Birds singing the lovely tune of a mockingbird will wake in the morn as children play. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird plays out events in a small county residing in Alabama called Maycomb. It is described as a “Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square.” (Lee, 6). This story goes along with the curious opinions of a small girl named Jean Louise Finch. However, the true “mockingbird” in this story is her father, a lawyer by the name of Atticus. He is a humble man who will rise to defend the innocent and speak only the truth, all the while singing the tune of parenthood. This will be focused …show more content…
Within the novel, Atticus is defending a black man by the name of Tom Robinson who was accused of raping a young woman. How Atticus handled this trial is widely considered to be fair. He asked just and equal questions to all the witnesses along with Tom and Mayella, the girl who cried rape. Why does Atticus do this instead of just giving up on Tom? It is simply explained with “if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.” (Lee,100). He wants to hold his head high instead of enduring a nagging conscious from doing something unjust for another hard working man. “I’m simply defending a Negro- his name’s Tom Robinson. He lives in that little settlement beyond the town dump. He’s a member of Calpurnia’s church, and Cal knows his family well. She says they’re clean-living folks.” (Lee, 100). Even though Atticus knows he will most likely lose from a white man’s word against a black’s, he still gives this case his undivided attention. Atticus defended Tom to the last moment when he is eventually taken away to prison. He heard both sides of the story equally just as he has with his own children’s problems, and put reason to hericies. Even so, not every battle can be won within
#1 QUOTATION “Jem had probably stood as much guff about Atticus lawing for (black people) as had I, and I took it for granted that he kept his temper.” (Lee,136). #2 CONTEXT The context behind this quote is that Mrs. Dubose makes fun of Scout, Jem, and
Though people are fond of Atticus himself, his decision to aim for Tom Robinson’s justice causes discomfort, “ ‘Lemme tell you somethin’ now, Billy’ a third said, ‘you know the court appointed him to defend this nigger.’ ‘Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That’s what I don’t like about it” (186). The quote exposes that everyone understand the fact that he is assigned to the case but do not understand as to why he is so intent on proving a black man’s innocence. Since Atticus exceedingly expresses his thought on Tim’s innocence and involves so much of himself in the case with a black person, he obtains negative feedback and gets called a nigger-lover.
Jasmine Guinness, a designer and a fashion model, once said “Be kind, don’t judge, and have respect for others. If we can all do this, the world would be a better place. The point is to teach this to the next generation.” In the small town of Maycomb there are many characters that get wrongfully accused that are like mockingbirds, they never do anything that is harmful to anyone else, and all they do is help. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee there are many mockingbird figures including Tom Robinson, Arthur “Boo” Radley, and Jem Finch.
But since Atticus does everything in his power to help Tom, the people who don’t want a fair trial turns their anger towards him. They could ruin so many things: his business, his life, even his children’s lives, as seen in Bob Ewell’s threatening “he’d get him if it took the rest of his life” (Lee 217). Because Atticus followed his integrity, every aspect of his life is put at
Despite racial inequalities in the South, Atticus sticks to his own morals and agrees to be the defending lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man being accused of raping a white woman. Although Atticus’ defense in court was thorough and clearly proved Tom’s innocence, the jury was prejudiced towards black folks and convicted Tom as guilty. Nonetheless, Atticus is still a hero despite losing the case. He has the courage to stand up for what he believes in, fights with reason rather than guns, and has utmost determination, making him a hero despite being just an average human being. Ultimately, his thoughts and actions set the stage for major changes in the meaning of equality throughout Maycomb County, changing lives of numerous people.
Argumentative Essay “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”. Atticus Finch decided to defend Tom Robinson when he was accused of raping a white woman. I would’ve done the same thing as Atticus because I believe that back then it wasn’t a very fair world. As soon as a white person blamed a black person Police or the Judge would automatically take the word or the white person.
He could not say he was helping a young woman because he knew she did not have much. Instead, he is accused of a serious crime. The community taunted and judged Tom, and even tried to kill him before the case because of their beliefs. Atticus continued with his closing statement, saying the communities point of view. Atticus stated, “...the evil assumption that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings…”
In Maycomb County, the Negroes are viewed as inferior, and in addition, the Jim Crow laws are enforced to ensure segregation. As a result, they do not have equal rights as the other citizens. When Atticus is asked to defend Tom Robinson, a Negro man accused of raping a white girl, he accepts. To the community this was improper. The community’s disgust at Atticus’ decision is expressed when Scout is irked by Cecil Jacobs, a boy in her class, when he announces that, “Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers.”
Atticus was chosen to fight on the behalf of a black man accused of rape. Back in the 1930s when this book takes place it was against the norm to fight on the behalf of a black man if you’re white. Atticus was chosen because they knew he would give Tom Robinson a fair trial. Due to this Atticus knew that people weren't going to like him. Atticus was bullied by Bob Ewell, who was the father of Mayella, the girl that accused tom of rape.
Atticus 's strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom with vigor and determination, giving it all he 's got with one mission in mind. He wants the people of
Father, lawyer, and friend, the gentlemanly Atticus Finch hopes to shape the character of his children. The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is the story of the childhood of a young girl named Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Throughout the book, Scout’s father, Atticus, tries his best to raise her and her brother, Jem, the right way as a single parent. To Kill a Mockingbird exemplifies the way the character of Atticus Finch either uses ritual or abandons it in order to develop certain character qualities within his children. He specifically focuses on the development of honesty, courage, and humility.
When Atticus was selected to defend Tom Robinson, he decided to give him a full defence instead of giving him a half-hearted one. When the whole town starts to stir that he’s defending a negro, all Atticus is thinking is “I’m simply defending a Negro -- [] they’re clean-living folks”(100). Atticus is showing that he believes all people are equal and deserve a fair trial; and even though the rest of the town can be harsh towards his views he sticks to them because that’s what he believes is right. This concept is also reflected onto his children, when
Even if Atticus can’t win the trial he fights hard because he wants to be a role model to Jem and Scout. Atticus believes Tom is a mockingbird, meaning his innocent and a victim of racism. For him to take the case makes sense.
In To Kill a Mockingbird prejudice in Maycomb is terrible. There are two major people in To Kill A Mockingbird that are prejudged severely. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are the two main people who are prejudged. There is also one other man who prejudged, Atticus Finch. All three of these men are mockingbirds.
He was trying to help out Mayella Ewell by gathering firewood and chopping dressers because he felt sorry for her, but was accused of rape because of his color. On page 87, Atticus said that “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” He was trying to help those who are innocent and in need, and even though he knew that he was going to lose the case, he wanted to try. Atticus hoped to better the lives of the mockingbird-like African-Americans in the South, so he attempted to help an innocent and helpless Tom to the best of his ability. Also, Tom’s crippled left arm is proof that he did not attack Mayella, however, he is accused because of his color.