Destruction of Character Through Pre-Judgment Judgment, often defined as an opinion or a conclusion, is a relevant term throughout Harper Lee’s writings (Merriam Webster). As seen in To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman the relevance of judgment is evident through discrimination of individuals skin color. At first glance, an average reader might perceive the novel as a story of an unconventional upbringing. Although this reader is not completely mistaken, a key point is lost. This point is the theme of pre-judgment and its destructiveness. To Kill a Mockingbird portrays Atticus Finch as a rather fierce civil rights supporter, where as Go Set a Watchman depicts Atticus as a blatant racist. Although the novels do not go hand in hand, it is obvious to see how the society Atticus is placed in is intensely racist and prejudiced, inherently forcing preconceived notions upon him. The test to real character is whether or not a man can uphold his moral values in a society so small minded. Atticus Finch defies societal norms in the South in To Kill a Mockingbird when he resists backlash and defends a black man accused of raping a white woman. Contrastingly, Go Set a Watchman illustrates Atticus as an old white man who is part of various clubs against black civil rights. Reasoning for this comes from pre-judgment and its destructiveness to character. If Atticus had lived in civilization of equality and good will, much of his bigotry would be non existent in Go Set a Watchman. The point of prejudgment and its …show more content…
Readers look to Scout as a test to character and innocence. As Scout is only six years old in the beginning of the novel, she is unaware of the surrounding bigotry in her town, Maycomb. Unlike many of the characters in the novel, she is able to look at the world in a unique perspective due to her innocence and influence from her activist father, Atticus
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Show MoreAtticus is a mockingbird because he is a lawyer who is treated like crap because he defended a black man in court. Scout narrates, “According to Miss Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him and threatened to kill him.”(217) Yet Atticus’s response was to wipe the spit off his face and walk away. Mr. Ewell threatened him for defending Tom Robinson; a innocent black man who is charged with rape. Atticus is a helpful man who was defending a man who just so happen to be black; then he’s treated like crap for it.
A humans number one fright in society is being judged, that is why many have stage fright or don’t like to be different or isolated from others. Could this natural human extinct be right? Is everyone always judging everyone? In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the small town of Maycomb shows a lot of examples of the misunderstanding and judgement between the town folks, do to their ignorance. The novel portrays that ignorance is a seed for misjudgment throughout the novel .
Scout Finch is a seven year old girl and is the protagonist of To Kill a Mockingbird. Readers of this book view the story from Scout's perspective and know her feelings and emotions. Despite all of the people who tell her she should wear a dress and act like a lady she loves to wear overalls and play outside with her brother. She is very brilliant for her age and can read and write even though she is only in first grade. Although Scout is a first-grade girl, she can read and write and loves to play outside with her brother and friend.
Cep states “Criticisms of his accommodationist racial politics, his classism, and his sexism went mainstream a few years ago” (Cep 2) Cep is saying that people have found his words prejudice. This agrees with the fact he is a person who values politeness over equality and also brings up different views of Atticus being portrayed negatively. Atticus is described as someone whose ignorance allows them to support someone with a racist view. Similarly, in chapter eleven, Atticus tells Jem about Mrs.Dubose who was a very racist and rude person, and described her Atticus saying “She was a great lady.”
Societal Judgement As the years have went by, our society has judged people not only on what they look like, but also who they are said to be. Through Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, she uses Scout, the main character, to perceive the problems of society and how judgement floods the minds of people. This book takes place in the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama. This setting is believed to be an old, tired town where everybody knows everybody.
Scout Finch- Scout Finch is the narrator and protagonists of this story. She is 6 years old when the book starts and 8 when it ends. Scout is very smart and a “tomboy.” She loves her community but this changes a little bit throughout the book.
Everyone of us, has judged a person on their appearance or rumors before. How much of your lives are affected by these judgements, could they ruin a friendship or something more before it even starts. Jem and Scout learn the effects of judging people before you get to know them In to kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. One major theme of the book is don't judge a person on their skin color, reputation, or rumors. Actions speak louder than words in this book and some could even save lives.
Point me out: Jean Louise Finch, who was exposed to all kinds of guff from the white trash she went to school with, but she might never have gone to school for all the influence it had on her. Everything that was Gospel to her she got at home from her father. You sowed the seeds in me, Atticus, and now it's coming home to you." (248) Many readers all along have looked at Atticus through childlike eyes because they used him to compensate for many things they didn't have in their own lives.
Not every kid acts the same. Most of them act a certain way because of what an adult has taught them or an important life lessons they learned from them. Life lessons can impact one's beliefs and behavior. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout, the 6 year old narrator’s beliefs and behavior was influenced by Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Miss Maudie by the lessons they taught her. Atticus taught her compassion and forgiveness, Mrs. Dubose showed what real courage is, and Miss Maudie taught Scout there is always light in darkness and explained why it was a sin to kill a mockingbird.
Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, presents the idea that being non judgemental is demonstrated by not judging someone on one specific thing about someone even when others might judge them. Social justice requires one being non judgemental because everyone deserves being equal. The character Atticus Finch demonstrates being non judgemental by not judging people by their race, gender, and whether their an outcast or not. Atticus, a non judgemental person, because he does not not show any less respect to anyone for what color skin they have. The court appointed him to defend Tom, but, “Atticus also aims to defend him.”(163)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has impacted many individuals’ lives. Each character has their perfect fit in this fictional story. Harper Lee uses Scout's point of view, even though you can feel how other characters are feeling and acting. So many situations happen in this marvelous book, you even get taught a lesson from them. Scout learns the biggest lesson, though.
Have you ever had an experience where you failed in something, but you ultimately learned the most important lesson about others feelings and being empathetic? To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a historical fiction novel that examines a lawyer in the 1950’s Alabama as he tries to defend an African American man accused of harassing a white woman. People’s experiences help them develop their moral compass because through their experiences and mistakes they learn to become empathetic. Through her experiences and mistakes Scout developed her moral compass.
Judging in To KIll A Mockingbird “The black man did it” she said. “Typical”, he said in response. Humans tend to judge others for many reasons. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, it shows a great theme of judging and that you don't really know a person until you have walked around in their shoes.
For example when Tom is in court people assume that he is guilty because he is black, you also see judgment by rumor when Scout is told that Boo Radley eats animals at night. Readers see these types of judgement all throughout the novel, displayed in subplots. Often in society we judge before thinking about the topic however, Author Harper Lee uses subplots in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird to show how people empathize before judging others or creating opinions over topics so, society can learn how to empathize in their everyday lives before making their opinion on topics. In today’s world judgement is placed everywhere, including social media and even News stations.
Judgement How often should we judge, it depends on either it’s needed, or not. We all are going to be judged one day, but before that time comes we have to make the best decisions we possibly can. To show the meaning of this idea, the author Harper Lee describes how in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” about people like Dolphus Raymond are judged upon where lives, and who he is around. The same thing is similar with Scout, and how she shares her experience with the society around herself.