In this essay, Metress speaks on how Atticus has some flaws in To Kill a Mockingbird; for example, the only thing Atticus does for change in his community was defend Tom for no charge and he did so to his best ability. Also, Atticus, when describing why he chooses to not turn down the case, uses the word “I” more than anything else, suggesting he did it for himself more than he did it for Tom or for anyone else. Metress quotes Freedman in his essay: “Here is a man who does not voluntarily use his training and skills - not once ever - to make the slightest change in the pervasive social injustice of his own
His wording shows that he doesn’t know who he is and therefore believes he is a Monster as Ms. Petrocelli calls him. He accepts people’s judgments as his self-truth. Even though, he, himself, accepts the worst he still wants people to perceive him as a good person, especially his mom. Steve’s mom’s words cut deeper in him because his mom believes he didn’t do it while he knows he did. 5 days into the trial, his mother comes by and talks to him hoping to make him feel better, “I could still feel Mama’s pain.
He does this because he truly believes that Tom is innocent and feels that if he doesn’t fight for Tom he will lose his honor and respect as can be seen from the quote, Atticus to Scout “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent his legislature,I couldn't even tell you or Jem not do something again.” (100, Lee) He believes in his heart that it is
“As Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man I accepted his invitation reluctantly, but I followed Dill” (Lee 267). When they began to talk they found out that what he was drinking was coke and not alcohol, like people assumed he was and that he was a really nice man who just didn’t want to deal wiht the world around him. Scout’s neighbor Boo Radley had never gone outside before and shown his face. This made the town talk and they made up stories about why he never came out. Scout heard these stories but her friendliness persisted her on finding out what he was really like.
Dally is seen as mean and a hood, but Ponyboy later realises he is gallant because of the he loves and saves Johnny 's life. Darry is has not been loving to Ponyboy, but Ponyboy comes to that Darry does everything for him and Soda and loves him. Sodapops happy cheery appearance has always made people think he has no problems, but inside he has his own. Peoples opinion on others affect them. They are only judge from that opinion.
I can’t live one way in town and another way in my home” (Lee 367). Atticus is willing to put Jem on trial in order to teach his children that lies will only lead to disloyalty and deception. He does not want disloyalty to run through the family, so, when the time comes, he sets an example by telling the truth. No secrets or lies to hide from himself, his family, or the townspeople. Jones supports Atticus’s honest nature by saying that, “Reflection gives us humility, forces us to confront our own frailties and limitations; and compassion helps us love…”(Jones 152-153).
Ulysses Everett McGill acts strategically about whatever he does, but is also loyal to others around. Everett accepts that he lied about the treasure, but he explained that it was only because he wanted to stop his wife from being married to another man and be back with his family. This shows how Everett strategically lied about the treasure
As we all well know, many people get blamed for others’ actions. Is it because of racism? Ignorance? Desperation? Tom Robinson from the Harper Lee novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is convicted of a crime that he did not commit.
Ewell being a malicious evil introduced to the children’s lives, his very presence contributed to the meaning of the story. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, the children learn that every person is not what they seem and with every trial comes a lesson. In Chapter 10, Atticus Finch says, “‘ remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’” (119). The significance of this quote is later understood by Scout Finch; it was a sin to kill a peaceful creature that never harmed anyone. Mr. Ewell’s wrongdoings lead to the death of Tom Robinson, and later he himself was killed for his unjust actions.
Judgement, it can be both good and bad, so looking at society, the way be judge color, and Family all play a big part in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” in what makes us who we are. In order for Scout, or even Jem to understand what the society judges him/her on they first have to understand it. Scout and Walter Cunningham are very different from each
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses “The Radley Place” to represent the mystery and fear of what people don’t understand,
He needed to protect the innocent, because if he didn’t “[he] couldn’t hold up [his] head in the town, [he] couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, [he] couldn’t even tell [Scout] or Jem not to do something again” (100). Mr. Finch was an honest, considerate, and honorable man, who led the society down the right path and provided goodness to Maycomb County, just like a mockingbird. Mockingbirds pleasure people with their marvelous melodies and show no harm towards others. Arthur Radley, Tom Robinson, and Atticus Finch are all tormented and face being “shot down” by immoral thoughts that were permanently branded into the townspeople’s minds.
Harper Lee uses many techniques in To Kill a Mockingbird to achieve the goal of character development. One way Harper Lee exhibits this is by using inner thinking when Scout holds back from fighting Cecil. Scout is eager to fight Cecil because he was making fun of her father, Atticus, for defending a black man in court who goes by the name of Tom Robinson. In chapter nine, Scout was ready to throw a punch but realizes that would not make matters better. “My fists were clenched and I was ready to let fly … I was far too old and too big for such childish things, and the sooner I learn to hold it in, the better off everybody would be” (Lee, 99).
Throughout the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, first published in 1960, Harper Lee uses various characters to demonstrate themes. Harper Lee uses minor characters behaviours and mannerisms to show the effects of hatred and prejudice on adults and children. Cecil Jacobs and Burris Ewell show the impact on what parents say around their children and how children easily adopt their parents ideologies. Cecil Jacob was the product of a racist upbringing. When fighting with scout in the schoolyard, Cecil says " my folks said your daddy was a disgrace an’ that --- oughta hang from the water tank!”
Character & Blended Quote w/ page number Context/Situation Significance As Calpurnia tries to have Scout justify her assumptions, when it comes to looking at things from someone else’s perspective “There’s some folks who don’t eat like us, “she whispered fiercely, “but you ain’t called on to contradict ‘em at the table when they don’t. […] “Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you disgracin’ ‘em”. (32) Calpurnia tries getting Scout to look at a situation from someone else’s perspective, to learn to justify their actions.