...Sebastian.E English Essay #1 There are many ways of showing courage. In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” Atticus Finch describes courage as “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what”. Courage is a very good attribute but sadly many lack it. It is challenging to find people who actually have courage and don’t just say they do to get attention and affirmation from others. For most people courage is just pretending to be something that they are not. Notwithstanding there are courageous people out there that show courage in the face of trial, turmoil and pain. In the following essay I will be talking about Atticus’s interpretation of courage and which characters in the book...
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...Compassion? In Harper Lee´s To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many instances of compassion and evil. Scout has compassion for Mayella Ewell even though her life is filled with evil things. Atticus is benevolent to Mrs. Dubose, even when she talks about him, he sends his children over to help with her addiction. Atticus also defends Tom Robinson with the knowledge that they will lose the case. We all deserve compassion in our lives, even if it does not seem like it. At the trial, Scout says, “It came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world,” (Lee 191). Scout felt compassion for Mayella because for her to feel like she was loved, she had to try and seduce a black man into her home. It is wrong to tempt people to do things, but back then it was intolerable for a white woman to entice a black man, or vice versa. It was not right for Mayella to try and coax Tom, but that does not mean...
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...According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the definition of empathy is the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings of another without having the experiences fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner. Empathy is conducted internally; it is a mindset. When empathy is combined with action, the power of our convictions can be used to effect change around us. Atticus Finch, in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, does this in excess. Atticus has so much empathy for others that it actually clouds his judgement. Excessive empathy leads Atticus to make excuses for other’s behaviors, and to justify their wrongdoings. Atticus also lacks confidence to stand up for what and who...
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...William Qi English Honors 12/17/12 Block C To Kill a Mockingbird Essay How does the theme of “appearance vs. reality’ play a role in this story? Have you ever heard of the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” Many people have, yet they still treat people unfairly without getting to know them. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the author is able to use the theme of appearance vs. reality to portray many characters in the book in a relationship that can give readers two different sides of a person. For the residents of Maycomb County, Boo Radley is rumored to be a malevolent phantom that mutilates animals, stalks people at night, and runs with the rebellious crowds before he was locked up in his room. Although, the children have never seen Boo Radley, Jem speculates that “Boo was about six and a half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels… that are why his hands are bloodstained… There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time (pg 16).” This description shows how misguided they are due to the outrageous myths about Boo spread around town by adults. However, as the story moves forward, more insight on the real character of Boo is revealed through various incidents. When Jem and Scout were walking home one day, Jem finally confesses what happened to his pants that night when they tried to sneak a...
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...Essay Plan Prepare essay on 'two of the minor characters’ * Remember to integrate social, historical and cultural context. * ATQ- what is significant, how does Lee convey it. * At least two paragraphs per character * Gather relevant material evidence * Reflect on 'significance', and write topic sentences * Attribute evidence to each topic. Chosen Characters: Mrs. Dubose and Reverend Sykes Introduction Harper Lee uses minor characters in To Kill A Mockingbird to enhance our understanding of the events in the novel and to explore some of the main themes that are presented throughout. These minor characters are significant as they succeed in creating contrast with the other more important characters and also manage to set the scene of the novel. Both Mrs. Dubose and Aunt Alexandra both have minor roles however, they are crucial in that they portray the prejudiced society at the time and furthermore, they establish Atticus’s moral convictions and standing. Topic Sentence 1 Mrs. Dubose is used by Harper Lee to assert two of the key values presented in the novel: courage and kindness. ‘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.’ ...
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...Annette Zavala 3/18/16 Per: 7/8th To Kill a Mockingbird, End of Book Assessment - Argumentative Essay Atticus takes a Stand “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.” (Lee 39). This Quote by Harper Lee, is an illustration on reaching tolerance. Atticus believes that part of the reason why there is prejudice is because people don't understand each other. However, many people in Maycomb are misunderstood, avoided, or discriminated by the town people, including Boo Radley, the Ewells, and all black people. Atticus like a father teaches these words to Scout and Jem. In the middle of the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus decides to take on a case involving a black man named Tom Robinson who has been accused of raping a very poor white girl named Mayella Ewell one of the children of the unresponsible Ewell family who most of Maycomb society that people call "trash." The Finch family faces harsh criticism in...
