...Atticus Finch, their widowed father, which was a lawyer, defends an African American name, Tom Robinson, against the accusing of rape. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the message the author wishes to share is that judging people are the main reason that causes prejudice. Tom Robinson is an excellent example, who was judged not because of his personality or character but by their opinion. Tom Robinson who is poor, is an African American who is married to Helen and has 3 children. His left arm was injured in a cotton gin accident when he was a boy which causes his left arm to be half shorter than his right arm. He seems to be friends with Mayella since he walks past her house everyday and they sometimes talk. In the courtroom, Mayella, Heck Tate, Bob Ewell, and Tom Robinson all gave their testimony. All of them, except Tom’s testimony was about the same when Tom Robinson gave a whole another different story. Mayella had said that Tom Robinson had raped her, but...
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...“It's the people who don't recognize the racism within themselves that can be the most damaging because they don't see it” This quote can easily summarize the whole the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the novel takes places during the Great Depression in a small town in Maycomb Alabama, the story is told in a first person point of view through the eyes of Jean-Louise a.k.a Scout Finch, she lives with her brother Jem Finch and their widowed dad Atticus Finch who is a well known lawyer, this means that the family is well of economicalle compared to the rest of the society. Fast forward one year Atticus is chosen to advocate for a black Tom Robinson against a white Mayella/Bob Ewell. Atticus Finch, in his closing argument, addresses three main points of the Tom Robinson case: first he asserts that Mayella Ewell has done two things wrong, one of them is that “she tempted a negro”, and the other one accusing Tom Robinson of rape to”get rid of the evidence; then he contends, that it was wrong to accuse Tom Robinson of rape; finally, he concludes by saying that all men are created equal, but people use this phrase out of context, to satisfy all conditions....
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...saw that his left arm was crippled – it was stretched out and his muscles in that arm had been detached from the bone. Scout says that ‘Tom would have made a fine specimen of a man if he has been whole’ (his left arm). From this quotation we can see that Scout sees Tom Robinson as not whole because of his arm, although other people might see him as not whole because of his skin colour. From the Trial chapters the reader can gather that Tom Robinson is a young, harmless, innocent man that is quite a handy man when it comes to DIY. He frequently helped Mayella Ewell with things around her house that had been broken, for example her door was coming off its hinges and he came in to help her. He also has chores at home to do, but he still helped Mayella when he could be doing his own things at home which tells us that he is selfless and always wants to help others before himself. Despite all this, due to Maycomb mainly being prejudice, nobody ever looked past his skin colour to learn that he is actually a very nice man. This was revealed to everyone when Atticus asked him questions about it and everyone in the court room found out that he is truly a nice man. When he is questioned by Atticus, he doesn’t try to hide anything from him or the rest of the court room. He is very honest and puts his past behind him. An example of this is when Tom Robinson told the court room that he has previously been sentenced for 30 days. Anyone that is trying to get away with something that they’ve...
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...mockingbird” (p. 119) is a quote by Miss Maudie that best describes the meaning of the mockingbird symbol. The symbol embodies innocent people, who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil. Harper Lee does a great job in portraying the mockingbird symbol by shedding some light on the innocents in the book, and focusing on the most prominent mockingbirds, Tom Robinson, Arthur (Boo) Radley, and Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson is a crippled Mockingbird, who has been wrongfully...
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...Even in today’s society, we see prejudice everywhere. We see it to women, poor people, and black citizens as well. Heroes even receive prejudice for do what is right, but you would not hear anyone get referred to as a mockingbird. Many people were given the symbol of a mockingbird in the past because of the prejudice they face from others. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates how misunderstood people are portrayed as mockingbirds because of the help and kindness they provide to others while still receiving prejudice from the community. Atticus Finch was portrayed as a mockingbird because he didn’t show prejudice towards Tom and simply helped him out. Atticus Finch is a lawyer in Maycomb that has been asked to defend...
