A good neighbour is someone who says hello every morning, who asks how one is doing, is meaningful and is a memorable person in life. In Harper Lee’s American classic; To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is the good neighbour. Atticus clearly displays his acts of bravery, intelligence, and fairness throughout the novel,
Why did Atticus defend a black man? Justice and being given the chance of a fair trial. Atticus Finch believed that everyone, black or white should be given the chance, to be proven not guilty. Even though some people thought Atticus was wrong in defending Tom Robinson, Atticus knew it was right to defend Tom because he knew everyone deserved a fair trial.
This book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is all about racism. There is one character that fights for equality, Atticus Finch. Atticus represents the desire for fairness. He proves some of it in his speech he gives at the courtroom. An example/quote, of his desire for equality is this quote, “…Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as a sound as it jury, and a jury is only as a sound as the men who make it up….” (Lee 274). This quote explains a reason, Atticus did help a black man in front of many. If he did not want things to be equal, then why he would help him in the first place. Another example Atticus said, “A nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don 't mean anything—like
“Sometimes it is better to lose and do the right thing than to win and do the wrong thing.”-Tony Blair. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch realized this very truth. When someone approached Atticus about defending a black man named Tom Robinson, Atticus had a serious decision to make. MayElla Ewell recently accused Tom of raping her, and Atticus would have to prove otherwise. In this time, white people thought of black people as lower than them and did not treat them fairly. Atticus did not act with this arrogance towards people of color. He believed all men deserved equal treatment. Therefore, he accepted the job. All people who dive into this story agree that Atticus is an exceptional lawyer. However, some
Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is set sometime in the 1930s in Maycomb County Alabama. The story is told through the point of view of Scout Finch who lives with her father, Atticus, and brother, Jem. The kids like to play pretend with their friend Dill about the man who lives in a scary house down the road, Boo Radley. The kids come in a few close counters along the way during these games in which Atticus does not approve. Scouts’ father, a lawyer, is appointed by Judge Taylor to defend Mr. Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a young girl. Atticus is faced with many threats along the way and is shunned in the community for defending a man of such a heinous crime. During the trial Atticus makes many strong arguments and it is plainly
In the 1930s, if a black man was on trial there was a ample chance he would be convicted even if evidence proved he was innocent. Throughout history humans being prejudice and bias have affected the lives of thousands of people; some ending with favorable outcomes while others weren’t so fortunate. Within the book To Kill a Mockingbird the readers learn that prejudice and bias people outnumber the understanding and kind. One decision or in this case twelve decisions decide the fate for an unfortunate man. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee reveals that people often follow their biases and prejudices rather than the truth.
In a trial the closing argument is the most critical addresses made in court. Generally an emotional plea, this closing argument can be the deciding factor to a court case. To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1962 film based on the award-winning novel written by Harper Lee. During an era of racial inequality, lawyer, Atticus Finch, contravenes the unwritten social code to defend a black man against an underserved rape charge.
Atticus is a lawyer in a county called Maycomb that has two kids name scout and Jem. Atticus is defending a black man named Tom Robinson that is accused of rape in court. Atticus is put under a lot of pressure through the story dealing with this rape issue.Throughout the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus present himself responsible,leader,wise. He is responsible in this novel because after his wife die he raise two kids by himself and provide food and shelter for them.
Did you ever wonder why someone thought to separate blacks from whites, then wonder why someone decided to join them together again? In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, many uncomfortable situations were addressed that many people today preferably don’t like to talk about nowadays. This is why Atticus Finch encourages his children, Jem and Scout, to be aware of segregation. Within the novel, there is a rape case that discusses a black man being accused of the crime. This case afflicts many emotions and actions from multiple characters but specifically Atticus, the lawyer on the black man’s side. The emotions from him are about how his life revolves around social disrespect and racial dishonesty which causes
In the early 1900’s, one’s ethnicity, financial status, education and popularity were many factors in determining one’s place in society. Along with the day to day life, those factors shown to have an effect on one’s say in many situations. In spite of this, Harper Lee enunciates the idea that with great courage, anyone (of any background) can stand for what they deem is right, even with foreseen inevitable consequences and obstacles. She displays this in her novel To Kill A Mockingbird. In consequence of Atticus defending the case of Tom Robinson, a black man, in a racist era, both of his children Scout and Jem get attacked by Bob Ewell. We also see Mrs. Dubose, who’s suffering from a morphine addiction, discontinue its use fully aware she will be in pain. Doing what is right is more important to her than continuing her bad habit. Not only does Boo Radley put his innocence at risk but, he also seeks more attention towards him which is not what he wants hence being excluded from society after living a miserable childhood. Courage means fighting for what is right, no matter what the cost.
In the novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Maycomb is a small town and a home for numerous people. A noteworthy citizen of this small town goes by the name Atticus Finch. He resides as a widower with his two children, Scout and Jem, as well as with Calpurnia, the maid. Atticus lives in a time when racial issues stir conflict amongst the people. While enduring these difficult periods, many great character qualities help Atticus remain strong. Through times of great racial tension, Atticus Finch sets a great example for others because of his thoughtfulness, humble heart, and courageous spirit.
Many people would agree that a hero is not necessarily someone who saves lives, but someone who is courageous enough to help people in need no matter what their situation is. In the literary work, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the reader is introduced to a character named Atticus, a lawyer and a father of two children. Throughout the novel, Atticus teaches his kids, Jem and Scout, life lessons through his heroic actions. Despite living in Alabama during a racist time period, Atticus decides to full take on the task of defending a black man in court against a white woman. Atticus displays heroism and courage before, during and after the Tom Robinson trial in order to set an example for his children and the town of Maycomb.
First, Atticus believes that everyone is equal while the townspeople disagree and band him a nigger lover. “I do my best to love everyone… I’m hard put sometimes - baby, it’s never an insult to be called a name that somebody thinks is a bad name” (144). The quote above states that Atticus is saying this when Scout asks him to help he understand the views so he isn’t insulted. Next, Atticus is talking to Jem about the trial and why the results happened. “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” (285). The quote just stated is saying, Jem was angry by the verdict, Atticus tells him that the people will continue to do it, more and more. Last, coming from the view of Atticus during the trial this is how he saw it. “Tom Robinson, a human being… What did she do? She tempted a negro” (272). As Atticus is explaining that Tom is a person and Ella Ewell tempted him and he said no. To sum it all up, even though Atticus’s view of trial was negative, he gave hope to the blacks in the court room and that is what
Set in rural Alabama in the 1930s, To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, focuses on the events experienced and seen through the eyes of a young girl growing up in Maycomb County, a seemingly sleepy town. Meanwhile, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part- Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie, concentrates on an adolescent boy’s experiences as a Native American living in a reservation during the early 2000s. Although the two award winning books seem to differ entirely with time period and personality of characters, it is apparent that these two books share similar concepts about community and how individualism impacts the whole.
The main idea Harper Lee (author of To Kill A Mockingbird) developes in the book regards the conflict between self determination and societal expectations. The genre of a social drama really brings out the problems that many people faced during the 1930’s and because of this the book illustrates a different type of environment and really brings the reader back to that time and age. In focusing on the specific conflict of self determination we see how and what it takes for people to overcome society's expectations during this time.