...Through their actions, Boo Radley, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson epitomize one of the three themes-justice, morality, and ethics- Harper Lee addresses in To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson displays in the book the actions he took to become ethical. Boo Radley shows us how he insures justice to the Finch children and Tom Robinson’s family. Atticus Finch’s morals are what holds the town intact. Each of these characters conveys his/her own theme. First, Boo Radley has been treated with such injustice from both the community and the Finch children that he separates himself from the real world. Despite all the trials they made Boo suffer through, irony occurs when Boo Radley is the one who establishes justice in the end. When Boo kills Bob Ewell, he not only saves the lives of the Finch children but also delivers justice to Tom...
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...How does Harper Lee explore ideas of prejudice in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’? Harper Lee, author of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, demonstrates the clear prejudice within Maycomb through the structure of its society. Cleverly painting a picture of injustice and horror, Lee uses the social class of Maycomb and the roles within society given to individuals, along with the discrimination within the trial of Tom Robinson to reveal prejudice in this ‘tired old town’. Lee primarily utilises the town of Maycomb to illustrate the prejudice within the social classes of society during the 1930’s. Through the restricting roles given to those with darker skin in society and through the first-person narration of Scout, Lee highlights the injustice that results from strict social classes and expectations. Calpurina’s role as a house help to the white Finch family, and the ensuing expectation that her children will also be destined to a similar fate is an example of this. As ‘old Tim Johnson’, a rabid dog, is shot by Atticus Finch, it is Calpurina’s son who is sent to dispose of ‘the pet of Maycomb’. Thus, Lee implies that those of darker skin are expected to perform menial or undesirable jobs, while those with fairer skin comfortably watch on. Furthermore, although Scout sees Calpurina as a mother figure, she unintentionally...
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...Jean Louise “Scout” Finch - The narrator and protagonist of the story. Scout lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb. She is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy. Scout has a combative streak and a basic faith in the goodness of the people in her community. As the novel progresses, this faith is tested by the hatred and prejudice that emerge during Tom Robinson’s trial. Scout eventually develops a more grown-up perspective that enables her to appreciate human goodness without ignoring human evil. Atticus Finch - Scout and Jem’s father, a lawyer in Maycomb descended from an old local family. A widower with a dry sense of humor, Atticus has instilled in his children his strong sense of morality and justice. He is one of the few residents of Maycomb committed to racial equality. When he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man charged with raping a white woman, he exposes himself and his family to the anger of the white community. With his strongly held convictions, wisdom, and empathy, Atticus functions as the novel’s moral backbone. Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch - Scout’s brother and constant playmate at the beginning of the story. Jem is something of a typical American boy, refusing to back down from dares and fantasizing about playing football. Four years older than Scout, he gradually separates himself from her games, but he remains her close companion and protector throughout the novel. Jem...
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...Mockingbird, an allegory for racism, prejudice, and injustice is created through the mad dog Tim Johnson as he wanders through the Finches’ hometown of Maycomb. Throughout the chapter, the message and symbols are gradually built to represent the nature of the inequality prevalent during Scout’s childhood and the Great Depression and how it will affect the interactions of Atticus’s black client, Tom Robinson, with the law and court system. Tim Johnson is a significant literary element in Lee’s narrative, conveying the story’s central themes of how inequality becomes embedded in a community despite its immorality. When every person in Maycomb gets sent indoors to avoid the mad dog, Scout observes Tim from...
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...americans were facing the harsh segregation that existed everywhere. Segregation occured in schools, public bathrooms, buses and other public places. In Harper Lee’s best seller To Kill a Mockingbird, segregation is coupled with injustice in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Courage is constantly shown to be the best way to combat injustice. Characters Atticus Finch, Boo Radley and Link Deas display courage during the difficult times in Maycomb Alabama. Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson even when failure is inevitable so he can live up to his personal morals. Atticus is the most courageous character in To Kill a Mockingbird because he is aware of the repercussions of this trial and the dangerous impact it could potentially have. Tom Robinson is a black male wrongfully...
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...awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom of the United States for her contribution to literature in 2007.Lee has also been the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, but has always declined to make a speech. Other significant contributions of Lee include assisting her close friend, Truman Capote, in his research for the book In Cold Blood. II.INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOVEL Classification- To Kill a Mockingbird is embodied by Atticus Finch, who is virtually unique in the novel in that he has experienced and understood evil without losing his faith in the human capacity for goodness. Atticus understands that, rather than being simply creatures of good or creatures of evil, most people have both good and bad qualities. The important thing is to appreciate the good qualities and understand the bad qualities by treating others with sympathy and trying to see life from their perspective. He tries to teach this ultimate moral lesson to Jem and Scout to show them that it is possible to live with conscience without losing hope or becoming cynical. In this way, Atticus is able to admire Mrs. Dubose’s courage even while deploring her racism. Scout’s progress as a character in the novel is defined by her gradual development toward understanding Atticus’s lessons, culminating when, in the final chapters, Scout at last sees Boo Radley as a human being. Her newfound ability to view the world from his perspective ensures that she will not become jaded as she loses her...
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...people react and what is the right way to respond when injustice knocks on their front door? From a small unfairness to enormous discriminations, standing up to injustice and dealing with it proves considerably more difficult than most people assume. In the book To Kill a Mocking Bird, the writer, Harper Lee, depicts several interesting themes. One of them: injustice – problems and evils that cause readers to think for themselves and create their own standards of right and wrong. Harper Lee composes three interlinking unjust wrongs throughout the book. Injustice is revealed by how people perceive Boo Radley, the accusation against Tom Robinson, and Bob Ewell’s attack on Jem and Scout. To start, many people in Maycomb perceived Boo Radley inaccurately. Boo Radley, or Arthur Radley, probably had some mental or physical problems, but the assumptions and accusations that people carelessly made against him proved completely injust and unfair. “Boo was about six and a half feet tall judging by his tracks; he dined on any raw squirrels and any cats he could catch,...
