Examples Of Family History In To Kill A Mockingbird

Is family history always someone's destiny? In "To Kill A Mockingbird" family history is not always someone's destiny, as demonstrated by Scout, Calpurnia, and Atticus. Each of these characters defies the expectations set for them by their background and chooses their own path instead.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, family history is not always someone's destiny, as seen in Scout and femininity. Scout is a tomboy who does not want to wear pink dresses frilly. In chapter 6 Scout, Jem, and Dill were spying on the Radley house and Scout gets scared, she suggests that they should return home. Jem responded with “Scout, I’m tellin’ you for the last time, shut your trap or go home – I declare to the Lord you’re gettin’ more like a girl every day!” (To Kill A Mockingbird) Scout follows her brother and maintains her tomboy-ness. Another example of Scout going against “family destiny” is in chapter 13 Aunt Alex shows up with her heavy suitcase, she says to Scout that her and Atticus decided that it would be best for Scout to have some feminine influence in her life, Scout is not

Atticus is a lawyer who not only defended a black man, but also believed a black man over a white woman. In Chapter 15, Atticus goes to the jailhouse to protect Tom. A mob came over to kill Tom but Atticus stood his ground and defended Tom Robinson with no shame. Atticus believes that Tom deserves a chance. He knew that people would come after Tom, so he gave his time to be beside Tom’s jail cell. With little help from Scout, the mob retreated. Another example of Atticus going against destiny is him saying “Which, gentlemen, we know, is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth” When Atticus gives his closing argument he says that because of the color of Tom’s skin that automatically decides his fate. He tried to show the jurors that all men were created