Persuasive Essay- To Kill a Mockingbird
The book To Kill a Mockingbird is about a young girl named Scout who goes through many stressful events with her older brother, Jem, and father, Atticus. Scout and her family are threatened by a very creepy man known as Bob Ewell. Bob is the father of nineteen year old Mayella Ewell, who was supposedly raped by a black man named Tom Robinson. There is a trial held to determine if Tom is guilty of raping young Miss Mayella. While many characters in To Kill A Mockingbird find their power in cowardly clinging to the beliefs of a group, the novel ultimately illustrates that one individual who acts with integrity possesses greater power. Atticus is this one person that stands for what he believes in even if the odds are against him.
To start it all off,
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“ ‘. . . Mr. Ewell was tryin’ to squeeze me to death, I reckon . . . then somebody yanked Mr. Ewell down.’ ” (pg. 270) Mr. Ewell meant business in this section of the book, he tried to kill Jem and Scout or severely injure them. This just shows that Bob was trying to get back at Atticus for trying to defend a black man against him and his daughter in court. Mr. Ewell was furious and took his rage out on two children that weren’t as near as strong as he was. So, in the end everyone realizes that Atticus was right to stand up for Tom Robinson.
Although Atticus did possess great power at the end of the book, he didn’t have this power in the beginning when basically all the odds were against him. “ ‘You know what we want,’ another man said. ‘Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch.’ ” (pg. 151) This quote shows that the men don't respect Atticus for staying with Tom. The men want Atticus to move from the door that way they can pester Tom before the case. Fortunately, Atticus is there to prevent this from happening, but the men don't respect
Dalainah Gustafson Due Date: Journal 4 I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and I am on page 304. The book is about a girl, Mayella, who is accusing a man, Tom Robinson, of raping her. They go to court and she gets caught lying and some people think that Tom Robinson is telling the truth. In this journal I will be predicting and evaluating.
Atticus is a person of integrity and he always cares for
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” In life, one cannot back down once they are faced with adversity. There is no better statement than King’s that relays the message of upholding your beliefs. In “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the theme of standing up for what you believe in is developed through Atticus Finch, Calpurnia, and Scout Finch.
Sean Rielly Miss Moore Honors English II-2A 3 October 2015 Mockingbird "This morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life."(221) After humiliating Bob Ewell in court, Atticus is threatened by Bob, the town shame, in an attempt to get some dignity back; after his daughter Mayella was allegedly raped by a negro Tom Robinson and Atticus tries to pin the abuse on Bob instead of Tom. Although since Tom is African American the jury voted him guilty and he gets the death penalty, even though most believed him to be innocent. By analyzing Harper Lee’s use of foreshadowing in To Kill a Mockingbird: Bob Ewell threatens Atticus and says he'll get him, Boo
From the start of To Kill a Mockingbird to the end, Jem Finch ages from ten years old to thirteen years old, along with his age his character also alters drastically. Throughout the novel Jem faces a multitudinous amount of social and racial injustices, quite a few of these impact Jem as a result of him being the son of Atticus Finch, who at the time was the only Lawyer residing in Maycomb willing to defend a black man in court. Throughout the course of the novel Jem became proficient in adapting and handling these situations. Eventually, Jem realizes this is how harsh this world is, and steadily begins to lose innocence over the course of the novel.
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 knows that “there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that [he] shouldn’t do much about defending [Tom Robinson]” (100). However, even though his family and friends my disagree, may even think less of him, Atticus’ interaction with this case gives his cause to think greater of himself because he is fighting for what he believes in. This kind of situation is difficult when you’re opposing you’re enemies, but even harder when you are up against your friends. Even so, Atticus on the path he knows is right, risking his popularity and status among the town. Atticus tells Scout, “you just hold your head high and keep your fists down.
“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.
Heroes are not invincible, and certainly are not the ones who always win; however, a hero is someone who, despite this, is courageous enough to fight for what is right. Atticus Finch, one of the most inspiring literary characters from the highly acclaimed novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is an example of such. This classic novel is told from the perspective of Scout Finch, Atticus’ daughter, a young girl who lives in the town of Maycomb County, Alabama, in the 1930s, a town where prejudice and discrimination is rife. Rather than succumbing to societal expectations and adopting the extreme animosity held by the other citizens, Atticus views and treats all with the dignity and respect that they are entitled to, guiding his
Although the mob is planning violence, Atticus is a man of virtue and he refuses to sink to their level, despite the danger to himself. After the lynch mob arrives at the jail, Atticus tells the group that Heck Tate, Maycomb’s sheriff, will not let them do anything to harm Tom, but the mob was prepared: “‘Called ‘em off on a snipe hunt,’ was the succinct answer. ‘Didn’t you think a’that, Mr. Finch?’ ‘Thought about it, but didn’t believe it. Well then,’ my father’s voice was still the same, ‘that changes things, doesn’t it?’”
Bob Ewell spat in Atticus’s face and threatened to take his life. Flooded with emotions of anxiety and trepidation, Jem and Scout hurry home to Atticus, only to find him unflustered and smug. Atticus assures them of his safety, but their fear of various furtive future events persists. To ease his children, Atticus obligingly explains his thought-process: “[i]f spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take.
In this scene Atticus is conversing with Jem about why Bob Ewell spat in Atticus’ face. Then, Atticus says, “... ‘I destroyed his last shred of credibility in that trial, if he had any to begin to begin with’” (292). This quote demonstrates that Atticus’ reputation suffers because he’s stealing something from a impoverished person. To paraphrase, Atticus destroyed Bob’s credibility when he had little to start with.
In our society, innocent people, known as mockingbirds, experience prejudice in their lives. A/T: In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Background: Tom Robinson is a black person who’s was accused of raping a white girl named Mayella Ewell which he has never done. For this reason, Atticus Finch was appointed to be his lawyer. As a result, Atticus takes a stand for him by approving his case and standing up for him, but Tom was still found guilty.
Proper Protection Most people think of a small town as a peaceful and quiet place, where everyone knows each other. Quarrels and disagreements rarely disrupt their tranquil lives. However, this perception could not be further from the truth in Alabama 1930’s.
Explaining to Jem and Scout that the mockingbird only sings its heart out for us. This also goes into the court case that Atticus is working on. Tom Robinson is convicted of rape when it is proven that he did nothing and it was Bob Ewell that gave Mayella Ewell, his own daughter all the injuries. Tom Robinson was later sentenced guilty and only because of the racism in the town, which is completely unfair in society and the only one that really seems to recognize it is Atticus.