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...Atticus Finch is one of the most steadfastly honest and moral characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird“ by Harper Lee and his character remains, for the most part, unchanged throughout “To Kill a Mockingbird”. As any character analysis of Atticus Finch should note in terms of the plot of “To Kill a Mockingbird” he begins as an upstanding citizen who is respected and admired by his peers and even though he loses some ground during the trial, by the end of To Kill a Mockingbird he is still looked up to, both by his children and the community as whole—with all class levels included. As a lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch represents everything that someone working in the justice system should. He is fair, does not hold grudges, and looks at every situation from a multitude of angles. As Miss Maude quite correctly puts it in one of the important quotes from “To Kill a Mockingbird”by Harper Lee, “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (87) and this could also be said of how he behaves in the courtroom. He is a skilled lawyer and without making outright accusations in a harsh tone he effectively points out that Bob Ewell is lying. Even more importantly, the subject of this character analysis, Atticus Finch, is able to gracefully point out to the jury that there although there probably are a few black men who are capable of crimes, “this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men” (208). His understanding of...
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...How Rumours Effect Characters in to Kill a Mockingbird A main part in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird is rumours. The hole town of Maycomb is buzzing with different kinds of rumours. Some true and some false, their origins not many know. But they do know every inch of the made up tale. As the story progress the rumours get more and more violent. Causing characters in the novel emotional and some times physical pain. In this essay the difference between the way Atticus and Dill perceive rumours will be discussed. A rumour that seems to repeat itself throughout the novel is the rumour about Author Radley or more commonly known as Boo. In the rumours he is usually portrayed as some kind of lunatic child. “any stealthy small crimes committed in Maycomb were his work” (Jem,9). Boo is blamed for any small crime done in the town, even though every time the crime was proved to be someone else, most of the town clings to this idea. Dill is intrigued by the Boo Radley rumors they drew him to go closer to the Radley house “but drew him no nearer than the light-pole on the corner” (Scout,9). Oppositely Atticus took no interest in the Boo Radley rumors brushing them off “Atticus's only answer was for him to mind his own business” (Scout,11). This rumor points out the difference in Dill and Atticus of age and maturity. Dill letting his imagination run wild, while Atticus had his own work to care about. Another rumor that shaped the lives of the two protagonists Jem and Scout...
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...A main part in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird is rumours. The hole town of Maycomb is buzzing with different kinds of rumours. Some true and some false, their origins not many know. But they do know every inch of the made up tale. As the story progress the rumours get more and more violent. Causing characters in the novel emotional and some times physical pain. In this essay the difference between the way Atticus and Dill perceive rumours will be discussed. A rumour that seems to repeat itself throughout the novel is the rumour about Author Radley or more commonly known as Boo. In the rumours he is usually portrayed as some kind of lunatic child. “any stealthy small crimes committed in Maycomb were his work” (Jem,9). Boo is blamed for any small crime done in the town, even though every time the crime was proved to be someone else, most of the town clings to this idea. Dill is intrigued by the Boo Radley rumors they drew him to go closer to the Radley house “but drew him no nearer than the light-pole on the corner” (Scout,9). Oppositely Atticus took no interest in the Boo Radley rumors brushing them off “Atticus's only answer was for him to mind his own business” (Scout,11). This rumor points out the difference in Dill and Atticus of age and maturity. Dill letting his imagination run wild, while Atticus had his own work to care about. Another rumor that shaped the lives of the two protagonists Jem and Scout is the rumor that Atticus Finch was a nigger lover. Although...
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...“To Kill a Mockingbird” Analysis Harper Lee published “To Kill a Mockingbird “ in 1960, a time buzzing with racial segregation and irrational injustice. She based the book on various events that were all to real, only fifty years ago. Throughout the book, the author captures these horrendous inequalities and is able to explore these subjects through various situations and characters. However, it is not always just the color of one’s skin as to the reason of why they are treated differently. Lee is able to display examples of prejudice based on class and status of a person, rather than race alone, through the use of abstract symbols through the use of characters. Harper Lee use birds to symbolize traits in various characters throughout the book. Although it is not just mockingbirds used as the only bird example. When Jem and Scout receive guns to shoot for fun, Atticus warns them against shooting mockingbirds. However, he states that they may shoot all the blue jays they desire. Blue jays are the nuance bird; this connects to Bob Ewell due to the fact that he is the perfect display of a blue jay. The blue jays represent the prejudiced citizens of Maycomb; they are ever present and continue to taunt others. Atticus goes on to tell the kids that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. The mockingbird is the innocent bird and therefore sums up Tom Robinson the most clearly. As being an innocent man that is only being tried due to his race, he embodies the mockingbird perfectly. Throughout...
