Isolation In To Kill A Mockingbird

When withdrawn from society, false rumors spread which hide a person’s true self. The two main children in the story experience this with one of their neighbors, Mr. Arthur “Boo” Radley.

In the story of To Kill a Mockingbird, there 's a town called Maycomb. This town is divided by many factors. Race was a big dividend but it wasn 't the only factor of division there was social status, power, and gender. These factors are what conduct the way relationships and personalities formed.

“Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it.” Harper Lee had used the tragic situation of Tom Robinsons trial to explore many themes including, racism and differences in privilege. “To kill a mockingbird” written by Harper Lee explores many situations linked to the broad idea of racism throughout the systems of Maycomb and differences in privilege in many different ways.

It represents the innocent who were injured through contact with evil. Dolphus Raymond is identified as a mockingbird, and in his case, the prejudice that Raymond receives throughout Maycomb is his contact with evil. Raymond is constantly ridiculed for his lifestyle that is deemed unfit when it comes to Maycomb’s society. Raymond’s relations with African-Americans are looked down upon and prejudiced, but he does not let that overcome him. Instead, he learns to tolerate it by feigning alcoholism and tries to explain it to the children: “‘I try to give ‘em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason. [...] If I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whiskey--that’s why he won’t change his ways. He can’t help himself, that’s why he lives the way he does,’” (Lee 268). Dolphus Raymond understands that the people in Maycomb wouldn’t be able to overlook its prejudice to be able to understand his lifestyle. In order to live his life without being constantly pestered by the people of Maycomb, Raymond feigns alcoholism as a way for people to “understand” why he lived a life much different from those who lived in Maycomb.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee teaches us about the town of Maycomb County during the late 1930s, where the characters live in isolation and victimization. Through the perspective of a young Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, readers will witness the prejudice that Maycomb produces during times where people face judgement through age, gender, skin colour, and class, their whole lives. Different types of prejudice are present throughout the story and each contribute to how events play out in the small town of Maycomb. Consequently, socially disabling the people who fall victim from living their life comfortably in peace. Boo Radley and his isolation from Maycomb County, the racial aspects of Tom Robinson, and the decision Atticus Finch makes as a lawyer, to defend a black man has all made them fall in the hands of Maycomb’s prejudice ways.

Since Mr. Radley never came out of the house, frightening rumors spread about him and the children all knew them. They even played games where they reenacted the story that was spread around about him, not realizing how disgraceful it was to the Radleys. Towards the end the book, Scout finally get to meet Boo Radley after Bob Ewell attempted to kill her and Jem. Scout took Mr. Radley home and on the way back she thought, “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Justine standing on the Radley porch was enough.” (Lee 279). Scout now sees the world the world through Boo Radley’s shoes, even though she might be taking it too literally, and find compassion for things that Boo Radley did long

We live in a society today where judging others is a regular, everyday activity. Many people may blame a significant amount of this issue on the excessive amount of technology we have access too, but this problem has been around for much longer. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, it shows the ugliness that can come from judging others, but it also teaches two young children, Scout and Jem, to listen to others, so that you can have the opportunity to learn from them. Throughout the story many characters were able to demonstrate this lesson for the kids, but three that were true examples of it were Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch and Boo Radley. With only aiming to stand up for what they believe in and not worrying what everyone

Scout changed a lot over the course of this story. She was exposed to many events that led to her gradually changing her way of life. She doesn’t change as much as Jem does or as fast as him, but she still changes. She learns to mature, understand things better, and treat people with respect.

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee contains various examples of racism and prejudice throughout the novel. The story takes place in the 1930's, a period when racism was a part of everyday life. Prejudice and racism in this book are represented by acts of hate towards others because of the color of their skin. In this novel, prejudice and racism was dominantly pointed towards blacks. Acts of racism can be discreet to the point that you can easily miss them. Yet alongside those, there are conspicuous demonstrations of racism that would never happen in today's society. Lee illustrates many of these behaviors in her novel.

How does Harper Lee vividly capture the effects of racism and social inequality on the citizens of Maycomb county in ‘To kill a mockingbird’?

Boo Radley is boy that lives across the street from main character of the book, Scout Finch. One day when Scout was talking with Miss Maudie she asked, “do you think Boo Radley’s still alive?” and she replied with, “His name’s Arthur and he’s alive” (Lee 57). Boo is seen like a ghost to the rest of the town because no one ever sees him come out of his house. This

“The tribe of which Burris Ewell and his brethren consisted had lived on the same plot of earth behind the Maycomb dump, and had thrived on county welfare money for three generations” (130). This quote shows that the Ewells had always been an unpleasant and low class family. The Ewells had to live off welfare and they were rude and ignorant. During Tom Robinson’s trial, you were able to see the Ewell’s true colors and ways they were disrespectful. Some of the people of Maycomb had different opinions on other people that may have been of a lower social status than them. For example, Aunt Alexandra told Scout that she couldn’t play with Walter Cunningham because she says that he and his family are not their kind of folks. “Because-he-is-trash, that’s why you can’t play with him. I’ll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what” (225). This quotes shows how Aunt Alexandra believes that Scout shouldn’t associate with Walter Cunningham even though he is

What makes a good father? It is someone who is a leader, someone who always wants what is best for you. Especially when times get rough. Over time parenting has changed and grown in many different ways. Authors tackle the ideal parent and different parenting actions and views. Harper Lee in, To Kill A Mockingbird shows many different types of parents. As a single father, character Atticus Finch stands out the most. He shows he is a good parent as he provides important life lessons to his children and others. He shows fairness to others and his kids especially. Lastly he shows that you should always stand up for others no matter what.

11. The last Sentence in Chapter 9 of to kill a mockingbird is “But I never realized out how Atticus knew I was listening, and it was not until I was older that I realized he wanted me to hear every word he said”. Atticus knew that scout was a nosy child so he discussed why he chose to help Tom Robinson. Atticus discussed this, because in time he knew that she will know what is the right thing to do, and not judge someone by there color. This was important for the rest of the story, because the story has a lot to do with black people and racism. Atticus wanted to have responsible kids who are not not racist. Also later in the book at christmas Scout and her cousin Francis get in a fight because he called Atticus a “nigger lover”.

Perhaps your reputation is destroyed or maybe a lifetime of utter loneliness has taken its toll on you, is it any excuse for murder? In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayella Ewell’s isolation leads her to fall for and advance on Tom Robinson, which results in her father, Bob Ewell seeing this as an opportunity to accuse Tom of raping his daughter and forcing her to lie in court. This false accusation can lead to a death penalty and Tom who is at a clear disadvantage due to his race doesn’t stand a chance. In the article written by Studs Terkel, American Dreams: Lost and Found, it reiterates the idea that our life experiences take part of who we are and partly shape us, but it is mainly up to ourselves to choose who we are. Three prominent themes in To Kill a Mockingbird are lost honor, loneliness as destruction, and will to survive.