A very similar thing happens in To Kill a Mockingbird, when Bob Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of raping his daughter Mayella, but Atticus proves that it was most likely Bob who did it. Bob Ewell, Mayella’s dad, the person who should be protecting her at all costs. The most common injustice in the novel appears when the kids find the case between Tom Robinson and the Ewell family to be unfair, highly illogical, and racist. When the verdict of guilty is revealed to the town, Jem becomes upset and says, “You just can’t convict a man on evidence like that- you can’t”
“Remember it 's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” this is a quote from Harper Lee’s book, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. This book shows that how white people treated black people unfairly in that day, but Atticus still teaches his children the right way, and do the right thing. Atticus, as a justice lawyer, choose to help the poor black young man to prove the truth, even though he knew that this will not work, but he still choose the right thing. As a father and a parent, he chooses to teach his child the right thing, and treat his children as an adult.
Much like Troy, Atticus grapples and bends under the weight of being a father demonstrated in the following quotation: "Heck," Atticus 's back was turned. "If this thing 's hushed up it 'll be a simple denial to Jem of the way I 've tried to raise him. Sometimes I think I 'm a total failure as a parent, but I 'm all they 've got. Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and I 've tried to live so I can look squarely back at him... if I connived at something like this, frankly I couldn 't meet his eye, and the day I can 't do that I 'll know I 've lost him. I don 't want to lose him and Scout because they 're all I 've got.
It is that natural bond of trust that exists between a parent and child. Because they are father and son, Telemakhos is able to casually accept the guidance and commands of his father. Odysseus says to Telemakhos, “If son of mine you are and blood of mine, let no one hear Odysseus is about. Neither Laertes, nor the swineherd here…” (299). As Odysseus’s true son, he ensures his father that he can be depended
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Tom Robinson is a black man who is wrongly accused and tried for the crime of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, and is being defended by his lawyer, Atticus Finch. According to the book it’s written “I guess Tom was tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own.” This shows how Tom struggled emotionally because Tom was emotionally tired of being controlled by others, letting others have the opportunity to control his life and what happened to his family. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Tom ran for it even though he knew there were high risks of him being killed, which shows how the caged bird in the poem “Caged Bird” is much like him. In the poem “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou, the caged bird is compared and contrasted to a free bird and by examining the circumstances of Tom Robinson’s life, I say that he is very much like the caged bird.
“Lemme tell you somethin’ now billy, you know the court appointed him to defend this nigger.” “Yeah but he aims to defend him. That’s what I don’t like about it.” (Lee, 165) This quote is purely just ignorance and prejudice, this quote is a good example of how most of the town feels, they are mad at atticus not for taking the case, but for actually trying to give Tom a fair trial.
When chosen to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape, he must`decide to truly defend Robinson or not. Atticus’ choice to protect him shows immense integrity and dignity although it earns him cruel criticism from his neighbors and family. When Scout asks Atticus why he took the case, he replies that he would never be able to ask Jem and Scout to mind him again if he didn’t take the case. Atticus would have lost his dignity and respect for himself if he hadn’t attempted to save Tom Robinson from an unjust fate. One can only strive to attain such integrity and dignity as the character of Atticus
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch employs pathos and diction in his closing argument to the jury and the people of Maycomb in order to persuade them to see beyond their prejudice and free Tom Robinson. Atticus informs the jury about the evil assumptions that society makes about Negroes. Pathos is used to persuade the jury when Atticus says, “Some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white.
Like most places, Maycomb County, Alabama was full of hardworking people of integrity, as well as dishonest, indolent citizens. Atticus, a distinguished lawyer, raised his two kids, Scout and Jem, to be disciplined youth, practicing honest morals. Everyone in Maycomb admired Atticus for his respectable character, just as they all abhorred the Ewell family, for their cheating and lying ways. However, Atticus’ prominent role in town was suddenly challenged when he was chosen to defend in court Tom Robinson, a black man whom Mayella Ewell accused him of taking advantage of her. Eyes that once looked up to Atticus with deep admiration, now glared at him in disgust.
He didn’t see it as fair because his father risked so much to bring the truth out in to the open. After all of the events involving Tom Robinson, Bob Ewell threatened to get Atticus back: “Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life,” (217). Bob Ewell followed through on his threat, which is where we see confirmation that Jem learnt the lesson of true bravery. Bob Ewell attacked Jem and Scout while they were walking and Jem protects Scout even if it meant he could
Atticus represents the theme of tolerance in the way he defends Tom Robinson. Tom was accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, and the court appointed Atticus to defend him. However, it is his decision upon whether or not to accept it. Atticus decides to defend him fully, even though he is a black man, instead of labelling his case hopeless.
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, lawyer and father of Scout and Jem Finch, has chosen to take on the defense of the Tom Robinson trial. This decision by Atticus was very excellent and beneficial to help teach his kids very valuable lessons in life. For example, Atticus wants his kids to become familiar with, and attached to the ideals presented within law, and all of the aspects, or consequences that come with law. In the novel, it states, " 'This is their home, sister,' said Atticus. ' We've made it this way for them, they might as well learn to cope with it ' "
Humans tend to put on outward attitudes in various situations. Whether it results from their insecurities or their responsibilities of protecting somebody, people mask their true emotions and feelings. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, many of the characters hide their true feelings and change their personalities in order to appear strong and in order to conform to society. However, in the poem, “We Wear the Mask,” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, the narrator and his people, the African Americans, suffer tragedies, such as discrimination and racial hate. Despite this, the people are coerced to keep a positive outward demeanor in order to appear strong and to not allow others to take advantage of them.
Harper Lee said a very inspirational quote in 1960. She said, “Before I can live with other folks, I have to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience. ”This quote became famous through her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. She wanted this quote to inform people around the world of a common problem.