To Kill A Mockingbird Equality

463 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: What are Harper Lee's ideas on social justice in To Kill a Mockingbird

During the 1930s social inequality was widespread for marginalized groups in the south. The author puts the reader into a situation where Scout the main character in the book is learning about discrimination from her father. In To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee incorporates dialogue to illustrate one of the themes in the book; equality. Her father is a very important mentor to Scout and teaches her about equality, which she learns this through her small conversations with her dad.
The influence of people like Scout’s father, have greatly impacted Scout as a character in the book and her grip on what is right. Atticus and Scout were talking about Hitler and how he was persecuting Jews. When Scout asks Atticus if it’s okay to hate Hitler for …show more content…

When Atticus is supporting Tom Robinson and is speaking to everyone in the courtroom, his final words are used to convince them that Tom Robinson is innocent and that all people are created equally. Atticus says, “In the name of God, do your duty”(275). Atticus believes that the jury will make Tom Robinson guilty despite the evidence at hand but wants to get in the hearts of the people and fights the case because he believes in equality. Atticus stuck to his morals and a fair trial for Tom Robinson which connects with equality one of the themes of the book. Many of the white people in the courtroom didn’t realize how immoral the system was till Atticus opened their eyes. Atticus wanted there to be equality for everyone no matter what they did and who they were.
Harper Lee incorporates dialogue to illustrate one of the themes in the book which was equality. No matter who someone is they should be treated equally and society can succeed the virtues of people's morals. Atticus personified equality through his speech and influenced his whole society to believe in equality. During the 1930’s there was widespread inequality between races and there were only a few people who stood up for equality. Through Harper Lee’s writing she shows readers that no matter what social class or race someone has they can stand up for

Show More
Related

  • How Does Atticus Use Ethos In To Kill A Mockingbird

    627 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus uses ethos to challenge the jury’s pre-existing minds about race. Atticus declares, “I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty.” Atticus attempts to make one last plea to the jury to find Tom Robinson innocent of the crime. Atticus is trying to tell the jury that this case is no longer just about freeing his client, but to stand up for truth and humanity. Atticus is emotionally attached to the case

    Read More

  • Who Is Atticus's Speech In To Kill A Mockingbird

    785 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his introduction, Atticus cautions the jury to be objective in their verdict, reminding them the doctrine of presumed innocence. He explains, “Gentlemen, 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 reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant.” His use of the word “but” is cautionary, warning the jurors that there is no place for personal bias in the court and highlighting their legal obligation. Additionally, he employs an impassioned voice in his emotional appeal, drawing attention to the ethical question of the trial. When he states, “This case is as simple as black and white,” he acknowledges the ideological nature of it, expressing distaste for the racial prejudice that brought Tom Robinson under the court’s gaze.

    Read More

  • Equality in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mocking Bird

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird - Equality & nbsp; Since the Civil War, civil rights of African Americans, as they are now called, have been fought over and disputed. During the Reconstruction era which followed the death of Lincoln, Blacks possessed the same rights and privileges as the whites. "But with the return of white man's government to the southern states, the blacks suffered under unfair rights and privileges compared to whites; (World 357). On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy, a 30-year old shoemaker, was put in jail for sitting in the "White" car of an east Louisiana Railroad train. Although Plessy was only one-eighth black, he was still required to sit in the colored car according to Louisiana state law.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - To Kill a Mockingbird - What is a Classic?

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nearly the whole last half of the book is about racism.  The attitude of the whole town is that Tom Robinson, because he is black and,"…all Negroes lie,…all Negroes are basically immoral beings,…all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women…"(Lee 207), will be found guilty regardless of how good a case Atticus makes for him.  There was substantial amount of evidence that suggests his innocence.  Even the prosecution's two witnesses' stories contradicted each other.  The jury did not give a guilty verdict it gave a racist verdict.  Not a verdict based on fact, but a verdict based on the color of a man's skin.  This is important because the author was not making this racism up; it was what it was like in those times.  She is trying to show how ignorant and blind people can be just because of differences between them, as well as how society treats racial minorities.

    Read More

  • Courage Demonstrated by Atticus, Boo and Scout in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Atticus chooses to defend Tom Robinson, he knows he will most likely lose the first trial. His friends and colleagues will talk behind his back for defending a black man under a capitol defense. He knows though that this is a trial in his life that he must defend in order for him to live the rest of his life with his head held up high.”For a number of reasons, Atticus said, The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again,’ Atticus says to Scout one night while explain to her why he is defending a black man. This shows Atticus’ high ideals and morals he has must be upheld by him if he is to live with himsel...

