Coulter Weiler Mr. McCabe ENG 2DI 1 April 2015 To kill or not to kill, that is the question. In the story of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the world of racial prejudice is revealed in a series of events through the eyes of a young child. Through this episodic nature, the story foreshadows the events to follow in part two. Atticus, whose name derives from the Greek word Attica - a central region in Ancient Greece with many literate people- , always taught Jem and Scout that in order to understand a man, you must see things in his point of view. This relates to later in the story when the white community doesn’t stand in Tom’s shoes before persecuting him. Later, Scout introduces characters who offer clues towards their parent’s behaviour …show more content…
(279) This quote by Atticus in the beginning of the book reveals his true character, and comes back in the end of the book when Tom is being maliciously persecuted by the white community. When you see the world through a different set of eyes, things you may have been blind to wont be invisible for long. If the white community had stepped in Tom’s shoes and set aside their misguided anger and hate, they would have seen that Mayella’s story didn’t add up. If they had taken the time to do so, they would have seen Bob Ewell as the true perpetrator of Mayella’s supposed rape and beating. Another example of this quote being relevant in the story though not in part two, is when Ms Dubose is trying to wean off of her morphine addiction and how she treated Jem poorly, even saying “[Atticus is] no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”(105) Jem reacted to this by taking the baton he had just purchased for Scout, and using it like a switch, mangling the stalks and stems of Ms. Dubose’s magnolias. If Jem had the knowledge of her struggle with addiction and put himself in her shoes, he would have seen how hard she was trying to be nice, but 1234the withdrawal and the sickness that comes along with it made her a nasty human being. Scout learned to walk around in Walter Cunningham’s shoes after Cal explained to her the situation he lived in, and the first place he was introduced was on Scout’s …show more content…
Walter Cunningham was one of the first characters to be introduced to us on the first day of school when Miss. Caroline realized he didn’t have a lunch and offered a quarter on the condition that he pays it back the next day. Walter, much like his father would have, turned down the offer due to his family’s code of ethics. Atticus, having been once of service to Walters father, accepted farmed goods from the Cunninghams as payment in lieu of money. Later at the courthouse when a group of men including Mr. Cunningham are trying to lynch Tom, Scout shames Mr. Cunningham when she says “‘I go to school with Walter,’ [she] began again. ‘He’s your boy, ain’t he? Ain’t he, sir? He’s in my grade, and he does right well. He’s a good boy,’ I added, ‘a real nice boy. We brought him home for dinner one time.’ “(154) reminding him of his and Atticus’ previous arrangement and also that she is his sons friend, and effectively reminding him that what he did next she would remember. That day Scout provided a protective role for Tom, much like Arthur Radley did for Jem as well as
In addition to being a lawyer, Atticus enjoys being a father to Jem and Scout. When Jem and Scout found out that their father would be defending a black person, they knew immediately that there would be much controversy, humiliation from the people of Maycomb and great difficulty keeping Tom alive for the trial. It was not long when Atticus had to leave the house very late to go to jail, where Tom was kept because many white people wanted to kill him. Worrying about their father, Jem and Scout sneak out of the house to find him. A self-appointed lynch mob has gathered on the jail to take justice into their own hands. Scout decides to talk to Walter Cunningham, one of the members of the mob. She talks about how her father Atticus thought that "entailments are bad "(154 ) " and that his boy Walter is a real nice boy and tell him I said hey"(154). Upon hearing this, the mob realized that Atticus cannot be all bad if he has such a nice daughter as Scout. Atticus, with some unexpected help from his children, faces down the mob and cause them to break up the potential lynching of the man behind bars. Having gone to a black church earlier, the children found out that Tom is actually a kind person, church-going and a good husband and father to his children.
What does it mean to be a good parent? The most common definition of a good parent is one who makes their children feel valued and loved, by teaching them the difference between right and wrong. At the end of the day, the most essential thing is to create a nurturing environment where your children feel like they can mature into confident, independent, and caring adults. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird defines what a true parent really is thought hardships and struggles throughout the book. The story is set in the Depression era of a little town in southern Alabama that is struggling with thick prejudice on a colored rape case. The story is told through a character
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.
He asks Scout to look at things from Miss. Caroline's point of view to see how she may struggle with her new job. He says to Scout ‘“you never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view”’, Scout says sir but Atticus replies ‘“until you climb into their skin and walk around in it”’ (Lee 39). I think these quotes relate to my thesis because it demonstrates empathy on how Atticus understands the situation and Miss Caroline’s point of
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the character Jem has the personality trait of being a good older brother. In Chapter 9, Atticus is talking to Uncle Jack about Scout and brings up Jem in the conversation. “Jem’s getting older and she follows his example a good bit now.” (Lee, pg. 116) This shows how Jem has the personality trait of being a good older brother because Jem is a good kid and he makes a good example for Scout to follow. If he continues to be a good example to Scout, she will learn from him in good ways. In Chapter 10, Jem and Scout go out exploring together with their air rifles. “...Jem and I decided to go exploring with our air rifles.” (Lee, pg. 122) This quote shows that Jem has the trait of being a good older brother
In his concluding argument, Atticus uses imagery, diction, and tone to explain Tom’s innocence. One instance in which he used imagery to better his argument was when he was explaining Mayella’s misconduct with Tom in her home. Atticus pried, “’No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards’” (Lee 204). This figurative language initially puts blame on Mayella and begins to explain the severity of her kissing Tom. Although Mayella only sought out Tom for comfort and attention, no one else would see it this way. Her entire reputation, though never very respectable, would be ruined if she was caught kissing a Negro. Even though interracial relationships are quite normal today, African Americans had an entire different identity back then. They were dirty, immoral, and too
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the author uses irony, conflict and tone to illustrate that people are quick to bicker, but it takes courage to strike back with poise.
