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Atticus Finch Prejudice

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In society today there are those that are pushed out of the crowd because of what they look like, how they act, and what others say to be true about them. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows that unselfish, kind hearted people can experience prejudice from others. Always wanting to be the better person, Atticus Finch is like the mockingbird when taking the responsibility of defending Tom Robinson, who is a black man. Once Atticus gets the news that he will be defending Tom Robinson, who is accused of rape, he is very stressed until the end of the trial. Harper Lee shows this when she says, “It’s this Tom Robinson case that’s worrying him to death...” (Lee 156). Atticus is so stressed and worried even his kids can see it. Since Atticus knows what the outcome of the trial will be, he is even more worried for Tom because of what might …show more content…

In her book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee maintains that “Seemed like every time I passed by yonder she’d have some little somethin’ for me to do--choppin’ kindlin’, totin’ water for her” (218). Out of the goodness of his heart Tom helped Mayella out. Tom states during the trial that nobody else seemed to help her so he was glad to better Mayella’s life by helping her. As the author, Lee, puts it, “I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn't seem to help her none, and neither did the chillun, and I knowed she didn't have no nickels to spare” (218). This just shows how giving Tom actually was. After all the work he did for her he never accepted any pay because Tom said she could not afford to pay him. Also, Tom never went on to the Ewell property without invitation so he was not a law breaking person, like the citizens of Maycomb made him out to be. Tom Robinson is like a mockingbird because of what he did for Mayella and how he did it out of the goodness of his

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486 Words | 2 Pages

In the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson, a sympathetic, considerate African American field worker, is accused of the rape of an abused 19 year old white girl, Mayella Ewell. As the consequent trial unfolds, the reader glimpses Tom’s understanding personality despite the harsh 1930s stereotypes that cloud the trial. First, early into his testimony, Tom reveals that Mayella regularly invited him into the Ewell yard to do a few minor chores, which was usually chopping wood or toting water. Then, when Atticus, his defense attorney, asks if Tom was paid for his services, Tom replies, “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time.

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453 Words | 2 Pages

The central idea of To Kill a Mockingbird is that people need to see both sides of any story, throughout the story so far it’s been about seeing both sides to every argument, fight, and conflict. One of the main plot lines is that Atticus Finch has to defend a black man who is accused of raping a white girl. In chapter nine of the book Atticus’s brother and him have a late night talk about how Scout hit Francis and how he sided with Francis without seeing Scout’s side of the story and about the Tom Robinson case. Atticus speaks very much about equality and how we need to be in the other person’s skin and body.

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236 Words | 1 Pages

Many people are unfairly judged, whether that be on first impressions, or how someone thinks someone should be based on stereotypes. In the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee we are shown that people are often wrongly discriminated against for their personal beliefs, outward appearance, or ideas through the Tom Robinson court case, the characterization of Boo Radley, and The Ewell family. Throughout the novel, Tom Robinson’s court case plays a crucial role in the development of the theme. Tom Robinson was a black man who had a disability that made it unlikely for him to be able to overcome anyone easily.

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850 Words | 4 Pages

Tom Robinson never hurt Mayella Ewell, yet he was forced into court and eventually killed by Bob Ewell. Since it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird, Bob Ewell was eventually punished for his sin by being stabbed by Boo Radley. When Lee states “The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box” (220). He wanted to help Mayella Ewell because he “felt sorry for her”, even though it was crazy for a black man to feel sorry for a white woman. Mayella wanted affection anywhere she could get it, so she decided to prey on poor Tom Robinson.

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799 Words | 4 Pages

Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mocking Bird’ is a fictional novel written/published in the midst of the sixties that gave light to the provocative themes of prejudice and racial discrimination in the deep south of Alabama during the 1930s. The memorable quote said by Atticus Finch, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin", (Lee, 2004, p. 94), is the basic message the author is trying to get across, to get to know a person rather than to judge and discriminate someone based on their race. Harper Lee explores these themes through the construcion of events and characters that challenge and reinforce the societal ideologies at the time. An example of this is the character Atticus Finch and his values, attitudes and beliefs toward the trial of a black man charged with the rape of a white girl.

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864 Words | 4 Pages

Tom Robinson was a kind hard laborer. He had a large family, and worked hard to keep them stable. In the story Mayella also provoked Tom when he would pass by her house. “Mayella said, “kiss me back n*****.” on (page 197) . Mayella was afraid of Bob

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926 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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974 Words | 4 Pages

The characters in the novel grapple with societal norms and prejudices, encouraging readers to consider the multifaceted nature of courage and its crucial role in advocating for what is right, even in the face of overwhelming challenges. The novel eloquently conveys the powerful lesson of social justice through the characters' experiences and challenges. Harper Lee delves deep into the prevailing racial prejudices and societal inequalities of the American South during the 1930s, prompting readers to critically examine the complexities of morality and social justice. The novel emphasizes the significance of championing justice and equality in the face of deep-rooted societal adversities. Atticus’ courageous stance in defending Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of a crime, serves as a poignant commentary on the inherent racial biases and the flawed judicial system of the

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1224 Words | 5 Pages

Now Atticus’s family is turning away from him because he’s ruining the family by supporting a black man during trial. But this doesn’t stop Atticus because his job is to defend Tom during trial and he actually could be innocent but the people aren’t

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77 Words | 1 Pages

The tragic event of racism takes place in a small town called Maycomb in Alabama. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, the narrator throughout the novel describes Maycomb as a " tired old town”, where nothing out of the ordinary is bound to happen. The majority of the book takes place around the house of Atticus Finch and his children. As the story progresses, new settings such as Calpurnia’s house, the school, church and the courthouse are added on.

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635 Words | 3 Pages

Michael Fox once said, “One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered.” This idea is represented in many instances through To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Night by Elie Wiesel, and Sounder by William H. Armstrong. In To Kill a Mockingbird instead of following the status quo, Atticus chooses to do everything in his power to protect Tom Robinson. In Night, while in the concentration camps, Elie Wiesel refuses to become animalistic and cruel. He cares for his father even when it means giving up food or space.

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612 Words | 3 Pages

When Jem and Scout got their air rifles Atticus said it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird's, Scout later asks Ms. Maudie what he meant by it to which Ms. Maudie responds: “They don’t eat up people’s garden [...] That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (P.100) First of all, Tom only does good things. He goes to church, is a caring father who loves his kids and he even helps Mayella with chores for no payment at all.

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500 Words | 2 Pages

Because Mayella was so lonely and ashamed of what she had done, Mayella accused Tom of raping her even when he resisted all of her sexual advances. When the case was taken to court, the jury ruled that Tom was guilty mainly because of his skin color. In conclusion, because of this negative relationship, Mayella did something that was socially unacceptable, Tom was shot dead, and there was corruption throughout Maycomb County. Some men felt so much anger toward Tom they tried to kidnap him from jail just so they could kill him on their own.

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1115 Words | 5 Pages

In our society, innocent people, known as mockingbirds, experience prejudice in their lives. A/T: In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Background: Tom Robinson is a black person who’s was accused of raping a white girl named Mayella Ewell which he has never done. For this reason, Atticus Finch was appointed to be his lawyer. As a result, Atticus takes a stand for him by approving his case and standing up for him, but Tom was still found guilty.

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799 Words | 4 Pages

Justice is everything “The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.”- Lois McMaster Bujold.

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