Martin Luther King and Atticus Finch’s compelling words
Atticus Finch from the book To Kill a Mockingbird and Martin Luther King are both extremely eloquent speakers who conveyed their messages in such a powerful way that they changed history. They are superb speakers due to the way they arrange their words and how effectively it pertains to their arguments. For example, Atticus, a respectable lawyer in Maycomb County, Alabama, used a certain dialect to persuade the jury into believing him by understanding and applying tricks to make his audience feel ashamed and guilty over the case of an innocent black man, Tom Robinson. His culpable tone played a major role in causing the racist, corrupt town of Maycomb to process and remember Atticus’s words and know deep down that categorizing people based on their skin color, ethnicity, or religion is not God like. Atticus and Mr. King are courageous men who are both in support of equal rights. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech takes place during the 1960’s, within close proximity to when To Kill a Mockingbird is published. Something needed to be done, and these honorable men knew they had to use their experiences and high positions, convincing and realistic evidence, and intelligence to manipulate their audience’s emotions to challenge their opinions or strong feelings on the overall issue, racism. Atticus Finch and
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Martin Luther King both use rhetorical devices including ethos, pathos, and logos effectively to persuade their audience that racism is wrong. In order to understand the credibility of Martin Luther King, one must look into his background. He was a preacher who was arrested and tormented throughout his life, yet still stood up as one of the most noble and influential African American leaders of all time. Because he personally experienced the inequality for himself, the people he addresses can all relate to him, or at least sympathize with him. Not only that, Mr. King also uses the Emancipation Proclamation and the Constitution to support his opinions, which as an American would be degrading to our country to ignore. For example, Mr. King refers to starting some of his sentences as “100 years later" as a reference to President
Through the flawless use of the rhetoric, Atticus Finch speaks persuasively and wins over the jury during his concluding argument of the trial of Tom Robinson. As a lawyer, Mr. Finch understands how to speak effectively and persuasively, allowing him to make use of compositional techniques like rhetoric. He uses all three parts of rhetoric, logos, ethos, and pathos, to help him coax the jury to side with him. Although the emerges unsuccessful, he perfectly illustrates examples of rhetoric and the different ways to use it. Atticus cunningly convinces the jury of Tom Robinson’s innocence by appealing to them through the rhetoric.
Martin Luther King Jr. famously said “I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”. Even though Atticus Finch is not black, he still thinks they same way as Martin Luther King Jr. and still wants the same for his children: a society with equality for all races. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, he delivers a persuasive speech in order to free an innocent black man. Even though he does not win the case, Atticus succeeds in making an impact on the future of racism in Maycomb. By using logic in his closing speech, Atticus forces the town to examine their awareness of the prejudice in their own lives.
Atticus is a mockingbird for the Maycomb society. He has the correct attitude towards different races. In Tom Robinson’s case, he provides strong arguments Tom’s accusation and proves that Tom Robinson did not rape and harm Mayella Ewell. Even though Atticus failed to restore Tom back to Tom’s family due to racial discrimination existed commonly in Maycomb in 1930s, Atticus leads the society to take the first small step in the right direction in the battle against racial discrimination, according to the quote stated by Miss Maudie, “Atticus Finch won’t win, he can’t
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents Atticus Finch as a principled lawyer, committed but single father to Scout and Jem, and a law-abiding citizen. Atticus is a respectable gentleman in society and a role model for his children. Throughout the book we see evidence of his honorable intentions, though he doesn’t seem to reap the rewards. He is morally upstanding, even-keeled, and daring. Because of these things, Atticus is a man who deserves great respect and admiration.
