In addition, Atticus went against his moral code and principles he had always upheld before, especially in the Tom Robinson trial. Now, Atticus is faced with the decision of abiding by the law or breaking it in order to do the right thing. He knew that incarcerating a man, as withdrawn and solitary as Arthur would have been unforgivable. Especially, after Arthur had performed a great deed by saving his children 's life. He knew that exposing him would be an awful way of repaying him; it would have been like "shooting a mockingbird."
When the Finches and Heck Tate learn that Jem likely stabbed and killed their neighbor, Bob Ewell, after he assaulted Jem and his sister, Scout. Heck tried to convince Atticus he should play it off as if Bob accidentally stabbed himself, but Atticus believed, “‘Heck, it’s mighty kind of you and I know you’re doing it from that good heart of yours, but don’t start anything like that’” (Lee 365). He believes that the law should be fully respected and wanted to set the example for his kids that there are no excuses to be made for something so serious. Another way Atticus teaches this to his children is when a man named Tom Robinson, who was convicted under a false rape accusation, was shot dead in prison for trying to escape.
To Kill A Mockingbird You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view - Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. My topics were how is empathy demonstrated or learned by Atticus, How is Empathy demonstrated by Scout and How is empathy demonstrated or learned by Jem. How is empathy shown throughout the characters among the storyline? Atticus believes that not only black people but everyone deserves a fair go whether it's a court case or not.
“He also is willing to stand up against the odds-he knows he’s ‘licked’ before he even begins” (Text 2). Atticus knows he will not be able to win this case even if Tom Robinson is innocent. Unfortunately the town and the jury are corrupt and will not give Tom a fair trial. Almost anyone can see that Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson to show compassion through the “Golden Rule” and set an example for his children.
Contrary to Mr. Arthur Radley, also known as Boo, being considered the mockingbird of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, it is Mr. Tom Robinson who is the true mockingbird of the novel. Atticus Finch says to his children, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird,” (Lee, p. 98). Atticus tells his children this because a mockingbird does not do any harm to you, but the mockingbird brings songs and joys, consequently is a sin if one were to take it away. Tom Robinson fits the role as the mockingbird that Atticus provides for his children. With this symbolism of Tom Robinson and a mockingbird in place, the use of symbolism in the novel is a literary masterpiece, with compelling and accurate relationships between characters, animals, and symbols.
The author of To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee had wrote Atticus to say “...it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Lee 103). He said this to Scout and Jem because mockingbirds give nothing but music for the world to enjoy and it would be cruel and uncalled for to take their life. The reason Lee wrote this is because the story has a few metaphorical mockingbirds. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are all metaphorically portrayed as mockingbirds because of their good deeds and pure hearts, such as the birds.
Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird famously said in his closing arguments: "You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some negro men are not to be trusted around women- black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and no particular race of men." (pg 232) What Atticus is trying to convey is a foreign concept to most people in Maycomb county. Atticus is trying to convey a point of equality and no prejudice in a world of social inequality which, as one can imagine, didn 't go over so well.
and Atticus are examples of courage in To Kill a Mockingbird, demonstrated by their benevolent acts of kindness and equality, and how they didn’t let what the status quo at the time dictate their opinions. In the beginning, Walter Cunningham did conform to racist beliefs of the town and ignored the evidence that proved Tom's innocence, but he realizes he is wrong, and preaches that Tom be acquitted while he sits on the jury. Atticus is one of the people to sway Walter Cunningham to believe in equality. Atticus convinces him, and other people, to believe in the evidence that all proved Tom's innocence, and through him and Walter a small racist town begins to change little by little. The movement of equality has been going on since before the civil war in the 1860s, today, people would like to say we are equal, but with court cases like Trayvon Martin attracting so much controversy, it shows that society still has a long way to
In addition, Atticus went against his moral code and principles he had always upheld before, especially in the Tom Robinson trial. Now, Atticus is faced with the decision of abiding by the law or breaking it in order to do the right thing. He knew that incarcerating a man, as withdrawn and solitary as Arthur would have been unforgivable. Especially, after Arthur had performed a great deed by saving his children 's life. He knew that exposing him would be an awful way of repaying him; it would have been like "shooting a mockingbird."
No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards," (pg. 208). Atticus helped Tom Robinson even though his life and the lives of his children were threatened and he was able to get the judge to consider letting Tom go free. Atticus is treated poorly because the actions he chooses to take go against the cultural norms of his society. Atticus fights for justice and tries to serve as a role model for his children even when he is
She could not do this alone though she had Jem read to her every day just to distract her mind from thinking of morphine. This next quote from “If’ says “ If you can trust yourself when all men doubt yourself.” Atticus trust himself to get Tom a fair trial even if he is black, he knew it was going to be hard but he has to do it for himself. Like the quote said though everyone else has no hope that Tom was going to win the trial, but since he trust in Atticus to do the best of his ability to win the trial for him
As Harper Lee states “ Tom’s dead was typical, typical of a nigger to cut and run, typical of a nigger mentality to have no plan, no though for the future, just run blind first chance he saw “(240). This important because even though a colored person is dead they still judge him and there still rude too. As Harper Lee states, “too proud to fight, you nigger loving ‘baster” (217). This is important because there calling names to Atticus for taking the case of Tom Robison and for talking to him. As Harper Lee states, “White man who’ll take advantage of a Negros’s ignorance, don’t be a fool yourselves’’ (221).
Would you agree it would be horrible if not sinful to harm something good and innocent like perhaps a mockingbird? In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Atticus, the narrator’s father, says “Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (pg.119) when telling her what she can and can’t shoot with her new air gun. Scout tells us that Atticus never says something is a sin; so why would he say that maybe to teach her it’s bad to harm a good and innocent creature. Atticus’s quote means more than just it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird but that it is wrong to harm or kill something that is innocent and does only good.
In the passage, Lee argues that racism and prejudice are often due to ignorance, and that the only way to get rid of racism is to develop acceptance and understanding. After Tom Robinson is killed, Mr. Underwood compares his death to the killing of “songbirds by hunters and children.” The word “songbirds” is an obvious reference to Atticus’s lessons about mockingbirds, in which he states killing them is a sin. Killing a songbird, according to him, is a sin because such birds are innocent and do nothing but sing. Lee’s diction to shows the reader that Tom was an innocent man, killed by Maycomb’s racism and hatred.
Unfortunately, more often than not, there are people in our society that are unlawfully criticized and harassed even though they cause no harm or trauma. Even more surprising is that some of these ‘beleaguered’ individuals are trying to help their community in ways that the general public doesn’t agree upon, so they refuse to see it. This idea of innocents being destroyed by evil is largely evident in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, where the town of Maycomb refuses to change their mindset and look past the prejudiceness to see the peaceful nature of two particular citizens, Atticus and Tom Robinson. These two characters in the novel are only trying to make their town a better place by having a sympathetic nature, which in turn causes