Allusion In To Kill A Mockingbird

Bob Ewell is a wretched, two-faced, conniving most unworthy person to have the gift of life in all of Alabama. He drinks a lot, does not bother to work, and he just collects welfare checks and spends them on alcohol. Harper Lee wrote, “a little bantam cock of a man . . . A shock of wispy new-washed hair stood up from his forehead; his nose was thin, pointed, and shiny; he had no chin to speak of—it seemed to be part of his crepey neck”(Lee 227) Harper describes Bob Ewell as a apathetic, tipsy, Neanderthal that can’t keep a job to save his skin. During Tom Robinson’s trial Bob Ewell tried to say that he beat his daughter Mayella and then raped her; when in in reality Bob Ewell is the one who beat Mayella. Another reason Bob Ewell is terrible person is at the end of the story when he tried to kill Scout and Jem. Harper Lee had wrote, “What is it, Heck? Said Atticus. Mr. Tate found his neck and rubbed it. Bob Ewell’s lyin’ on the ground under that tree down yonder with a kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs. He’s dead, Mr. Finch. (Lee 357). Mr. Ewell had aimed to kill Scout and Jem but Mr. Author James Radley, more commonly known as Boo Radley, saved their lives. Mr. Ewell was mad at Atticus because he knew that it wasn’t Tom who beat Mayella and raped her, so Bob Ewell saw that he could get back at Atticus by taking the lives if the two most important people in the world to him. Bob Ewell illustrates the dark side of

Pleasantville and To Kill a Mockingbird Intertextual Study Intertextuality is an important element in American director, Gary Ross’, 1998 comedy-drama postmodernist film, ‘Pleasantville’. Through the use of allusion, parody, pastiche, cinematography and character referencing or alluding to other works of fiction, intertextuality shapes the meaning of a text. Ross’ ideas about change and how to cope with it are conveyed using intertextuality, often in the form of textual and/or historical allusions. The classic 1960 novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, written by well-known American novelist Harper Lee is an allusion used by Ross to convey changes that were taking place in the relative time frame that the book and film were set.

Harper Lee uses symbolism extensively throughout To Kill a Mockingbird,, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism and allegory can be seen by studying various examples from the book, namely the actions of the children, of the racist whites, and of Atticus Finch.

In the nineteenth century, mockingbirds were kept in cages so they could sing their beautiful music. Because of this, mockingbirds were nearly almost wiped out of parts of the East Coast. All Mockingbirds do is bring beauty to the world. Mockingbirds symbolize innocence and do not deserve to be wounded by the cruelness of the world. In the story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Dill, Mayella Ewell, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are all mockingbirds. They are innocent people that have been harmed or injured in the past and have learned the misery of the world.

Think of the saying, “you are the apple of my eye”. Most of today’s society understands that somebody is referring to someone that they cherish above all else. This phrase is a common metaphor that is used all around the world. Many times authors use a metaphor to convey a message without telling it right out to the reader. This technique is used by Harper Lee in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The title of the novel refers to persecution of the innocent which is highlighted by showcasing Arthur Radley as the mockingbird of the story, and the oppression of refugees relates this metaphor to today’s society.

To Kill A Mockingbird is a book that a reader can turn again and again, gaining new insights and knowledge into life each time. Sometimes an author uses a motif- a frequently repeated incident or idea -to get a certain theme across to the reader. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee uses motifs to clarify her messages or insights about life. Three specific motifs that Lee uses throughout the whole story are the mockingbird, courage, and walking in someone else's shoes.

Atticus was assigned Tom Robinson in the case against Bob Ewell, and in the process he was an example to both his children and the town as an honorable lawyer. When Bob Ewell brought a case to court claiming his white daughter had been raped by black Tom Robinson, almost everyone assumed the jury would charge Robinson guilty; however, Atticus hoped for a different outcome. Atticus firmly believed his client was innocent, contrary to the public’s beliefs. Because Atticus was highly respected as a lawyer, this case caused a riff between the town. As Tom awaited his trial in the county jail, Atticus spent the night guarded the door to the cell. A group of perturbed men soon ambushed Atticus and demanded to see the prisoner. “You know what we want,” another man said. “Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch (153).” In this situation, Atticus displayed honor through risking his life so an innocent black man was not killed. Even though he lost respect among his some neighbors, Atticus was honorable in his actions and stayed true to

What do you know about the Great Depression? Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird takes place during this time, giving you more of an understanding of how life was. Lee took time using figurative language, characterization, and symbolism to help develop a theme. In To Kill a Mockingbird, symbolism creates the theme of, “It is wrong to hurt the innocent.”