    Read More

  • Examples Of Diction In To Kill A Mockingbird

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Heart Of A Lion In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

    1344 Words  | 3 Pages

    Yet he took the case with no hesitation. Atticus knows the difference between what is fair and what is true justice. He is well aware that whites and blacks have many differences with one another, but is also educated enough to know that there truly is no diversity in equity, and tries to teach everyone including his children this. ”You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around it.(30)” Atticus is encouraging Scout to respect everyone and consider their true potential without considering false accusations in this quote. He applies what he teaches to his children to the people attending the Tom Robinson trial. Atticus is just one man, but with an unprecedented amount of sense of pride, intelligence, and justice. He reflects the image of the town’s people by showing them what they’ve allowed themselves to become based on their beliefs. He genuinely expresses their deepest consternation. In this quote he tells the audience what they are afraid to hear, but need to hear, “She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old uncle, but a strong young Negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards.(272)” After stating his point and releasing the profound truth Atticus causes for Mayella and Bob Ewell to lose their composure. Nevertheless people of most of the white people of Maycomb continue to refuse to believe that a white woman kissed a black man. But they undoubtedly believe that a black man with a useless left hand beat and raped an “innocent” white woman. Atticus could have predicted the outcome from before he even took the case and refused to defend Tom Robinson. But he

    Read More

  • Compassion and Tolerance in To Kill A Mockingbird

    629 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Atticus In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus did what no other person would do in Maycomb, he defended a negro man in court. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Atticus is a lawyer that has to defend Tom Robinson because Tom was accused of raping a white lady. Others in Maycomb don’t agree with Atticus because he took a black man’s words over a white woman’s word. Atticus is a man of morals with integrity, so he did the right thing and took Tom Robinson’s side. It makes sense for Atticus to take a stand to defend Tom Robinson because he follows his morals and the golden rule.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird: Influences on Scout from Interactions w/ Others

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On To Kill A Mockingbird

    1561 Words  | 4 Pages

    This type of discrimination made African American victims of jails and crimes that they did not even consider doing but were thought of doing because of racial segregation enforcement (popularity?) within the Southern society of the US. However, Atticus was different and believed that Tom robinson is innocent since he understood (understands?) how people discriminate others and was aware (is aware) of different types of prejudice (in that time period). So, due to Atticus’ good morals and values, he was willing to try his best to support the truth (who was

    Read More

  • Racism in To Kill A Mockingbird

    549 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tom Robinson’s trial, and in fact his entire life, was badly affected by racism. It is truly a testament to the corruption of society when a person who has earned a bad reputation is held in higher esteem than a person who was born with it, as is the case with Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson. Even though Tom was obviously honest in his testament, the jury sided with Bob Ewell because he was white. They made this decision despite the fact that the Ewell family was widely known to be a worthless part of society. Jem, not being racially prejudiced, could not understand this mentality. As Atticus pointed out, “If you (Jem) had been on the jury, son, and eleven other boys like you, Tom would be a free man.”

    Read More

  • To Kill a Mockingbird - Equality

    618 Words  | 2 Pages

    Few people are the same as they are on the street in their homes. Few people can treat others equally; no matter what colour their skin is. Atticus Finch is one of those precious few. Racism in the town of Maycomb is nothing but disguised by the polite smiles and ladies missionary meetings; although it is the strongest belief that each person of the town holds apart from some such as Atticus. Racism is an issue of great importance, yet to the eye of a visitor waltzing through, it's just a slight whisk of air.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Essay On Racial Equality

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    America has always been a country with different cultures, races, and people. Only, not everyone has been accepting of different kinds of people. A persons thoughts on another person can differ depending on a person's race, gender, or age. In Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, racial equality is nonexistent. The African Americans were treated like they weren’t people, and were totally isolated from the Maycomb, Alabama society. America will never achieve true racial and social equality because people are ignorant, have a history of being prejudiced, and are unjust.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Equality In To Kill A Mockingbird

    467 Words  | 1 Pages

    In To Kill a Mockingbird Taylor shows his stance on equality and the unfair treatment of Black people on a few occasions. Although he never says anything directly about the topic his actions speak louder than words. Judge Taylor through his actions shows that he wants everyone to be given a fair shot.

    Read More

More about To Kill A Mockingbird Equality

Open Document