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To kill a mockingbird in today's society thesis
Racial Discrimination in the Criminal Justice System
Racial prejudice in the court system
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Recommended: To kill a mockingbird in today's society thesis
In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird majority is based on the symbol of a mockingbird. In the novel it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because “mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy” (Lee,90). The mockingbird symbol is developed through three characters: Scout Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley. Each character is uniquely a symbol created because of society. First Scout Finch is a representation of a mockingbird in Harper Lee’s classic To Kill A Mockingbird. Mrs. Merriweather casted Scout to play a ham in her pageant and when Scout missed her cue to proceed on stage she got in trouble. Mrs. Merriweather made Scout feel bad and “told [her, she] had ruined her pageant” (258). Thought Scout was late going on stage and Mrs.Merriweather was mad at Scout, she got blamed for the pageant being ruined when it had many applause at the end of the show. Miss.Caroline also upsets Scout on her first day of grade one about having the ability to read and write at the grade one level. Miss.Caroline tells Scout that her “father does not know how to teach” (17) …show more content…
In trial Atticus brought up the fact that not one called a doctor about Mayella’s harmed body and that Tom had a disabled left arm which the violent beating came from. Many say “to begin with [the] case should never have come to trial. This case is a simple as black and white” (203). The state did not produce any form of medical evidence that Tom Raped Mayella but he was charged guilty anyway because in the men's hearts a white is better than a black. Tom was sent to jail and when he was running outside he was shot dead. Atticus believes Tom was tired of being black. Atticus said “the guards called him to stop. They fired a few shots in the air, then to kill” (235). Tom preferred to take his own chances and escapes killed for a crime her did not do. Tom is an example of a mockingbird because society's outlook on black
Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, communicates a central idea that society has good and bad qualities by using an epigraphic symbol and dynamic characterization of the novel’s protagonist, Scout. The theme of To Kill a Mockingbird is that individuals affect society in both good and bad aspects. Lee demonstrates this idea by utilizing a mockingbird as the primary symbol of the novel and characterizing Scout to reveal and understand that both good and bad exist in the world. Scout learns that all a mockingbird does is good, it sings, but never does anything that people hate (Lee 90). In the novel, mockingbirds ...
Most would argue that Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird is an uplifting story about hope and youth. In reality, it is a sad story about two children, Jem and Scout, losing their innocence through treacherous life experience. To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age story about childhood in the deep south during the great depression. It speaks about the concepts of racism, innocence and justice as the protagonists, Scout and Jem, struggle with coming of age. The Finch children lose their innocence throughout the book in many ways, such as being involved with the trial, the lynch mob, and Bob Ewell's death. At it’s core, TKAM is a story about youth, and the loss thereof. When Scout and Jem are involved in the lynch mob, they lose their
When children grow up, they face difficult problems, and. they learn to cope and take responsibility. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a flashback about two kids that spans over a few years. Jem ages from ten to thirteen over the course of the novel, and undergoes much change, as his sister describes him. Over the years, he is exposed to issues adults face, and eventually shows an understanding of racism and innocence. As Jem grows up, his view on courage also changes. Jem follows his father's footsteps, and gets much of his knowledge from him.
Tom was shot by 17 bullets for no reason, they killed him so they could prove to the others that they would chose a white man word over a black man's anyday. Likewise, mockingbirds are killed for no reason too, just for personal enjoyment. After Tom’s death, Mr. underwood writes an editorial that describes Tom’s death as the “senseless slaughter of a songbird”. This means that the innocent and warm hearted Tom was judged by the color of his skin and was misjudged by people in Maycomb, just like how the mockingbird was killed by people. Tom realizing that he’s going to be stuck in prison forever tried to make a run for it “we had such a good chance. I guess Tom was tired of white men’s chances and prefered to take his own”. (Pg.236). Tom tried to escape just like a mockingbird that escapes from it’s cage to only be shot by men. The people in Maycomb never understood that what they did to Tom was wrong and never knew that Tom was trying to escape from his death, this can relate to the mockingbirds that get killed by people without them noticing that they mean no harm and that they’re only here to bring us happiness with their music. Tom Robinson lives like a mockingbird, he’s an innocent, kind, loving person who is destroyed by evil
because of his race; one only needs a single bullet to kill. Tom Robinson most likely felt forced to take the easy way out in fear of putting his family in more danger and poverty. The fatal outcome of Tom’s trial helps to prove how disastrous racial discrimination's effect can be on people, no matter what race they are. In conclusion, racial discrimination is evident within To Kill a Mockingbird through many of the characters.
