ipl-logo

Why Do People Lie In To Kill A Mockingbird

739 Words3 Pages

Everyone lies. Everyone. All lies have various consequences. Some are big, some are small, but they are almost always negative. So, if everyone knows that lying has consequences, then why do people even lie in the first place? In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee answers this question. The main characters in this book are two kids named Jem and Scout, as well as their father named Atticus. The book takes place in the 1930’s when segregation and racial injustice were prominent. Therefore, when Atticus is appointed to defend a African American man, named Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman, it is a big deal. The kids learn alot about racial, injustice, and lying during the court case. Harper Lee conveys the theme that people lie mostly to avoid criticism by putting various characters in difficult situations. …show more content…

He is a supporting character in To Kill a Mockingbird. He comes from a very poor background and owes a lot of deet to Atticus, and pays it through an entailment. He is also part of the mob that tried to harm Tom Robinson. But was Walter really in the Mob because he believed in white supremacy, or was he only in it to avoid harm? The answer to this question lies on page 205-206 of the book. On these pages, Walter says,”Lets clear out”... “let 's get going boys (Lee 205).” In this quote, we can see that Walter leads the crowd away after being embarrassed by an elementary school girl. If Walter truly believed in the mobs values, he would not have been shut down so easily. Therefore, Walter was lying that he truly wanted to be in the mob. Thus, walter Cunningham was lying to avoid criticism. The reader knows this because of Mr. Cunningham 's background. He comes from a family that is “dirt poor.” They have a lot of debt and an entailment. From this evidence, the reader can infer that Walter does not want any more trouble with anyone. Walter just wants to avoid

Show More
Related

  • Dreams In Langston Hughes's A Raisin In The Sun

    716 Words  | 3 Pages

    Because Walter needs the money, he tries to accept that suggestion and sell the new house. But he doesn't. He can accept the suggestion by giving up the conscience. But he learns how to live the life and what losing the conscience is losing everything. He turns back to the person who is poor but

    Read More

  • Stereotypes In The Outsiders And Just Mercy

    813 Words  | 4 Pages

    Walter was accused of a murder that he did not commit, despite all the evidence that pointed elsewhere. It is said that Walter was being targeted by the police because he was breaking racial and sexual stereotypes of the area. These two things were greatly frowned upon, mostly because of the racial discrimination of the location. As a result, Walter was arrested, convicted and put on death row. He eventually got out of prison, but ultimately it ruined his life.

    Read More

  • Atticus Finch Adversity

    594 Words  | 3 Pages

    Atticus Finch is a well respected lawyer in Maycomb County. However, many individuals in the community turn their back on Atticus when he plans to defend an African American man, Tom Robinson, in court. Taking place in Alabama during the 1930s, “To Kill A Mockingbird” accurately portrays the hostile environment for

    Read More

  • Walter Lee Younger In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    778 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the beginning Walter is basically perceived as a jerk-he doesn’t seem to get along with anyone, not even his own family. His character likes to turn discussions into fights, make rude comments to his wife, and act all around immature. A part that accurately shows the way Walter conducts himself is when he is arguing with Ruth and says “Man say: I got to change my life , I'm choking to death, baby! And his woman say- Your eggs is getting cold!”

    Read More

  • Examples Of Misunderstandings In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1028 Words  | 5 Pages

    Even in a society that, overall, is diverse, people with similar ideas and experiences tend to congregate in small groups, where they are comfortable. It is much easier to remain in homogenous groups, among those who understand each other. When different groups combine, many different life experiences and points of view will be present and will potentially clash. Misunderstanding is bound to occur in some form when individuals of different backgrounds interact. When misunderstandings occur, people tend to respond with violence, fear, or stereotyping.

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun Walter's Dream Analysis

    466 Words  | 2 Pages

    Despite the fact that dreaming of a liquor store is shallow, Walter’s motivation to be able to support his family helps reconcile his somewhat immoral hopes. Later, Walter shows the idiocy of his plan to own a liquor store when he gets drunk. In act 2, scene 2, Walter borrows Willy Harris’s car and drives around Chicago for two days, then “just walked”, and finally “went to the Green Hat” (2.2 105). Through his actions, Walter shows that he is immature and cares more about pretending to be rich than his job that would allow him to provide for his family.

