this happens. His life as a native and his previous experiences in the barrens has taught him that he must do what is necessary to survive and has given him the confidence to understand the circumstances and resolve the problem. This confidence allows him to act responsibly because he knows what must be done and that he and Jamie must move on, which allows him to calm Jamie and make him understand the situation. Awasin gains the confidence to act responsibly.
This confidence is gained again throughout his life as a native and his experience being lost in the barrens. “I was desperate when I heard you coming… I grabbed the rifle from you and began shooting”(60). This act is clearly responsible because Awasin saves his dogs, Jamie, and himself. After seeing one of his dogs injured and his friend pass out, he should have lost all hope and given up, which would mean certain death for all of them, but his confidence in himself allows him to singlehandedly kill the great barrens bear. This confidence is gave him the hope and courage he needs and allows him to remain calm and effective in an extreme life or death situation. This all results in Awasin saving his friend and dogs under extreme pressure. This act allows them to survive and eventually escape the barrens
alive. Rolfe Carlé in “And of Clay are we Created” acquires the confidence to act responsibly. He gains this confidence when he realizes Azucena will die and he accepts that there is nothing either of them can do. “I watched as he leaned down to kiss her poor forehead, consumed by a sweet, sad emotion he could not name. I felt how in that instant, both were saved from despair”(Allende 265). Although not trying to save her may seem irresponsible, it was the act of consoling and loving that truly saves them both. This is the result of Rolfe's confidence and acceptance of Azucena’s inevitable death, which makes him understand that he must console and heal Azucena’s internal wounds before she dies. Instead of continuing to try to save her, he does what really needs to be done and consoles her, and because of this, the result is that they are both saved from despair. The Narrator in “The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant” also attains the confidence to act responsibly. This confidence is attained when he realizes that there will be other Sheila Mants in his life and that it isn’t his only chance. “...I came close once or twice, it was these secret, hidden night tuggings in the night that claimed me, and I never made the same mistake again”(Wetherell 250). This act is responsible because he proceeds to never make such a mistake again. He learns from his previous mistakes that he has his whole life ahead of him and will have more opportunities to find another Sheila Mant. It is a result of the development of confidence because he now realizes that this is just one chapter in his life. He is now confident in his decisions because of the lessons he learns from this experience. This development of confidence allows him to now act responsibly in his decisions and make the correct choice based off of this experience. Jeremy “Jem” Finch develops the confidence to act responsibly. Jem develops this confidence at the end of the trial when Tom Robinson is determined guilty, even when a substantial amount of evidence proves otherwise. “Why couldn’t I mash him?” I asked. “Because they don’t bother you,” Jem answered in the darkness”(Lee 242). This is when Scout wants to kill a roly-poly bug that crawls into the house. Once Jem sees the unfair verdict at the trial, he now wants to protect the innocent and harmless. This act is responsible because Jem’s belief is that he should not harm those who have done nothing wrong, but instead help them, which is what he does with this bug. This takes confidence because this action of protecting the innocent includes those condemned by society, which in this case, like Tom Robinson, is the roly-poly bug. Jem’s confidence developed at the end of the trial results in his eagerness to protect and help those that are innocent and harmless, including those condemned by society. The ability to act responsibly requires someone to have confidence in themselves and their values. To be able to complete an obligation or fulfill a role, you must grow in confidence to act responsibly.
In the 1930’s, turmoil has erupted in Maycomb, Alabama all because the young lady Mayella Ewell has accused African-American Tom Robinson of raping and sexually assaulting her. Yet, Mayella Ewell has no power because of her race, class, and gender. At the time, Maycomb, Alabama was at the peak of segregation against African-Americans. Mayella Ewell may be white, but that does not mean her class, gender, nor her race give her power.
Atticus, the father of Jem and Scout, was right when he said, ¨you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.¨ Scout realizes that Boo Radley is not who everyone rumors him out to be. Scout learns that you need to spend time with a person to find out who he truly is. She learns this after walking Boo Radley home after the disturbing experience the Finch kids had been in. Scout finally understood what life looked like from Boo Radley's perspective when she is standing with him on his front porch. Also, when Scout talks to Atticus at the end of the book he shows her how she has turned into a wonderful young lady. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops the theme that believing rumors will lead you to false assumptions unless you have walked in that person's shoes through imagery, characterization, and point of view.