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...McKenzie Lynch College English Final Essay The novel “How to Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee has a view of how things were like in the South in the 1930’s. The book is written in the eyes of two characters Scout and Jem Finch. Scout is a young girl who is growing up around different races due to her father’s Atticus Finch’s defendant. Atticus Finch is helping a black man named Tom Robinson with the charge of raping a white girl. These two lives changed from the racism involved with their everyday activities. The jury at Tom Robinson's trial shows racism because all the evidence indicates that Tom is innocent but all the jury members plead him as guilty.Helen Robinson Tom’s wife faces prejudice due to her husband supposively raping Mayella therefore it becomes very difficult for her to find a job and get hired. Tom Robinson the defendant of this case faces racism from Bob Ewell Mayella’s...
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...„As you grow older, you´ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don´t forget it – whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, he is trash.” Good morning Mrs. Braun and fellow year 10 students. Today I present with this text three key themes – social class, prejudice and ignorance vs. cowardice – of Harper Lee´s novel “To kill a Mockingbird” (TKAMB). Social class is one of the key themes, which Harper Lee used in her novel and illustrates this with quotes like “You ain´t got no business bringin` white chillun here – they got their church, we got our´n.” This is said by a coloured women to Calpurnia, because she is bringing Scout and Jem, two white children, to the church for coloured people. This shows the reader the big differences between the social classes, because different coloured people have even separated services. Also a highlighted quote in the novel is “I don´t know, but they did it. They´ve done it before and they did it tonight and they´ll do it again and when they do it – seems that only children weep.” The court condemned the coloured man Tom Robinson for raping a white women, although they could not really condemn him, because of missing evidence. Nevertheless, he was condemned, because he is coloured and back then the words of white people were more credible than the words of coloured people. However, there are still people like...
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...What is true courage? Is true courage when a human being is brave enough to do something? True courage is like not being afraid to represent an opinion. There are many spectacular ways to exemplify true courage. Some fellows are scared to show their true identity. Many people are terrified that people are going to judge how they look, the way they think, and also the way people dress. Some people even change their personality just so they can make people like them. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, all the in Maycomb, Maycomb County, many people are discriminating Negro people for their color. All these colored people have courage in demonstrating their true character for who they are. All the colored people are not ashamed for being colored. Three things this essay will cover is what is true courage?, how to display true courage?, and also what are some false ways people measure courage? To conclude, These are the topics this essay will cover. A persons color is like a flashlight, and some people just don't like to demonstrate their unique culture. Having the guts to admit an...
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...English H. Period 8 Scout’s Personality Essay There are many components to literature, however, one of the most important are the characters. Throughout a story, readers become submerged in a characters’ life and learn about what type of person they are and watch as the characters develop overtime. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout is one of the main characters that readers become familiar with, since the story is told from her perspective. Everything, from her actions to her speech, shows us a fragment of who she really is. Each fragment eventually pieced together to form Scout’s personality. In part one, readers get a good grasp on what kind of person Scout is; her character traits are illustrated on countless occasions. There are numerous traits that Scout demonstrates and within the story, certain traits are more strongly exposed than others. In particular, Scout is portrayed as very innocent and also reveals to be protective in the first part of the book. Scout is depicted as innocent throughout the first part of the book because she doesn’t understand certain consequences for her actions. For instance, when Scout revealed she is able to read “most of My First Reader and the stock-market quotations from The Mobile Register” (17), her teacher “looked at [Scout] with more than faint distaste” (17). Her teacher, Miss Caroline, then proceeded to order Scout to tell her father to stop teaching her, but Scout denies the claim that Atticus’s teaches her and tries...
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...To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird is Harvey Lee’s only novel to this date, it was published in 1960 but set in the 1930s in America’s deep south. The novel won the famous Pulitzer Prize and was quickly made into a successful film. The popularity that the novel immediately attracted endures to modern times and it is still read among High School students. The story concerns the trial of an innocent black man -Tom Robinson has been accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. The novel also manages to weave another central drama into the story, which reveals the appalling nature of prejudice in many forms, not just that of color, as her ‘mocking birds’ which must not be harmed because they do none, suffer from the cruelty and ignorance of those around them. The story is told through the eyes of the child narrator, Scout, who lives along with her brother, Jem and with their father, Atticus, the town lawyer and destined to represent Tom Robinson. They also have a housekeeper named Calpurnia, to whom they have a very close relationship. In his attitude to Calpurnia, as to much in his life, Atticus challenges the contemporary view because though Calpurnia is black, she is treated as a member of the family, much to the annoyance of his sister, Alexandra. Atticus is in fact the means by which Lee examines much that is wrong with Maycomb society, from his lack of prejudice, to his defense of Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley and his skillful means of challenging the education...
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