While watching Atticus during the trial, Scout learned a lot about her father. She learned that he was more than just an ordinary man to the Negroes. He was defending Tom Robinson, which meant a lot to them, because not many white people in the county would do a thing like that. Very few, if any, white men would defend a black man in a trial in a segregated county during the 1930’s. Because of what Atticus did more people, both white and black, gained respect for him. Scout saw that to the neighborhood people, Atticus was a very wise man, and a very good man, also. While Scout was watching from he balcony, she saw her father do something she had never seen. He told Bob Ewell to write his name on a sheet of paper. Scout saw that Bob was left handed, so he couldn’t have beaten up Mayella, because her black eye was on the right side of her face.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee argues that because Jem is able to act with integrity despite potential risks, he should be seen as a courageous young man. In the middle of the night, Jem decides he wants to sneak into the Radley’s backyard to retrieve the pants he had left. Prior to this decision, Mr. Nathan Radley states that he has a gun, and threatens to shoot the next person he sees in his yard. While trying to explain his reasonings to Scout, Jem says, “‘Maybe so, but-I just wanna keep it that way, Scout. We shouldn'a done that tonight, Scout.’” Jem uses the phrase “shouldn’a.” Not only does this phrase show regret, but in thim s instance it shows knowledge and maturity. Throughout this novel, Harper Lee depicts the respect
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, a poet who led the Transcendentalist movement, wrote this quote to inspire people to challenge the status quo and lead others to make a change. Atticus Finch, a character in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, represents Emerson’s message because he stands up for his ideals in a town where strict social standards are eminent and those who do not follow them are shunned. The novel is set in the South during the 1930’s where racial segregation is a serious occurrence, so when Atticus defends a black man, Tom Robinson, in court many of the townsfolk begin to turn their back on him. However, this treatment dose not stop Atticus from using all of his skill as a lawyer to try to set Tom free and fight for his rights. Atticus’ determination and justification toward equality ends up causing many people to rethink some of their social standards regarding the black folk, therefore; Atticus truly went where “there is no path” because no one in the town of Maycomb has ever went against the status quo like he had before. He also left a trail for other folk to follow in his children, Jem and Scout, because they demonstrate Atticus’ teachings and beliefs. They were with Atticus when he first got the court case
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” said Atticus Finch from the book To Kill a Mockingbird. I agree a lot with this quote because what it is saying is that you shouldn’t judge someone about how they look, you should get to know them. In this book, all they do is judge people by their color and that’s why Tom Robinson gets sent to jail because no one got to know him for who he is and they assumed he was guilty because of his skin color. This would not happen in our society today.
In addition, Scout learns about morality from Atticus after she is taunted at school. Cecil Jacobs begins giving Scout trouble at school because Atticus is defending a black man. Scout isn’t sure what he means by that or why it is such a bad thing, so she consults Atticus to learn more about the matter. Atticus explains to Scout that he is defending Tom Robinson, a black man, in a trial. Atticus says he has to do it although he knows he isn’t going to win, he says “‘ If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t this county in the state legislature. I couldn't even tell you and Jem not to do something again’’’ (100). Atticus wants to fight for what he believes is right, even if there is almost no chance of him winning. In addition, Atticus asks Scout not to fight when someone makes comments about him or this case. Through Atticus actions, Scout learns to have integrity, even if it means making tough decisions. For example, Scout walks away from a
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, education came to be a concern for families due to poverty. Poverty creates obstacles to an equal chance at education, it is by far harder to receive schooling if a family is struggling with money.
This is the most important passage for a few reasons. First of all, it shows Scout that sometimes what she considers right, like talking like white-folks', isn't what is right to other people. Also it opens her eyes to the fact that negroes and whites might not be as different as she always thought if people like Cal can go back and forth between talking like white folk and negroes so easily. In addition, Scout is learning that sometimes behaving slightly different around some people, like acting more calm or speaking slightly different than normal, can be beneficial to both parties. Overall, this passage shows many social skills that Scout learned by going to church with Cal. These skills will help her grow as a person and will hopefully aid
“You’ll never leave” is carved faintly into the brick wall of the small jail cell, probably from its last guest. Every day, I started to believe the phrase more and more. I lay on the uncomfortable cot, pretending to be asleep. I’m lonely, but I’m not alone. I can hear him breathing and slowly flipping the pages of the newspaper; I assume it’s Mr. Heck Tate.