In the 1930s the Southern states of America suffered from a strong discrimination and racial hatred towards colored people. They had no rights, no respect and were not allowed to go places white people went. In other words they were segregated from the rest of the society. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that show the life of a southern state od Alabama during the “black racism” time period, where majority of the people had the mentality that (quote) with the exception of a few.
To Kill A Mockingbird and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings are two novels about two females and their endeavor with racism. Although these two girls are two different skin colors they face the same very harsh world from their own point of view.
The title “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee, regard to how it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, because all they do is sing. Atticus told the kids they can shoot as much blue jays as they desire, but not to shoot any mockingbirds for that reasons, because mockingbird do not harm nor do they bother anyone. In this novel, there are three main mockingbird, Tom Robinson, Jem, and Boo “Arthur” Radley.
The theme of this novel is "Not everything is the way you predict it is". I believe this thematic statement suits the story because throughout the book there are lots of surprises, and most situations don't go the way people predict they will. For example, Aunt Alexandra was first seen as mean, according to her attitude towards Scout. At the end of the book Aunt Alexandra hands Scout her overalls, as mentioned in the story, "the garments she most despised." Because she always wanted Scout to be a lady and wear dresses. This proved that Aunt Alexandra is not as mean and as close-minded as she seemed at first.
The book To Kill a Mockingbird is based out of the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The residents in Maycomb are extremely racist and see minor inequalities as major differences and reasons to segregate. The families of Maycomb have their own hereditary social classes and are pretty much stuck in their class based on occupation and race`. People in Maycomb are born into significance or are born into less fortunate situations. Many of the characters use these social classes to boost their self esteem. Due to the social classes and stigmas surrounding these classes the citizens have limited their ability to develop fully as humans.
Racial equality and discrimination is a founding issue that has been spread throughout every part of the world, To Kill A Mockingbird was written and published by Harper Lee in 1960, this time was dominated by civil rights protests and some of the first hippie movements following the crushing reality of the Vietnam War, the 60s also saw the struggle against segregation and racial equality. It is no surprise that the extreme political conflict affecting her life and world would greatly impact her writing and influence how she perceived the world during the writing of To Kill a Mockingbird. the influence of the fight for racial inequality is shown greatly in her book as she depicts the everyday life
Atticus defends Tom Robinson anyways because one of his concerns is the safety of the Ewell children. Atticus is also concerned about his two children, Scout and Jem. He wants his children to know that making the right choice is important. Atticus wants the Ewell children to be safe from their drunk and abusive father and for his own children to learn from this case. Atticus resembles a mockingbird in the specific instance when Bob Ewell spits at him. He makes the decision to not fight back. Atticus just wants to advocate for peace in the community of Maycomb. He wants peacefulness for Mayella and helps her out. This also shows Jem and Scout that they should both make the right decisions, even when placed in challenging situations because their choices will have an impact on others. If Atticus had fought back or had walked away, Mayella could have suffered even more. Atticus also represents a mockingbird accurately because he provides positive virtues and righteousness to the community. Scout describes how Atticus provides good deeds to the community during the house fires that strike Maycomb. Scout tells the reader exactly what she sees from her
Scout learns about the prejudice the black community faces during Tom Robinson’s case. Tom is a black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell and is ultimately given a guilty verdict. After news spread of Atticus being Tom’s lawyer, people around town began calling the Finch family derogatory names. This led to Scout understanding that society doesn’t respect the black community or even treat them as equals. They believed that Tom was guilty even before the trial just because he was black. After the trial and Tom Robinson’s death, Scout realizes the level of racial injustice and hypocrisy in her town. It was obvious that Tom was not guilty and the Ewells were lying, but the jury caved into social pressure. If they said Tom was not guilty, it would go against everything they ever knew and believed so they probably decided it was best to stick with what they already know. The fact that blacks were lower than whites. It’s just as Atticus said, “There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads-they couldn’t be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life.” (Lee 295). Atticus inspired Scout during the case because he tried his best to give Tom a fair trial and didn’t treat him differently for being black. Even though his children were targeted by the town as well,
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses Jean Louise (Scout) Finch as the narrator. Scout is now an adult and reflects on three very crucial summers during her childhood days. When Scout is first described in the novel, she is prone to violence, labels people based on class, denigrates people, uses racist language, and is prejudice (Seidel 1). All of these things show that she is childish at the beginning of the novel. A mature character would not pick a fight or label people based on their money; however, by the end of the novel, Scout sees that these things are wrong. She begins to see that all people are equal and should be treated the same. The reader sees Scout growing up through her change in actions, speech, and morals.
In society, there are very few people who have the unwavering dedication to stand up for what they believe. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, a black man was convicted and accused of a crime he didn 't commit, raping a white women, which is not in anyway tolerable in society. In Harper Lee 's To Kill A Mockingbird, the author used point of view and symbolism to acknowledge how the the several social divisions which make up much of the adult world are shown to be both irrational and extremely destructive.
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.
“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. In my opinion that is truly unfair.
Throughout To Kill A MockingBird, by Harper Lee there are many acts of courage. This is shown in Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, and Boo Radley. Atticus shows the most courage in the book but all three of these characters show true courage in some way, shape, or form. Boo Radley showed a lot of courage, but he was not in the storyline as much as Atticus. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, courage is defined as standing up for people and doing what’s right.
Thesis:He wanted to give Tom the voice he deserves. He also wanted to do what was right. Clincher;Atticus Finch shows how important to stand up for others because it follows the golden rule of treating others the same way you want to be
In the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, why must an honorable black man die for a white man’s actions? The book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, takes place in the 1930s in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch, father to Jem and Scout, has been assigned a legal case to defend a black man. Tom, the black man, was accused of raping a white woman, Mayella. The story is about how his kids, Jem and Scout, live during this time, and everything Atticus does to fight for Tom. In all adaptations, there are differences between a book and its movie, and in the movie version of To Kill a Mockingbird, which was directed by Robert Mulligan, many crucial scenes are left out.