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...To Kill a Mockingbird Tiffin University Lisa Caskey September 28, 2012 Degree Completion Program English 365 Issues in Literature Discrimination and prejudice were very common in the 1900’s. Prejudice is defined in the Webster’s dictionary as “preconceived judgment; or opinion; an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge”. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/). Discrimination is defined as “prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, and or treatment” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/). Discrimination and Prejudice run rampant in Maycomb County, Alabama. To Kill a Mockingbird is a story based in time of the Great Depression. The book displayed acts of hate based on the color of someone’s skin. Colored people were the main ones discriminated against. But there were instances where poverty stricken families were also discriminated against. The story begins in the summer in a small town called Maycomb County. The story is told from a child’s perspective. The child’s name is Scout finch. She is retelling the story of her and her brother Jem’s childhood. Their summer consists of playing games and acting out scenarios from different books. They also act out stories made up about people residing within their neighborhood. They do this along with “Dill” Miss Rachel’s nephew who comes to Maycomb for the summer. These stories are based on assumptions and judgments of what they believe...
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...Analysis Inequality and prejudice plays what I believe is the most important role in the story To Kill a Mockingbird. Events such as Tom Robinsons trial emphasize this point. Also points such as the game Scout and Jem conjured up to be about Boo Radley’s life. Some points of the book where Aunt Alexandra talks about others as if they are less than them shows that she is basically the living embodiment of racial and social discrimination. These all show the strong tension between the people of Maycomb and those who they believe are different. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee emphasizes the theme of inequality and prejudice through metaphors, tone and characterization. My first piece of evidence to support the theme of prejudice in the town of Maycomb is when Aunt Alexandra was talking to scout about inviting Walter Cunningham (Jr.) over for dinner and Scout is complaining why Aunt Alexandra wont let her play with him and she says, “I’ll tell you why…Because—he—is—trash, that’s why you cant play with him.” This is an example of a metaphor used to describe that Walter is “Worse than them” essentially. This supports the theme of inequality by showing that Aunt Alexandra doesn’t want Scout playing with Walter because she believes they are in some sort of higher “social class”. For my second piece of evidence I have another quote from Aunt Alexandra. This time she is speaking with Atticus about getting rid of Calpurnia because she is black. The quote reads, “You’ve got...
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...takes place in Maycomb Alabama in the 1930’s. The Great Depression was in effect so not a lot of people had any money. However, this was not the only thing they had to worry about. There was a lot of Racism, class prejudice, and sexism that all lead up to not only the kids, but also adults facing the destruction of innocence. One example, is the mockingbird. This represented innocence because Atticus stated it was a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds never do anything but sing beautiful music for us to listen to. They are peaceful animals that don’t hurt you. Innocence was taken away from Tom Robinson. He was accused for raping a white girl Mayella because he was black. Tom was innocent until they made him guilty. He tried to help her but it backfired. She told him to come inside and tried to have sex with him but her dad came in and Mayella blamed Tom. This was taken to trial and Tom was announced guilty because of destruction of innocence. Another example, is Boo Radley. Just like Tom the town made him seem like the bad guy from rumors and town gossip. Boo was locked inside his house most of his life and everyone thought he was scary and shouldn’t trust him. In reality he...
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...the author’s thoughts about his family, as well as on events that took place in her hometown. The narration is done from the first person by Jean Louse “Scout” Finch. The scene is a small town Maycomb in the state of Alabama. Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, is appointed by the court to defend Tom Robinson, a good fellow being accused of raping a white girl Mayella Ewell. He has no hope for justice just because he is black. Atticus, a person of very strong moral views, is sure in his defendant's innocence. The article could be logically divided into four parts. The first part, the introduction, begins with Atticus half-way though his speech to the jury. He presents logically organized arguments, showing his experience, knowledge and justifiability. However, after going over the evidence he starts acting unusually and it shows his excitement. His manner of speech changes as he appeals people in the court to give up the prejudices and be just. The development of the plot is the Atticus’ speech when he underlines all the pieces of evidence proving that it’s not Tom Robinson, but Mayella Ewell who is guilty. Mr. Finch quotes Thomas Jefferson’s words – “all men are created equal” – and denies them. He states that all people are different from their birth, but there is one institution where everybody is equal, and this place is a court. The climax of the story is the waiting for a judgment. The Finches are subjects to an incredible stress. Tom Robinson is returned guilty. The...