Atticus Finch was involved in a very controversial case that arrived in Maycomb county. During this case, Atticus, a white man, was chosen to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was accused of raping and abusing a white female, Mayella Ewell. In the 1960s, southern life was divided between colored and non colored people. Those who had white skin, received more privileges than those with dark skin. Atticus’ challenge was to convince the jury and a white judge that Tom Robinson was not pleaded guilty. Citizens of Maycomb all ended up choosing that Tom Robinson was guilty. However, Atticus put up a good fight with different types of appeals that were able to persuade the jury in a variety of ways. Atticus used the appeals of ethos,
Atticus Finch was involved in a very controversial case that arrived in Maycomb county. During this case, Atticus, a white man, was chosen to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was accused of raping and abusing a white female, Mayella Ewell. In the 1960s, southern life was divided between colored and non colored people. Atticus’ challenge was to convince the white jury and a white judge that Tom Robinson was shall not be pleaded guilty. This challenge was difficult to complete, hence why Atticus was unable to convince the jury even though he put up a good fight. Within that fight, he used different types of appeals that were able to persuade the jury in a variety of ways. Atticus used the appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos
Undoubtedly, one of the most controversial subjects in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, would be whether or not Atticus Finch should have defended Tom Robinson. However, in order to understand this controversy, a person must first be able to understand Atticus Finch himself. Atticus as a character is a very intellectual person who possesses the fortitude to stand up for whatever he believes is right and will not let other people’s choices affect his own. Furthermore, it is also important to understand that Atticus is not a racist, nor does he approve of the idea that one group of people are better than another based on their appearances in general, and because of this, a person can generalize that Atticus’s characteristic traits are why he did not complain when given the task of defending a black man, Tom Robinson, who had been wrongfully accused of raping a white woman. A man that he, as well as a small group of other people from town, viewed as the picture of innocence. In their eyes, Tom was no more than a mockingbird, “[and mockingbirds] don’t do one thing but make music for [people] to enjoy” (Lee 119). Knowing this, anyone with a reasonably strong sense of what is right and what is wrong can conclude that it does make sense for Atticus Finch to have taken the case due to his belief that it is a sin to kill the innocent as well as his courage that allows him to stay true to his ideas, even though when taking the case, he was inevitably going to be putting his
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. That is what Martin Luther King said in his last speech before he was assassinated. The literary fiction novel To Kill A Mockingbird wrote by Harper Lee takes place in the fictional Alabama town of Maycomb. The story happened during the period of Great Depression, and people were sorted based on socioeconomic, gender and races. The narrator Scout Finch lives with her brother Jem Finch and father Atticus Finch. In the book, Atticus is a character that is respected by readers because he has a strong sense of sympathy. Atticus is a just and fair lawyer and served several years in the state legislature. As being an attorney with strong moral character and healthy humanitarian principles, Atticus works diligently in the court to defend an innocent person. “It is a sin to kill a Mockingbird.” The innocent person is the mockingbird and Atticus’s mission is to protect the mockingbird. As a stern and gentle father of two children, Atticus teaches Jem and Scout a lot of principles on the way of life and benefit them in the future. His sense of responsibility makes him a good father. Atticus consistently demonstrates empathy throughout the novel To Kill A Mockingbird.
“ People generally see what they look for and hear what they listen for.” by Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is just one example used by the Author Harper Lee in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. There are many powerful people in this book but some of the best are the quiet but impactful ones. They have many opportunities to speak up and share their opinions like everyone else but instead choose to stand out and say it in their own ways. The quietest people are often the most powerful. Some people might disagree and say because they are quit they don’t have anything good or powerful to say.