When Bob Ewell first takes the stand it is obvious to all that he is a wasted human being (Lee 230). Harper Lee crafts his image as a man who has no purpose in life, a drunken individual with flagrant disrespect for his own children. But this same image of Mr. Ewell asks the reader for empathy. Initially, one detests him. How could he risk a man’s life simply to hide the fact that he beat his daughter? When Atticus defends Mr. Robinson, he makes this moral dilemma clear to everyone inside the courthouse. But after the trial, Atticus understands that he has ruined this man’s reputation for life. Because he understands Bob Ewell’s unfortunate circumstances, he feels no hatred when the man spits upon him. Atticus’s principled stance even applies to men like Hitler. When Scout asks “But it’s okay to hate Hitler [sic]?” after school one day, Atticus responds: “It is not. It’s not okay to hate anybody” (Lee 330). This word of wisdom comes from Atticus understanding that Hitler has his own personal

The trial itself provides Harper Lee with the opportunity to examine the attitudes of people like the Ewells and the presumably more respectable members of the jury. Bob Ewell emerges as a drunken, bullying, child-abuser with little respect for the law and even less for truth and justice. But however low in the social order he is, Bob Ewell can still look down on black people. At the beginning of his testimony he complains about a 'nest' of them near him bringing down the property values of his shack by the town dump. Tom's account of Mayella's actions suggests that he may have indulged in some form of incest with his daughter, but the taboo against relationships between white women and black men is so strong that even Bob Ewell is shocked and horrified by it. He responds first by savagely beating his daughter and then by accusing Tom Robinson of rape.

Could you imagine living in a white person's point of view when they’re judged for protecting a black person in court? Well in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Finch is judged for protecting Tom Robinson in court because he was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch is described as a role model because he didn’t care what anyone had to say about him defending a black man in court. Also Atticus Finch wasn’t just a good person for that Atticus influenced his children Jem and Scout and influenced everyone around him no matter what he did. Atticus Finch was a role model for everyone, but mainly his children because they thought their dad was boring and that he didn’t have any talents but they soon began to realize that their dad

In the book, “To Kill A Mockingbird” there are many allusions the author uses to impact the story and characters. Two of them, which stood out was “Let this cup pass from you”(Lee 117) and “Garden of Gethsemane” (Lee 159). The second quoted is from Atticus, who knows that he can’t win the Tom Robinson case, but he still must do it, similar to how Christ knew he would have the bear the worlds cross, so we could one day spend eternity with him in heaven if we believe in him. Christ also didn’t want to bear the cross because he knew what would happen to him, even though it was his job. The two of them had to face their fates, which were no-win situations. The second quoted is from Jack, who knows how the trail has affected Atticus. The two of

Bob Ewell firmly believes that the death of Tom Robinson was caused by his daughter, Mayella Ewell. “I didn’t wanta harm her, Mr. Finch, an’ I say lemme pass, but just when I say it Mr. Ewell yonder hollered through th’ window.” (221). Tom was suggesting that Bob was yelling at Mayella and not himself. Again in the text it says, “Tom Robinson swallowed again and his eyes widened. “ Some-thin’ not fittin’ to say- not fittin’ for all these folks’n chillun to hear-” (Atticus) “ What did he say Tom? You must tell the jury what he said.” Tom Robinson shut his eyes tight. “ He says you g**d*** w****, i’ll kill ya”” (221) Bob wants everyone to think that he doesn’t harm Mayella in anyway and that Tom did.This shows that Bob Ewell blames his daughters attraction towards a crippled black man. Bob wanted Mayella to only love him, and only want him. Bob does want someone to be blamed for what’s happened to Mayella and he doesn’t want that to be himself even though

Symbolism isn’t universal- you will see various elements from your own unique perspective. You must be able to support your interpretations with the text! An allegory is comprised of a series of symbols that individually represent various ideas Allegories always strive to convey ONE PARTICULAR message. ALL readers are supposed to interpret allegories the same way

Earlier in the novel, Scout relates that Atticus views the Ewell family as “the disgrace of Maycomb” (33). However, as the Ewells are a white family, they are having a higher social status. During the trial, it is declared that Mayella seduces Tom Robinson, and her father, Bob Ewell, thought that his daughter would shift her warm feelings for a black man. In addition, Bob Ewell’s reaction to his daughter kissing to Tom Robinson displays the fear of miscegenation. Atticus, however, strives for justice. Atticus explains the ugly truth to Jem and Scout: “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (251-252). Atticus shows disgust with white people taking advantage of a black person’s ignorance” (252). Tom Robinson is facing a trial and the death sentence because he is black. Furthermore, Atticus makes it clear to his children that racism exists and tells Scout and Jem: 'In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always