    Read More

  • Decisions In A Raisin In The Sun

    973 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mama made a decision that put Walter in charge of the remaining money, however she did not know that this decision might not have been the best for the Younger family. Walter was hesitant in taking the money, but Mama reassures Walter by saying, "I ain't ever stop trusting you" (Hansberry 546). This line from Mama foreshadows the possibility that Walter will not obey her and do something foolish with the money. Walter proves this foreshadowing as he is talking to Travis and says, "... your daddy's gonna make a transaction... a business transaction that's going to change our lives" (Hansberry 547).

    Read More

  • Deceived Appearances In To Kill A Mockingbird

    503 Words  | 3 Pages

    Another example of characters have deceived appearances is a character named Dolphous Raymond. Dolphous Raymond is written as a drunk outcast who lives with negroes. On page 267 scout says “ atticus wouldn't like it if we were friendly with Mr. Raymond , and i knew aunt alexandra wouldn't” It would seem that Mr. raymond was a peculiar dangerous man. But his true self is revealed on page 168 when dill takes a drink from his sack and it's only coca cola You would wonder why Mr. raymond would pretend to be a drunk man. On page 268 Raymond says “why do i pretend?

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun Sexism Analysis

    779 Words  | 4 Pages

    Walter’s statement tries to tell the women that he didn’t try to make the world the way it is now. Yes, he wants luxurious items for him and his wife. However, even though he seriously messed up, he’s still the man in the family and will continue to make the decisions for the

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird How Has Jem Changed

    844 Words  | 4 Pages

    The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is about two kids, Jem and Scout, and their childhood in their small town Maycomb, Alabama. In the beginning of the novel, Jem and Scout were two innocent kids playing in the summer sun, until school came along. Jem was about twelve throughout the novel and Scout was eight, and considering that Jem was twelve in the novel, he was changing. During the middle of the novel a rape trial occurred, which included a black man being accused by a white woman of first-degree rape. Atticus, the kid’s father was defending the african american man; Tom Robinson.

    Read More

  • Just Mercy And To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis

    871 Words  | 4 Pages

    Racism means hate towards another race and injustice mean unfair treatment, according to learner 's dictionary. In Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson, an African american lawyer, was helping people get justice for the colored community. Another book similar to Just Mercy is, To Kill a Mockingbird, which made in 1960 was written by Harper Lee. Harper Lee addressed many issues about racial injustice too. Just Mercy was written in 2014,

    Read More

  • Pride In A Raisin In The Sun

    1487 Words  | 6 Pages

    Walter further shows his false pride when he flaunts his newfound sense of power when Mr.Lindner, one of the Younger’s soon-to-be neighbors, offers him an unjust deal. Now that Walter has control over the family 's money, he considers himself the head of the family and decision maker; this plays an important role towards how Walter treats others now that he holds himself to a higher standard. This theme applies to Walter when the chairman of the “welcoming committee” (115) named Mr.Lindner pays a visit to the family a couple weeks before they 're supposed to move into their new home in Clybourne Park. During this visit, Mr.Lindner makes the offer of the Clybourne Park community “buy[ing] the house from [them] at a financial gain to [the] family” (118). Mr.Lindner’s offer represents the racial oppression and how the white community looks down upon and doesn’t want African american people dirtying their communities.

    Read More

  • Langston Hughes's A Raisin In The Sun

    600 Words  | 3 Pages

    He wants to be a businessman and own a liquor store. He wants to be able to provide for his family and give them what they have never had. Walter also wants to take his mother’s position as the head of the house and make the financial decisions for the family. Walter can be seen as selfish as instead of putting the money for him and his sister in the bank he uses it all and loses it trying to fulfill his own dreams with no regard to his sister’s dreams or the rest of the family’s.

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun Betrayal Quotes

    508 Words  | 3 Pages

    Not even my own mother. " Walter feels betrayed by the family and especially the mother when they don't support his dream for the liquor store and is disappointed with the purchase of a house. He wants their respect and support, but when he doesn't receive it--goes crazy by missing work, dancing "African", and becoming very rude. As the man of the household he feels that all decisions should be made by him and by Mama rejecting his offer, he feels let down by his own family.

    Read More

  • Raisin In The Sun Moral Analysis

    861 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although Walter eventually does the morally correct thing he still has bad morals. Walter does the right thing by standing up to Lindner. When Lindner actually arrives and Walter is about to disgrace himself and the black community by begging Lindner for the money he can’t do it. Instead he says, “We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors.

    Read More

More about Why Do People Lie In To Kill A Mockingbird

Open Document