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...oppressed by its white civilians. The novel is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl who is deprived of her innocence as she comes into contact with the racial injustice in her town. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who opposes the bigoted views of Maycomb. Atticus values the equality of every human being, including African-Americans, a group that is heavily despised by the majority of Maycomb. Throughout the novel, Finch repeatedly demonstrates justice by sticking to his moral beliefs. For...
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...the trial is Atticus Finch, lawyer and loving father to Jem and Scout. True courage is being able to defend and fight for something despite the circumstances.Numerous times Atticus shows courage in the story which all relates to the theme, having to be faced with the harsh reality of the world which ruins your innocence. Atticus Finch stays strong and practical during the trial, defending Tom Robinson with his life. Atticus’s effort during the trial shows his courage because, despite it being tricky to get the judge and people of the racist South to side with Tom Robinson, compared to Mayella, who claims to be the victim. Atticus does not give up and continues to fight for Tom Robinson’s justice. Atticus shows courage through logical...
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...Clarize Mascarinas Ms. Molino ENG2D1-01 17-11-2015 The Pursuit of Truth and Justice: Atticus Finch and Malala Yousafzai In a country like Canada, the government and its people have little to no qualms treating others without prejudice and bias. However, this behaviour has still yet to apply to most places of the world. Activists are found among these people who hunger for righteousness and equality. Atticus Finch from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a character who is eager to change Maycomb’s views on people. Comparably, in the real world, Malala Yousafzai is an active advocate who wants to give females the privileges they are born to have. Both Atticus and Malala are people who pursue truth and justice by being non-violent, fighting for the oppressed, and by accepting the outcomes of their actions. Both Atticus and Malala are people who pursue truth and justice by not opting for violence. As Atticus leaves the post office after the trial, Bob Ewell approaches him, spits on his face, and threatens to kill him. According to Miss Stephanie, “… Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names.” (Lee 291) Most people, when being taunted or threatened, will lose their temper and may commit violent acts. By being a pursuer of truth and justice, Atticus recognises that being barbaric is not the way to solve problems. Likewise, Malala believed that fighting others...
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...is repetition.For instance the name Atticus is repeated twelve times, since his characterisation is one of the main themes of the extract, and when his name is not quoted, there are other references to him as simply ‘he’, ‘our father’ and ‘your father’. There is also a lot of repetitions of the world ‘old’, or references to oldness, both of Atticus and the people in their neighbourhood. For example Scout refers to Atticus as ‘feeble’, ‘nearly fifty’ and ‘nearly blind’, which can all be associated with agedness. Miss Maudie also talks about ‘your father’s age’, because he is older than other father’s in town. The neighbourhood and its habitants are also portrayed as quite aged: ‘old’ and ‘settled’ neighbourhood, ‘the folks on our street are all old’, ‘Mrs Dubose is close to a hundred’, ‘Miss Rachel’s old’, and Miss Maudie says she is not ‘being wheeled around yet’...
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...As many of you may know, I am Jem Finch, Atticus’ son. I am speaking on behalf of myself and my sister Scout. Atticus Finch was in incredible man who affected all of our lives. He showed us the good in people and helped us try to understand the world we live in. He was a different type of father for Scout and me, but he was the best we could have asked for. He taught us to care for our loved ones. He taught us right from wrong. He taught us the right morals and their importance. We learnt so much from him, and I believe I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without his great influence. His contributions to our lives made us all better people, and we are always reminiscing about the many amazing times we have had with or because of him. My...
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...iaJasper Jones Reading Guide S.A. Jones v2 April 2010 http://www.sajones.com.au Synopsis .................................................................................................................................................. 3 About the Author .................................................................................................................................... 3 Edition Used ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Morality and Ethics ................................................................................................................................. 3 Moral Duality ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Scapegoats .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Morality versus Ethics ......................................................................................................................... 5 Responsibility and Culpability ............................................................................................................. 6 Atonement .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Law and Legality .............................
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...The jury convicts Tom of rape because he is black, and because he’s a man. Atticus accuses the jury of stereotyping, saying, “… (The witnesses for the state were) confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption – the evil assumption – that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women” (Lee 273). Atticus, along with the entire courthouse, knows that he’s right, but that doesn’t change a thing. There’s also a stereotype for white women, in this case Mayella, that she would never tempt a Negro, because in their society that is unheard of. Even though the Ewells are at the bottom of their class and are, in a way, treated as dirt, they are still treated better than a kind, innocent, black man. The court uses pity for Mayella as an excuse to believe her. Atticus again explains, “She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance, but I cannot pity her: she is white. She knew full well the enormity of her offence” (Lee 272). Atticus is explaining the huge advantage white people have against Negroes, and Mayella uses that as her defense. Common stereotypes are used in the final decision of a case that is so uncommon no one knows what to do. Every single person at the courthouse knows that Tom Robinson...
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...The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set during the 1930’s when segregation was practiced as a way of life in the South. Atticus Finch, one of the main characters in the book, is a lawyer in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus fathers two children, Jem and Scout, who need his wisdom and guidance as they encounter prejudice and discrimination in Maycomb. Atticus serves as the moral compass in the book as he tries to teach important life lessons to his children, such as not judging someone before getting to know them. Atticus also serves as a “Christ-like” figure in the novel as he exhibits tolerance, humility, and courage. Atticus demonstrates tolerance of people’s differences. Similarly, Jesus also saw everyone the same and treated everyone...
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