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To kill mockingbird settings and characterization
To Kill a Mockingbird Main Characters though out the book
To kill mockingbird settings and characterization
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The passage I have chosen is from the book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In this passage Atticus Finch is trying to teach his children, Scout and Jem, the real or his definition of the word courage. He is explaining to his children that courage is more than just men with guns. He says to not connect courage with fighting, but to associate it with standing up for what you believe in. It takes little character to point a gun and pull a trigger, but it takes a whole lot of courage to accept a difficult challenge in which you can ultimately be defeated in. It made me realize that courage goes beyond a physical act, it shows one's integrity and strength. I learned that a person is courageous when they follow their own beliefs and stick to
them no matter what the consequences might be or if it will cause them physical pain and sufferings in their life. Real courage is fighting for what you believe is right, regardless if you lose or win the battle. Or even if we think our fight is lost before it started, we should never give up and try to prove to the people who did not believe in us wrong. It is doing the right thing even if it is not the easiest solution. This passage was a real inspiration for me to never back down on what I believe.
Courage exists in several forms in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. As defined by Atticus Finch, real courage "…when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (149). The novel explores the how this real courage can be shown in different ways through the lives of many characters in Maycomb, particularly, Tom Robinson, Mrs. Dubose, and Atticus. Their courage is evident through their lifestyle, actions, and beliefs.
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.
To be courageous you cannot be deterred by possible outcomes that may involve danger or pain. To be courageous you have to be more than brave you have to be undaunted and have a heart of a lion. Through Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird courage and determination are embedded through the character’s actions. Atticus Finch, a lawyer in Maycomb County, explains to his son Jem, “I wanted him to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see if through no matter what.(Lee 149)” Through this quote Harper Lee is trying to convey that, real courage is more than appearance it is a significant action
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.
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 94). This quote, delivered in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, introduces the mockingbird which is incorporated symbolically throughout the novel. The mockingbird, in presenting its gifts of music and beauty, is the symbol of Atticus’s practice of altruism because he believes in society’s responsibility to protect those who are vulnerable and innocent.
Few months had passed since Boo Radley came out of his house and our incident with Bob Ewell. The gossip of his death did not exist any longer. Miss Stephanie Crawford had been telling Maycomb County how Bob Ewell’s body was dragged away with a garbage truck. Most women responded with the usual curiosity that only Miss Stephanie Crawford could arouse.
In chapter 16 of To Kill a Mocking Bird, the reader sees that racism during this era goes beyond a black and white skin color dichotomy. People of mixed race experience racism as well. Before the infamous trial of Tom Robinson, Jem explains to Scout what a mixed child is. Jem replies, “Half white, half colored… They’re real sad.” (p.215) Jem then goes on to explain the life of the “tragic mulatto”; this is the life of someone that isn’t accepted anywhere or by anyone.
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.
The 60s. They seem so long ago. The Vietnam War, the first GPS satellite, a time of 8-tracks and cassette tapes, they seem like so long ago. The 60s is also when To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was first published, a majorly successful book written about a majorly controversial topic. Lee sets out to tackle the topic by telling a story through the perspective of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, a nine year old girl. The story focuses on the events of the Finches, the Ewells, a trial of a black man, and Boo Radley, all in the town of Maycomb. Using these characters, Harper Lee shows how racism is something that is learned through society, and can be avoided.
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.
Imagine everything was perfect. Not a single person had any problems. Now imagine everything wrong in the world. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, a little girl grows up without a mother. The little girl, who prefers to be called Scout dresses up in overalls. In this time period most girls are expected to wear dresses. Scout’s father, Atticus, brings her up in his beliefs, no matter who tells him differently. In their hometown Maycomb County, people are extremely judgmental. Scout, along with her family, must defeat evils of racism, oppression of women, and getting through the struggles of growing up.
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
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” A Quote by Nelson Mandela Is explained and shown and is demonstrated in the book “To Kill A Mockingbird” By H. Lee's use of how stereotypical and prejudiced thoughts lead to racism and unfair and untrue judgment. And is reflected by Stereotypes, and prejudice thoughts and how they lead to untrue truths and false judgment. Harper Lee also reflects the Great Depression because “To Kill A Mockingbird”
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.