...The Help and To Kill a Mockingbird both have many similarities in how prejudice and empathy were displayed throughout the story. Both of the stories were set in the time of segregation in the Southern United States. It also shows the similarity of African-Americans as caretakers or housekeepers – Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird and Aibileen is only one of the examples in The Help. The settings were also similar, a part of a town was where whites lived and part of a town was where African-Americans lived, but there was a twenty-year difference of when the books took place. Prejudice was mainly shown throughout the storied by the way whites treated the African-Americans. In The Help, there were multiple examples of prejudice: African-Americans were not allowed to us the same bathroom as whites and how African-Americans could not use the same plates as whites. The acts of prejudice often stemmed from the fact that whites believed that African-Americans contained diseases, a statement that was supported by no facts. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the main example of prejudice was when Tom Robinson was convicted of raping a white girl when...
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...To Kill a Mockingbird: Prejudice Essay Prejudices are all around. Race, gender, religion. There really is no way of making this stop, but there are ways of making them more obvious, so the people can see how bad they can be. One way is through literature. Harper Lee did this very well in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird which is told by Scout, a six-year-old girl, and her life through a few years when racism was at its peak. Scout's father is a lawyer who supports most everyone and causes much controversy when he accepts a case where he must defend a black man. Racism is the most emphasized prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird because of the time that this book was set in. That was the norm. Some examples are when Aunt Alexandra wouldn't let Scout visit her housekeeper's house only because she was black. Another example is when Tom Robinson, the black man Atticus is defending, is in the Maycomb City jail. There was an angry mob of white men outside of his cell wanting to kill him. Some may say that gender is the most emphasized prejudice in this novel. While it is brought up a lot,...
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...Unjust Prejudice It is a sin to kill a mockingbird because all they do is good for others. This is a very important metaphor used because it explains the prejudice that happens to some characters even though, all they are doing is trying to help others. Prejudice is shown to them through many people in the novel. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, she uses Boo Radley, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson to reveal the prejudice that even happens against innocent men through the mockingbird metaphor. Many people spread rumors of Boo and all the awful things he did. Scout explains, “Jem and I decided that Boo had got her at last, but when Atticus returned from the Radley house he said she died of natural causes, to our disappointment”...
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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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...groups and individuals, humankind still finds it difficult to trust based on the soul of a person; | |we are more comfortable making judgements based on skin colour.” | Prejudice, courage and unity… TEXT COMPARISON Are we always champions of tolerance, courage and receptiveness to others? By the very definition of humanity, we must be. Humanity: benevolence, understanding and kindness towards other people. It is, arguably, our very human nature to feel compassion, courage, understanding, unity and empathy towards our fellow man. Unfortunately, prejudice and judgement also cling to the human condition like tumorous stains – traits which society still finds hard to surmount. Despite the efforts of governments, groups and individuals, humankind still finds it difficult to trust based on the soul of a person; we are more comfortable making judgements based on skin colour. Nelle Harper Lee through her 1960 novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ and Boaz Yakin through his 2000 film, ‘Remember the Titans,’ are text composers who tackle the ill-defined paradigms of ‘prejudice, courage and unity’ by painting a picture of the confronting face of racism. Prejudice, courage and unity are notions that are dealt with differently by both composers and, through their use of structural and linguistic features, each composer presents this concept in a manner which connects (or weakens a connection)...
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...To Kill a Mockingbird: Black and White Have Never Just Been Colors Angie Scott IVY Tech Community College To Kill a Mockingbird, Black and White Have Never Just Been Colors Discrimination and prejudice transcend the ages, and the 1962 Oscar nominated film To Kill a Mockingbird shows us exactly that. It shows us that emotional, physical, and social choices we as human beings make will affect us and our world for generations to come. The film provides us with lessons in mankind that we can use in our world today. Upon your first viewing, you may not feel like it has relevance in your life today. You may be of the opinion that the world that Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson lived in is a far cry from our world today, but current events reflect otherwise. Most of us can remember the famous words spoken during the Los Angeles riots in 1992 by Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?”, and we all can never forget where we were the moment the towers were struck on September 11, 2001. Very different in their own rights, each of these events was caused by prejudice or discrimination. While the top notch acting is unsurpassed in our world of CGI, 3D, and High Definition movie making, no breathtaking stunts, superheroes, fantastic cliffhangers, or 3D glasses are required to watch To Kill a Mockingbird. Gregory Peck, the actor who portrayed Atticus Finch, still stands 49 years since its original release, the greatest movie hero of the 20th century (American Film Institute, 4...
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...To Kill A Tom Robinson, an Atticus, and a Boo Radley Prejudice is a rather large theme in To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee. It is felt by many characters in the book. Atticus, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson are three very different people. They all experience prejudice in one way or another. All of them can be considered “Mockingbirds”. In the book Atticus tells Scout that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Miss Maudie later gets asked by Scout why did Atticus say that. She responds with ““Your father's right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” A mockingbird has done nothing wrong. That's why it is wrong to...
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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 Out of the Radleys, Boo enhances the story To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee the most. He’s very easily judged by most people who see him, because he appears scary and so different to everyone. To Kill A Mockingbird is set in a town called Maycomb, Alabama, where prejudice is very common. Prejudice is shown by how people treat Boo Radley so horribly. The kids although, are extremely facinated with him. This lets readers know his story is important throughout the whole book. Rumors about the Radleys are always flying through town, mostly they’re all about Boo. He’s described as a monster, “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” (Harper Lee 13). When Boo was younger, he killed his dad. Before this happened, Boo was an intelligent kid. His dad though was very cruel and caused Boo to be emotionally damaged. This makes Boo Radley one of the mockingbirds in the story, also making readers understand as to why...