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...illustrates that Tom Robinson is not capable of committing a crime that could cost him his life when we first meet him. This is at the beginning of the trial when Tom takes the oath and tries to place his ‘rubber-like left hand’ on the bible but it slips off. Tom tries again but the same thing happens. The reader’s sympathy is engaged here as they can clearly see that Tom is incapable of taking Mayella Ewell around the neck and raping her. As well as being physically handicapped, Tom has a handicap that he has no control over, his skin colour. Harper Lee Makes the reader feel sorry for Tom Robinson before he has even given his testimony so that the readers see the rest of the trial through sympathetic eyes towards Tom. The reader feels that Tom Robinson is being accused by a bunch of rough people, the Ewells. The examples of the Ewells being rough compared to Tom is shown through their speech. Tom’s dialogue is very respectful towards Atticus and Mayella, this is shown when he testifies and says ‘Miss Mayella, Sir’. The exact opposite can be said for the Ewells, when Mayella loses her temper and describes Atticus and the other ‘fine-fancy gentlemen’ as ‘yellow stinkin’ cowards’. Bob Ewell’s speech is no more respectful than his daughter’s as he calls his own lawyer ‘cap’n’. Here the reader’s sympathy is engaged as they realise that Tom Robinson is a respectful black man who is up against two unrespectful white people. Again, this engages the reader’s sympathy as Tom...
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...In the town of Maycomb, Alabama, as children roam free, underneath this joy, there’s so much hate and prejudice. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout learns about cruelty and courage. Most importantly, compassion. In this book, Atticus, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley show most compassionate to me. They seem to really care about people, even if they’re not good at showing it. This famous quote reminds me of their actions throughout the story. “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion,” said Dalai Lama, monk of the Gelug. The first example of compassion is Atticus Finch. He is, by far, the most compassionate character in the whole book. “If you can learn a simple trick,...
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...to Scout, that the reason why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird is because “mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy” (Lee 119). This quote indicates that a blue jay symbolizes something Atticus doesn’t agree with such as people with prejudice, while a mockingbird represents innocence and goodness. Bob Ewell is illustrated as an irresponsible father and a man with a mind filled with bigotry. He is also a criminal who abuses one of his children, Mayella Ewell. These characteristics explain how a blue jay, a person with wrong thought, describes him. On the other hand, Boo Radley is a typical mockingbird. The society judges him as a dangerous criminal by rumors, however, it is obvious that none of them are true. He is harmless to the society and have brave and kind mind which helps Jem and Scout more than once such as saving their lives from Bob Ewell. As a result, Harper Lee makes a clear point how two characters are exemplified by complementary symbols. Being easier to recognize the good and evil side assists readers to see how...
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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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... 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 system which denies Scout the freedom to read by simply ignoring it. The motto by which he lives is that, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (quote from the book) and this is being passed on to his children. However, Lee is keen to avoid making Atticus appear patently...
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...a heartbreaking reality. Through camera, lighting, and sound Robert Mulligan creates a mood to communicate the vision of Harper Lee. The film takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Robert Mulligan illustrates the story of the lives of Scout and Jem, children growing up in this small town with their friend Dill who stays for the summer. The youngsters become infatuated with getting a glimpse of Boo Radley the unseen hermit of a neighbor. This summer also entails issues facing, their attorney father, Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, an African American man falsely accused of raping a white woman from town, Mayella Ewell. The children catch wind of the trial and for the first time witness evil realities of the world. Jem and Scout, Atticus’s children become the targets of Bob Ewell, the father of Mayella Ewell. Bob Ewell tries to kill them one Halloween night on their way home from school, when the elusive Boo Radley shows up and saves them. Radley kills Bob in the affair. Tom Robinson is wrongfully convicted sent to prison and then eventually killed trying to escape. Throughout the film the reoccurring issues of racism, biased from social class, and stigmas to gender are tested and tried as unfairly as the Tom Robinson case. There...
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