Atticus Finch Values In To Kill A Mockingbird

Another reason that To Kill a Mockingbird is banned is for its references to rape. In today's society, if you turn on your television, you will see stories about rape and murder and other unnatural and disturbing behaviors. In this novel, the author did not write a porn scene or any sort of inappropriate scenes that are unsuitable for the teenage readers, but she merely references to rape, which seems to be such a major concern for people who are most likely lonely with too much time on their hands. Considering that To Kill a Mockingbird is quite a long novel and is a higher reading level, you should be able to determine whether you are mature enough to read the novel. Whether you are capable of maintaining yourself while reading about the history of race, references to rape, and profane language that we hear just about every day, depends on you.

Due to this event, Scout was surrounded by people using the n word. Atticus made sure that Scout doesn’t use offensive language. Since Scout wasn’t aware of certain topics, Atticus taught her about rape and how it isn’t right due to the significance of consent. He also shows compassion and sympathy throughout the story towards Jem and his trial. Atticus shows his support by giving Jem a trial.

Having done so, she goes on to highlight the ‘womanist’ culture. Afro-American tradition, for Mama, is symbolized by churn. It is a tradition of bonding, of mutual nurturance. Similarly, the symbol of quilt for Mama is not just a utilitarian item but a living tradition. Alice Walker, in fact, uses the imagery of the quilt to suggest what womanism is all about.

Having done so, she goes on to highlight the ‘womanist’ culture. Afro-American tradition, for Mama, is symbolized by churn. It is a tradition of bonding, of mutual nurturance. Similarly, the symbol of quilt for Mama is not just a utilitarian item but a living tradition. Alice Walker, in fact, uses the imagery of the quilt to suggest what womanism is all about.

One interesting primary victim shown was Father Ronald Paquin, who admitted to being raped himself, but also confessed to molesting several boys as his time as a priest at St. John the Baptist. Paquin did not seem fazed by his confession because he “never got any pleasure” from molesting his parishioners (Spotlight, 1:15:40). The families of those who were victimized were also interviewed by the spotlight team, one woman said that her family was pressured into settling the lawsuit, which required them to sign a nondisclosure agreement. The families are secondary victims because although they weren’t the ones victimized directly, the fact that a loved one was hurt affected them as well. The other parishioners even those who were not abused, are tertiary victims, because they feel betrayed that their priests abused so many of their other fellow church members, and the archdiocese did nothing about it.

“‘If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, then why are you doin’ it?’ ‘For a number of reasons,’ said Atticus. ‘The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again’” (Lee 100).

The woman mentioned is Mayella Ewell, a young poor woman abused by her father. As Tom feels empathy for her situation, he does little chores for her. Mayella makes a move on Tom, and upon refusing her, she accuses him of rape. Under these circumstances, Atticus fights tooth and nail against the racism of the time to prove Tom Robinson is innocent with weapons of blatant evidence and powerful words. “You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some

Atticus risks his reputation that he has built up in the caste system when he takes on the case of working to defend Tom Robinson in attempts to gain equality for the black community. He knows that by defending a black man it will bring judgement down on his family, because many of the white citizens of Maycomb are racist and disagree with his beliefs. Atticus strongly

Esther is nearly raped by a man who believed all women to be whores that could be bought, and she is proposed to by a man who thinks sex is impure and would never sleep with his wife and only

For example, Atticus defended Tom Robinson in his case even though the town was against. This is because he thought that all people, including black people, deserved a chance to prove themselves. Also, Atticus had defended Calpurnia when Aunt Alexandra wanted to fire her; because Aunt Alexandra thought that she wasn't needed. Atticus respected Calpurnia; he even acknowledged that the family needed her. He has always been respectful of Calpurnia.

Atticus was given an impossible case to win, but he dedicated a majority of his time on the case. “This case, Tom Robinson 's case, is something that goes to the essence of a man 's conscience — Scout, I couldn 't go to church and worship God if I didn 't try to help that man” (104). This quote truly portrays Atticus’s character and mindset. During this time period, not many other lawyers would feel this way about that particular case. Atticus’s implies that he would not be able to carry on with his life without helping Tom Robinson and that he wanted to help Tom walk away a free man.

Atticus also thinks it would be hard to live without dealing with this case, “Said Atticus, ‘but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience’”(Lee 108). Atticus discusses to Scout, that if this case isn’t taken on by himself, he wouldn’t be able to live with such guilty consciences. He knows that no one else in Maycomb will take this case, and knows that he will be loosing. But if he doesn’t at least attempt to show Maycomb Tom 's innocent, he wouldn’t be able to forget about the moment.

These laws, then, uphold old notions of chastity and virginity, while providing a weapon against men from social groups we do not like. They also deprive women in their mid and late teens of choice under the guise of protecting that choice. The highly “patriarchal and paternalistic” law is what Delgado sees an area for further revue. With the lack of women being charged for such crimes, he questions things such as pressured intercourse and sexual love involving two consenting individuals.

In fact he explains to the people that without the constitution in play the very freedom they are enjoying due to their previous hard fight will be lost. He says that the only way to keep the branches of government separated to prevent one that is too powerful is to have a binding document such as the constitution. As

As Atticus has explained to Scout many times, Atticus values justice and equality. He also believes that everyone is equal. Just because Tom Robinson is black, that doesn’t mean Atticus shouldn’t defend him simply for that reason. As Atticus says to Scout, if he defend Mr. Robinson, then he couldn’t tell his children, Jem and Scout, not to do something. He says and does this to set an example for his children to follow, because if he expects them to do or follow something, then he must display it to them first.