Scout always listening to the knowledge of her teachers when she was younger makes her innocent and naive. First, Scout’s constant obedience to her teachers and lack of retaliation for her beliefs express her naiveness: “Now tell your father not to teach you anymore. It’s best to begin reading with a fresh mind. You tell him I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage...Your father does not know how to teach. You can have a seat now” (Lee 23). This quote expresses how Scout was belittled by her teacher for reading outside of school. This aggravates Scout, however she holds in her anger, like any child, and she is forced to sit down at the command of her teacher, Miss Caroline. Also, Scout couldn’t defend herself when she explained to
One of the things that Atticus says to the people of the court is that “ she tried to put away her evidence of her offence away for her but in this case, she was no child hiding stolen contraband: she struck out her victim of necessity she put him away from her -he must be removed from the presence of the world.” What Atticus is trying to say here is that if Tom was not a black man then this case would not be going on but because he is black there is a case on to prove he really did rape Mayella Ewell. Another thing that Atticus said is that “her father saw it”. What Atticus is trying to say here is that if Bob Ewell saw the rape then why would he not chase after Tom Robinson or call the doctor before he even called the cops. If she had been raped the first thing that Bob should have done would be to call the doctor for the bruises she got during the attack. This case should not even be going on here because both of the people that say that Tom Robinson raped Mayella Ewell where both racist so you can’t really tell if they are really telling the truth about if Tom Robison really do this horrible crime
In the novel “To kill a mockingbird” by Harper Lee, a character named Jem Finch is a round character. Jem is a round character because throughout the story several of his character traits are revealed. A few character traits revealed are Jem is brave, kind-hearted and stalwart. Therefore, Jem is a round character. Firstly, Jem is a round character because reveals his bravery several times. This is revealed through the narrator, “In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare” implying that no matter how risky or scary the dare, he would follow through (16). Secondly, Jem is a round character because his kind-hearted nature is revealed. He reveals this when he invites Walter Cunningham home for lunch. “Our daddy’s a friend of your daddy’s.
As a child grows, many people influence their development as a person. Some people impact more than others, and a select few really leave their mark. In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” several characters play this role. Among them, Miss Maudie Atkinson, a woman who proves herself a strong character, prevails as the one who has the greatest impact on Scout Finch, the protagonist of this novel. As Scout matures and grows up, her views on the world around her change. Through subtle yet effective ways, Miss Maudie teaches Scout many life lessons about being humble, judging, and attitude, all of which ultimately have a great effect on the kind of person Scout develops into and her outlook on the world.
Atticus was appointed to defend Tom Robinson in a court trial. Tom was a black man that was being incriminated for allegedly raping Mayella Ewell (Lee, 86). Her father, Bob Ewell, accused Tom of the crime for the reason that Tom ran away from the Ewell household on the day that Mayella was allegedly raped. From the rumors they have heard about him, he seems like a mysteriously strange human being.
People from all over Maycomb filled the courthouse to see a negro fight against a white man's word. During the trial Lee has Atticus insinuate that Tom Robinson did not touch Mayella and it was her father who took advantage of her. During Mr. Ewell’s testimony Atticus asks him to write his name, when Mr. Ewell did so Atticus pointed out he was left handed. Earlier in Mr. Tate’s testimony it was proven Mayella’s injuries were on the right side of her body, “Oh yes, that’d make it her right. It was her right eye, she was bunged up on that side of her face” (Lee 170). Atticus, simply proving that “If her right eye was blacked and she was beaten mostly on the right side of the face, it would tend to show that a left - handed person did it” (Lee 180). It was confirmed that when Bob Ewell wrote his name he used his left hand, but there was still Tom who could till easily be left handed. When Tom Robinson was getting sworn in he had trouble getting his left hand on the bible and keeping it there “he guided his arm to the Bible and his rubber-like left hand sought contact with the black binding”, “as he raised his right hand, the useless one slipped off the Bible and hit the clerk’s table” (Lee 193). The validation in this section of the novel is that Tom Robinson was not left - handed, his left hand could not even function, he was crippled
In this world, everyone has an equal right; however, many people are getting falsely accused of acts they did not commit even though they are innocent. Mockingbirds, one of the most innocent birds, sing their heart out for people to enjoy, however, they getting killed every day. In this novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many racial prejudices going on. Finches stand near the top of the social hierarchy, with Cunningham and Ewells underneath. Black community in Maycomb is even below the Ewells, even if they were a hard worker; they were not treated equally. The “mockingbirds” represents the idea of innocence, so killing a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the book, many characters are considered a mockingbird. Three examples are Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Those three characters are innocent; they are kind and were never harmful to others. However, they were destroyed through contact of evil. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the mockingbirds symbolizes the idea of innocence, and Tom, Boo, and Mr. Raymond are considered one of it.
This man is unfortunately victimized since his society does not believe he is innocent due to the color of his skin. Being the black man that Tom is, it is clear that “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed” (241). There is no way that a black man’s words would override the voice of a white person. No testimony, evidence or speech can help Tom prove he is not guilty. Atticus understands that Tom is victimized by racism, so he explains: “When it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (220).
Harper Lee uses symbolizes the innocent mockingbird as a symbol through several characters in the novel. In particular,
Harper Lee utilised narrative voice and structure through the exploration of Scout’s perspectives and thoughts to portray the loss of innocence. Loss of innocence was explored throughout the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee through the use of symbols and analogies. The main characters discussed and portrayed in the book were Tim Johnson, the Mockingbirds and Boo Radley. Tim Johnson was a neighbourhood dog who appeared down the Finch’s street one day, but looked very ill and was rabid. Calpurnia, the black maid working at the Finch’s, rang Atticus and he shot it.