To Kill a Mockingbird, the novel by Harper Lee embodies a work of Southern literature, set in the 1930s in a small town in Alabama. The book’s genre exemplifies a coming-of-age historical fiction story. The narrator, a young girl named Scout Finch, describes the lessons she and her brother Jem learn when their father, a lawyer named Atticus, defends an African American man who stands accused of raping a white woman. The novel’s premise revolves around the efforts of a father raising his children and guiding them in their moral development. Along the way, the book deals with the themes of courage, prejudice and maturity. These three concepts are defined differently by Atticus than by most of the other people in the town where he lives. According to Atticus, courage means doing what remains as right and resisting what remains as wrong, even if other people oppose you. In contrast to the prejudice of the townspeople, Atticus believes it important to treat everyone equally. Maturity, in Atticus’ view, refers to having a sense of conscience and seeking to protect those who remain innocent. As these definitions show, Atticus Finch displays a strong sense of ethics. His goal as a parent remains to pass his values on to his children. This paper will argue that Scout and Jem learn the true meanings of courage, prejudice and maturity through the influence of their father and the example he sets for them. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the author depicts courage in terms of doing that which serves as right, even when there exists little chance of success. As Atticus explains to Jem, real courage does not occur in the ability to fight or use a gun; rather, “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it thro... ... middle of paper ... ...ore, prejudice symbolizes an evil force that causes harm to the innocent. In his perspective, the right thing to do denotes treating other people with equality and love. Atticus defines maturity in terms of moral development and having a conscience. In all three of these areas, Atticus sets an important example for his children to follow. He shows courage, a lack of prejudice, and a sense of maturity in how he deals with the representation in the Tom Robinson trial and how he reacts to the unpleasant words of Mrs. Dubose. Through such acts, Atticus demonstrates the value of tolerance and maintaining an open mind towards others. It takes a great deal of courage to do this when so much prejudice exists in your immediate world. With his tolerance and courage, Atticus guides his children in their growth from the innocence of childhood toward the maturity of adulthood.
To Begin, Lee exhibits that courage is people who keep trying even though success is not possible every time. While explaining Mrs. Dubose’s death to Jem, Atticus states, “I wanted you to see what real courage is instead of getting the idea courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you began anyway and see it through no matter what” (Lee 199). Lee juxtaposes “man with a gun” with “getting licked before you began” to show what real courage is and what courage is not. Lee further takes “getting licked before you began”, when Atticus is explaining the case to Scout. Atticus says, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 101) L...
The way and rate that people mature at can be directly attributed to the values and beliefs of the society that surrounds an individual. It is undeniable that society’s perspective on many controversial issues will generally be adopted by the younger generations in a given society. Moreover, the exposure to significant events, coupled with the major influence of family members, can have an enormous impact on how an individual matures. Additionally, family members greatly help each other develop into moral adults by instilling in each other values that will ultimately determine an individual’s character. In Harper Lee’s timeless classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, the constant reiteration of Atticus Finch’s values, in conjunction with the exposure to significant events, assist in Jem and Scout’s maturation into virtuous adolescents.
Many themes are demonstrated in To Kill A Mockingbird and Mississippi Trial, 1955. Three of the most predominant themes were courage, integrity, and truth. The author developed these themes gradually throughout both books by illustrating the actions and thoughts of the main characters. Because of these characteristics, Hiram Hilburn and Atticus Finch emerge as the heroes of the stories. The way in which heroes become inspirational to others is by learning from their mistakes. Atticus and Hiram both struggle with the pressure to follow the crowd, but the critical question is will they be able to do what’s best for the town?
