“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (Lee 101). Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird wrote an inspirational story that discusses racism at the time of the Great Depression. In To Kill a Mockingbird, there is a character named Atticus Finch, who is given a difficult task to be the lawyer of a black person, Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping a white women. Atticus Finch is known through Maycomb, Alabama as a man who is always respectful and true to others. He has two children, who he loves, and teaches them moral lessons that will get them through life. It is reasonably accurate that Atticus did try to make a stand to defend Tom Robinson. Given that Atticus is defending Tom Robinson, it shows that it is in Atticus’s nature to help others. Atticus is a man who helps others, and has …show more content…
He put his family and himself in danger. When Atticus received news that they were going to move Tom Robinson to another jail, he knew something wrong was going to occur to Tom Robinson. “I thought he would have a fine surprise, but his face killed my joy. A flash of plain fear was going out of his eyes, but returned when Dill and Jem wriggled into the light.” (Lee 203). This reveals that Atticus was afraid of the group of men that were going to hang Tom Robinson. After the halloween pageant, Scout and Jem were walking back home when they got attacked by Bob Ewell. “From somewhere near by came scuffling, kicking sounds, sounds of shoes and flesh scraping dirt and roots.” (Lee 351). This scene demonstrates that Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout, trying to get revenge. When taking this case Atticus wasn’t aware of the consequences it will bring to him and his family. Even though, he endangered himself, Jem, and Scout, Atticus taking the case had many positive effects on his children and Maycomb. He made them stronger and wiser, because of these
The case has gone on for two years and now it’s being settled with many conflicts along the way. Atticus is also a father of two who, teaches his children the morals of life, especially how to treat others with respect no the matter the race and give dignity to everyone even if they don’t deserve it. Scout,
Isaiah says, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression…” (Isaiah 1:17, ESV). Following God’s will by doing good and correcting wrong defines Atticus Finch, a lawyer in Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus defends an innocent black man, Tom Robinson, who was falsely accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell. The trial takes place in the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama, a small racist town.
"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." (Elibrary database). Even though through most of the story Atticus’s beliefs about the case are not backed by anyone, he still holds strong in what he believes in and in that steadfast way. Atticus comes out a more respected man for proving to everyone that you do not know a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.
Lee’s character, Atticus Finch, argues against the jury by uncovering the lies of the Ewells, trying to evoke the jury to see the Ewells as the real criminals in this case. By using pathos, Atticus Finch attempts to switch the narrative and begins by stating that Tom Robinson is the real victim of Mayella’s crime, and wanting to forget her crimes, she tries to convict Tom Robinson. Atticus continues criminalizing Mayella by pointing out her crime of tempting Tom Robinson. Atticus emphasizes that Mayella broke an unspoken rule in their society by kissing a black man. Finch then continues by explaining that while the facts of what occurred are still undetermined, what is confirmed is that Bob Ewell is left-handed and was there when the crime
Atticus, however, did what he knew was right and defended Tom with passion. Atticus’s choice to defend Tom was heroic, but had major consequences for his kids. Amongst other things, such as almost getting Jem and Scout killed and letting them run free without
Atticus shows courage by defending Tom Robinson in court and by going so far as to defend his life as he sleeps in a jail cell. Atticus’ motivation for all of this is his wanting for wanting his kids from “Catching Maycomb’s usual disease” (Lee 117) of prejudice and racism, seeing that if he doesn’t take this risk and give it everything he’s got, he can do nothing to keep his children from becoming like the rest of the town. Atticus’ devotion to keep his children with open-minds drives his courage to the point where he puts himself between a mob of Maycomb’s hateful racist folks and the man that he is
Atticus Finch is a well respected lawyer in Maycomb County. However, many individuals in the community turn their back on Atticus when he plans to defend an African American man, Tom Robinson, in court. Taking place in Alabama during the 1930s, “To Kill A Mockingbird” accurately portrays the hostile environment for
From the start of To Kill a Mockingbird to the end, Jem Finch ages from ten years old to thirteen years old, along with his age his character also alters drastically. Throughout the novel Jem faces a multitudinous amount of social and racial injustices, quite a few of these impact Jem as a result of him being the son of Atticus Finch, who at the time was the only Lawyer residing in Maycomb willing to defend a black man in court. Throughout the course of the novel Jem became proficient in adapting and handling these situations. Eventually, Jem realizes this is how harsh this world is, and steadily begins to lose innocence over the course of the novel.
Equally important, he never frowned upon them, or disgraced their ways. While speaking to his children, Atticus conveys this, “Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man” (Lee 139). As a result, he displays to his children that he is not a coward and will not back away from a challenge, even if it means his reputation may taper as the trial advances. Correspondingly, the African American populous makes known that they are appreciative of Atticus’s intentions to free Tom of his accusation. During the trial, the members of the African American public watched Atticus vividly defend their friend as if color was no
Later on Atticus willingly protects and fight for Tom Robinson in court. Tom Robinson was a Negro not much said he was treated unfairly and something that he clearly didn’t do was thought guilty by jury of rape. Tom was sent to jail seventy miles from Maycomb where he did his time, but not lasting long Tom was shot 15 times trying to escape the prison. In one meaningless day Bob Ewell lost his job, judge Taylor was found in his chair with a shotgun laid along his lap, and Helen Robinson was being harassed by Bob Ewell. As Jem and Scout carried one day walking they were followed and chased by someone who seemed they wanted to cause harm they began to ran while being chased Jew lost balance and fell.
WISDOM First off Atticus, unlike the rest of the Maycomb population, has the wisdom to understand the irony of why people act they way they do. “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.”(Lee 283). To Kill A Mockingbird, is a fundamental part to not only literature but
Atticus responds by saying a few things: “‘For a number of reasons,’ said Atticus. ‘The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this country in the legislature,’” (pg.75). And, “‘This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience- Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man’”
After the pageant had ended, Scout and Jem were walking home in the pitch black when, “Something crushed the chicken wire around [Scout]. Metal ripped on metal and I fell to the ground and rolled as far as I could, floundering to escape my wire prison. From somewhere near by came scuffling, kicking sounds, sounds of shoes and flesh scraping dirt and roots”(Lee 351). The attacker turned out to be Bob Ewell carrying a switchblade. If not for Boo Radley, Jem and Scout were as good as dead.
Discrimination is shown throughout To Kill A Mockingbird in numerous ways. Racism and prejudice are shown when the jury makes the ruling to convict Tom Robinson as guilty, despite all of the evidence to prove his innocence; Scout is known for being a tomboy. The lessons about discrimination that Scout learns throughout the novel are applicable to all types of prejudice, Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem Finch, is judged for defending Tom Robinson, an innocent man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a low class teenage girl. Since most of the community is racist, Tom Robinson’s case is very hard for Atticus to defend. They do not believe a white man should be defending a black man.
Tom was charged for something he never did and was pleaded guilty. Atticus was being courageous and he possesses integrity for standing up for Tom. The first reason it makes sense for Atticus to stand up for Tom is because back then black people were treated as slaves and they weren’t appreciated like the whites were. Atticus was also being very courageous.