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...To Kill a Mockingbird Articles 6. To Kill a Mockingbird is a great novel and should be read in Canadian schools. According to me, Harper Lee’s To kill a Mockingbird should continue to be a part of the Canadian curriculum because of three main reasons , the novel depicts many good values for Canadian students , the novels develops the students vocabulary and, it denounces segregation, racism, and prejudice. The novel teaches a student various good values, such as to take a stand for what you believe in, or that true bravery is when you start something and see it through even if you knew from the start you wouldn’t succeed. The story is filled with important messages to learn and understand. High school students who are mature enough to understand this classic novel will benefit from the knowledge they gain. Students who take the time in carefully reading the entire will learn new vocabulary. The people in the 1930’s used a greater vocabulary than the people in a present day. Even the way the characters speak is very different than now. They used to speak more respectfully to adults, and even the younger kids used a larger vocabulary. If this book was replaced in the curriculum, it would deprive the students of gaining new insight on their language and how to speak. Most importantly, this story portrays how segregation, racism, and prejudice are for the ignorant and uneducated. Even though this book was written in the 1960’s, while people were fighting for equal rights...
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...“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.”-Maya Angelou In chapter 10 of the Southern Gothic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the main character, Scout, assimilates memorable concepts from Mrs. Maudie and Atticus Finch about social prejudices that take different forms. For instance, in the end of chapter 10, Atticus summons enough courage to shoot a mad dog that has been limping through the streets resulting in the people of Maycomb to panic. The symbolism of the mad dog, mockingbird, and even the bluejays, that are expressed throughout chapter 10, contribute to the the that rumors and social prejudices are spreading through the town of Maycomb similarly to that of a disease. In the beginning of chapter 10, when Scout and her brother, Jem, are given air rifles, Atticus informs them about the types of birds they can and cannot shoot. For example, he reminds them them to “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but...
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...Racial Prejudice in the 1960’s How would you feel if you went to a store and the cashier made you pay more than normal, only because either you were from a different country, a different skin color, or had a mental illness? Wouldn’t you feel that you didn’t really belong to that society? That’s how African-Americans felt during the 1960’s. That’s how they were treated in the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”, in the trial of Emmett Till, and that of Scottsboro trial. In the book, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, the trials of Emmett Till and Scottsboro, prejudice is displayed by the acts of hate and misunderstanding because of someone’s color. In the book, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, people of color (blacks) were the majority that were treated unfairly. During those time period, black people had to use separate bathrooms, drinking fountains, sections in restaurants and even in the courtroom. One good example of discrimination in the book was how Tom Robinson a young African American was accused of raping a white girl and was found guilty of the charges against him. In the book, it was quoted, “I'd rather you shoot at tin cans, in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit them, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat gardens or nest in corncribs they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us that's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. (Page...
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...Atticus Finch: Good Role Model What makes a role model? All I know is in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a very good one. Atticus taught his children not to be prejudice against anyone for any reason. Atticus also taught his children stand up what is morally right. Atticus also set a model of behavior for his children to follow. Atticus was a good role model because he taught his children not to be prejudice against anyone, stand up for what is morally right, and he set a model of behavior for his children to follow. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch taught his children not to be prejudice against anyone for any reason. When Scout asked Atticus if he was a “Nigger-lover”, he replied “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody. It’s never an insult to be called something that someone thinks is a bad name” (Lee, 113). Atticus Finch is a good role model because he teaches his children to love everybody...
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...Why was prejudice invented? Arguably the most ghastly side of human nature, the act of ostracizing and relentlessly condemning social or physical deviation is the cause of so much strife. And yet, it has endured since the beginning of written history. Wherever or whenever someone differs from the norm too much, people have a tendency to move in like a pack of hyenas. What is it that causes people to act this way? Is it insecurity? Is it fear? Whatever prejudice is at its core, it makes people lose control. They give up individual thought to be part of the group. Maybe they feel safer. But there is one thing that causes this mob mentality to fall apart: empathy. If someone puts themselves in another person’s shoes, looks through their eyes,...
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...did not commit. They face unjustified punishment and prejudice. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, the mockingbird is repetitively used as a symbol of innocence. Scout and Jem Finch, the young protagonists of the novel are told that "It's a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119) because mockingbirds are peaceful creatures who cause no harm. Some characters in the story can be perceived as “mockingbirds” due to their acts of kindness and nonviolence. The three characters who symbolize the mockingbird are Atticus Finch, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson because they are all innocent men who are discriminated against and punished for doing what is right. Tom Robinson was an innocent man who faced prejudice because he was African American. Tom displayed many respectable traits. He provided free help to his white neighbor, despite the fact he had only one arm. When asked why he did these selfless acts, Tom responded: " I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em-" (264). Later, Tom was accused of raping and beating up young Mayella Ewell, the eldest child in the infamous Ewell family, and the same girl he had assisted. Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell,was a racist man, who knew that he could get away with wrongfully accusing Tom simply because Tom was black. When brought to court, evidence proved Tom not-guilty, yet he...
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