Martin Luther King Jr. believed in transcendence, believing we all should be treated fairly and that right and wrong does exist. King’s critics violate non-contradiction, appropriate authority, and equivocation. The oppress gets freedom when they demand it. In Letter from Birmingham Jail, King uses evidence to prove his statements. King believed in just and unjust laws. To King a just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. Unjust laws can be broken if it’s something you believe in and needs to be stood up for, even if that are consequences that go along with your decision. King wanted better for African American and did not want them to suffer from unfair justice any longer. Dr. King was a motivational speaker who supported non-violence actions and believe that no man should fight with their hands but with their words. In Letter from Birmingham Jail, King is not only appealing to Christian Authorities but to other beliefs and religions also. King blames the regular white society instead of the powerful white supremacists because they were the ones that are not doing anything to help the blacks overcome the triumph. The legislator states that it is democratically correct that only the white can vote. The white individuals equivocate the word democratically saying that only whites can vote, when in reality anyone can vote. Just because a person makes a claim about the blacks, does not mean they have all of the credentials to make that direct claim. King refers to the bible and utilizes it in his letter by saying that by doing right and believing in God does not mean that the result will always be in your favor the first time around. King says that even though doing right is not always easy, we should not give up and continue to strive for the success that you
Another character in the book that the Mockingbird represents is Atticus Finch. Atticus is the father of the main character, Scout Finch. Atticus is the man that decides he would risk his entire reputation to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus knows that he would not be able to win the trial, but he is so kind-hearted that he goes on to defend this trial. On page 194, Lee writes “‘You’ve got everything to lose from this, Atticus.
Dr. King's credibility only increases as you read more into the speech and his thoughts. At a first impression, by realizing that Dr. King's skin is one of color, many others who are also people of color already trust him to an extent because they know that he has gone and is still living through the horrors that they face each day from the hands of the white. They know that he acknowledges them as one of his own, as family, when he states the phrase, " I must say to my people." This statement lets people of color know that they can trust him. When he said that " we cannot walk alone," people can have the faith that he won't ever abandon them. Later on in the speech he also states that the "glory of the lord shall be revealed" and everyone
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a lawyer who defends Tom Robinson, an African American man, against the Ewell family in court. Malcolm Gladwell is the writer of “The Courthouse Ring: Atticus Finch and the limits of Southern Liberalism”, where he discusses that Atticus Finch is an activist. Lance McMillian responds to Malcolm Gladwell’s critique of Atticus in “Atticus Finch as Racial Accommodator: Answering Gladwell’s Critique”, where overall he says that Atticus is not an accommodator but an activist. Lance McMillan's view of Atticus Finch is incorrect compared to Malcolm Gladwell because Atticus is an accommodator by not fighting against institutional racism.
How do you change a mind of someone already decided against you? It takes a special kind of person to be able to persuade people to join your views and sway them from their own. Two men wrote and delivered speeches that demonstrated this special talent of persuasion. One man was real, Martin Luther King Junior and the other, Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, was fictional. Martin Luther King Junior was a civil rights activist during the civil rights era who gave many speeches on equality of races. The speech in discussion, Martin Luther King Junior's "I Have a Dream" was just one of his many powerful and productive speeches. Atticus Finch is a fictional character in To Kill a Mockingbird whom is defended a black man in a rape case that took place in a very traditional minded town. Both men attempt to convince their respective audiences to go against what the normal tendency would be and to stand up against the improper behavior. However, out of the two men's speeches, Martin Luther King Junior provides a stronger reasoning and is overall more persuasive.
These two men are both very well educated and credible, therefore display the rhetorical device ethos. Martin Luther King Jr. Attended Morehouse College, then attending Boston University. He was an extremely smart man growing up, so smart he skipped his senior year of high school and entered college at the age of 16. King graduated with a degree in sociology. MLK also is a black man who had faced the injustice of society, so when he speaks about the mistreatment of African-Americans, he knows their struggles.Through his education and moments of discrimination, Martin Luther King became a wise and inspirational speaker. In the novel, it mentions the Atticus left Finch’s landing to go to law school. Atticus is also known in the town as a wise man and people look to him when they are in trouble. His inferences that he brought up during his closing argument display that. For example, Atticus says, “Her father saw it, and the defendant has testified as to his remarks. What did her father do? We don’t know, but there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left. We do know in part what Mr. Ewell did: he did what any God-fearing, persevering, respectable white man would do under the circumstances—he swore out a warrant, no doubt signing it with his left hand, and Tom Robinson now sits before you, having taken the oath with the only good hand he possesses—his right hand,”(Lee 20). This connection displays Atticus’s attention to the case and noesis of his town that allows him to be very successful with his words and ideas to try to prove Tom Robinson innocent. As a result of education and experience, these two men