Before the statement, she liked to assume information and had little understanding of others. During her first day of school, Scout spoke to Miss Caroline and Scout stated,”Walter’s one of the Cunninghams” (26). She just assumed that Miss Caroline understood these things about Maycomb. However, after Atticus makes the statement about understanding from another’s point of view, Scout turns into a new woman. She even finds herself understanding Boo Radley when she recalled,”Atticus was right… just standing on the Radley porch was enough” (374). Scout has started to gain the quality of understanding people from their points of
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a novel by Harper Lee, that teaches many themes, one of which being very important is courage. Many people think that courage is a man with a gun in his hand, but Lee’s definition is much different. She thinks that courage is when you know that you’re beaten before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. The first quote I have to further explain this is early in the story when Atticus tells Jem and Scout about the court case he is handling. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 101). Atticus knows he won’t win the court case, but he still tries his best and doesn’t falter whatsoever. Many people scrutinize him for defending a negro, but he ignores them like he should, and shows maturity and courage.
Jean Louise Finch responds to her own acts of courage by finding her righteous moral ground. The young Finch girl stepped between a potentially violent conflict, between Atticus and a group of male residents of Maycomb. Scout approached the conflict frightened, and still decided to intervene, mistaking her courage for foolishness. Jean Louise later comes to believe acting courageously is not acting without fear, but rather facing it knowing the possible consequences. Jean resolved the conflict through renewing their sense of integrity. By reminding the resident (Mr. Cunningham) of his own son, the kindness Atticus and his family showed him despite the way he was usually acknowledged, and the devotion Atticus had to helping him, Scout helped Mr. Cunningham and his accomplices see the irrationality in their behavior. Her own words helped her to sort out her own beliefs; of equality, and fairness by reminding him (or rather them) of the morally sound way her, and her family act. Jean Louise acted with courage, and that helped in the building of her integrity.
The quote by Zora Neale Hurston, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer,” shows that coming of age is a tricky project that takes time and effort. In Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird, she writes about Scout Finch, the narrator, reflecting on her past and the challenges she went through in her hometown, Maycomb, with her brother Jem and childhood friend Dill.. Harper Lee uses the young characters in the novel to show experiences, their role models, and conflict help shape a person from child to adult.
“Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird." A quote from the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird depicts the hardships of growing up and seeing the world around you being controlled by prejudice and racism. Lee implies that innocence is not seen as the assumption that people are naturally good but is more of a mature perspective gained from facing immorality.
Courage is not something that we are born with, it is a skill that takes time to learn and only a few are lucky enough to have it. To Kill a Mockingbird is not only about life in a world full of hate, it is about standing up for anyone’s beliefs being brave enough to do it. In this story, Harper Lee says “Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (Lee 112). In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates courage through Atticus Finch, Mrs. Dubose, and Arthur Radley.
Marcus Aurelius once said, “Life is neither good or evil, but only a place for good and evil.” In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the character of Maycomb was living proof of this quote. Elderly and stubborn, he refused to change no matter how much time went by. The days moved slowly for him, though. Always merciless and harsh, he was stuck in an era that had long been passed in other parts of the world. Maycomb refused to believe that people unlike him were still equal to him. The characters of Mrs. Dubose, Bob Ewell, and Miss Gates showcased the aspects of Maycomb. Mrs. Dubose was wrathful and brutal to Scout, Jem, and Atticus when they tried to be kind. Bob Ewell attempted to kill Scout and Jem just to get revenge on Atticus. Miss Gates was a hypocrite, pitying the Jews, but being cruel to African Americans. Maycomb was old, hateful,
“Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.
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...
a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but
Scout Finch is not the stereotypical girl from the 1930’s. Agents the wishes of everyone around her, she grows up in overalls instead of dresses. Scout plays in the dirt and sand, instead of in the kitchen. In the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird, by Harper Lee, Scout is the wild spirited narrator, growing up in the small town of Maycomb. As she gets older, she learns mostly from her father Atticus how to interact with people. Scout learns to show dignity and respect to everyone, under any circumstances.
“You never really understood a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around it.” Atticus Finch is a man of extreme integrity. He, as both a lawyer and a human being, stands up for his democratic beliefs and encourages his children to stand up for their own, though they may stand alone. Harper Lee showed how far respect went in To Kill a Mockingbird when Atticus defended Tom Robinson in his rape trial. He did not think twice about being ridiculed by th...