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch, a well-respected defense attorney in Macomb County, made a life-altering decision to whole-heartedly defend a benevolent black man, Tom Robinson, who was wrongly accused of rape. Many conflicts arose because of Atticus’s choice to defend a black man against a white man’s word. Despite the towns cowardice and ridicule, Atticus stays true to what is right. “They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience” (140). Throughout the story Scout, Atticus’s daughter, transforms from a trouble maker always looking to pick a fight with anyone she disagreed with, into a young lady who was able to follow her father’s example and “consider things from his point of view... you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it” (30). Through Atticus’s wise, unchanging character, the theme is revealed. The bond between Atticus and Scout teaches her the one thing that he was trying to do all along: Don’t just fight; stand up and fight for what is right, no matter what the cost.
The symbolism and imagery used in the short stories paints a vivid picture into the author’s train of thought. Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Shirley Jackson were not normal writers. The stories are a form of gothic writing. This paper will be analyzing the point of view, symbolism, and setting in the stories The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.
The content of an individual’s character relies heavily on the life lessons he or she learns within his or her lifetime. As a result of the moral themes presented throughout the work, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most emotionally moving literature pieces of all time. Jean Louis “Scout” and Jem Finch gain substantial wisdom within the three years presented in the novel. Moreover, these lessons also greatly impact the reader. Remaining devout to one’s moral values and withstanding the abuses of society epitomizes heroic character. Notwithstanding the race of an individual, people are people; everyone deserves to be treated equally. Lastly, true courage is found within the heart and soul of a person, for it does not rely
Courage is the ability to do something that frightens you, it’s what makes ordinary people extraordinary. It is the strength in the face of pain or grief. But most importantly “real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it throughout no matter what”- Harper Lee. In the Novel To Kill A Mockingbird the theme courage is well shown throughout. In a small town of Maycomb, Alabama, two Kids face growing up in an unfair world affected with major racism. Harper Lee displays courage as standing up for what you believe in, even when it means getting in a tough spots. The display of courage in to Kill a mockingbird is shown through characters such as Atticus, Boo and Jem and Scout.
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the theme of courage is seen through the actions of many characters; I have also seen many examples of courage in my own life through current events, such as news stories about Aly Raisman, and courage is also seen in my personal experiences, such as the time my cousin had moved to New York. The definition of courage is the ability to do something that frightens one or strength in the face of pain or grief. Also, Atticus says, “It’s when you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
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.
Imagine a world where evil and unjust actions are based on the color of skin; a world where some don’t even realize that they are prejudicing. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, these themes are present. People and how they commit evil, hypocritical, and unjust acts. We see these themes and great issues through the point of view of a child; the vigorous, youthful, elementary-aged Scout. Through this character Harper Lee shows the innocence of children, and what they go through in our inequitable world.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, the father of Jem and Scout and defender of Tom Robinson, is a moral goal post. Yet he too learns about morality, that it is complex and non clear cut. Morality isn’t black or white, not dependent on the outcome or laws, but what is truly the right and courageous thing to do. Through Mrs. Dubose, Tom Robinson’s conviction, and the murder of Bob Ewell, Atticus Finch learns just how complex morality
All of us grow, develop, and adapt to our surroundings according to what we see and learn. However, we don’t always only the just induce the positive values, but also adapt to the disadvantageous values, as well. To Kill a Mockingbird is a unique novel written by Harper Lee, which tells about a sophisticated family living in a small town. The focus of this book is Scout, the main character and an innocent child, and the story is presented from her perspective. The structure of the book shows the shaping of Scout’s character from innocent behavior to maturity. Scout develops her empathy and maturity throughout the book by the reflection of other characters and occurring events. The
"Courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" According to Atticus Finch, an honest lawyer in Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. "Real courage" is when you fight for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose. Atticus fits into this definition of what "real courage" is and demonstrates it several times throughout the novel.
Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus teaches many lessons about people, society, and life, especially to Jem and Scout. In Chapter 11, Atticus says to Jem, “...I wanted you 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 you see it through no matter what...” Atticus tells Jem this after Mrs. Dubose, their neighbor, dies. By saying this, Atticus is teaching Jem that courage comes from within oneself and takes mental strength and maturity.