Justice is treating people fairly and equal without the influence of racial prejudice. In To Kill a Mockingbird, racial prejudice and unfairness is displayed throughout the book. Atticus, an attorney, helps an innocent man Tom Robinson to not face the death sentence for a crime that he didn't commit. Scout, the narrator, shows Maycomb’s view on races and how everyone copes and deals with the racial prejudice. The Finch family household builds up Scout’s feeling of justice most in the novel. From the lessons of Calpurnia and Atticus, Scout's perspective of racial equity and profound equality are molded through their discussions.
Atticus, a man of virtue, educates his children that the color of someone’s skin shouldn’t determine how you treat them. His teachings are reflected in the way Scout
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Once, Scout asked Atticus what does the term “nigger lover” means and Atticus said to Scout, “Nigger -lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything-like snot nose. It’s hard to explain-ignorant people, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It’s a slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label. somebody” (107). In this quote, it is shown that Atticus does his best to protect Tom Robinson, who’s an African American man who is accused of assaulting and raping a white woman. Although he is aware that he won’t win the trial, Atticus takes the case to show his children that one’s views on race should not dictate how they serve justice. Despite the fact that he's getting judged for protecting some person who's unique in relation to him, it doesn't stop him. Atticus disclosed to Scout that some people should be battled for regardless of whether other individuals are against it. He's saying that adversely labeling somebody who's
Today’s society is damaged with the results of people doing terrible things to each other. Peoples actions can make or break lives.The novel To Kill A Mockingbird, is about a little girl, her Brother, their Dad, and the negro they all fight to defend. The main character scout and her older brother Jem, get into all sorts of dilemmas in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. As they learn new valuable lessons about life, they also pick up that the small town they grow up in is not as clean and safe as it seems. The father, Atticus Finch is a kind hearted soul who was given the case of Tom Robinson, a negro accused of Raping a white woman. As soon as Atticus was given the case he aimed to defend Tom but a faulty jury made sure it did not happen.To
In the 1930’s the majority of society despised blacks, however, Atticus proves himself an exception due to his views demonstrated throughout the course of Tom Robinson's trial. Atticus believes that everyone is equal, while the towns people disagree and brand him a “nigger lover”. “I do my best to love everyone…I’m hard put, sometimes-baby, it’s never an insult to be called a name that somebody thinks is a bad name”(144). Atticus says this when Scout asks him to help her understand the view, but he is in no way insulted.
Atticus teaches Jem and scout a number of important lessons which will help them in life. However tolerance is one of the most important, because if people tolerate one another then things like war or racism will not exist, and they are two of the biggest areas of conflict in the world. Atticus models tolerance for his children by taking the case of and accused rapist. He defends a black man even though most of the town is against it and treat him discourteously because of it. Scout went against her father’s wishes by not
As Lemony Snicket wrote in The Blank Book, “People don’t always get what they deserve in this world.” 1930s America was fraught with racism, especially in the southern states. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, a Negro man by the name of Tom Robinson was put on trial. Although he was not guilty, the jury convicted him because of the colour of his skin. During the trial, others showed injustice towards Tom and people that were on his side. As Tom’s lawyer, Atticus Finch was not admired by many of the white citizens of Maycomb, the town in which the novel takes place. Although Atticus and Jean Louise Finch (Scout) were white, they were still treated unjustly as a result of helping and supporting Tom Robinson. Scout, Atticus’
Folks." Scout was trying to say that all people are created equal. No one, by nature, is superior to anybody else. This is a very contrary view to what most people believed at that time, especially in the South. There was prejudice between races and prejudice between families. The most obvious theme of the book is racism. Staged in the early 1930’s in southern Alabama, racism was still undeniably present. Even though the amendments which freed slaves and gave them rights were passed more than sixty years prior, the culture of the south intertwined with racism. Interracial marriages were illegal. Different races could not attend the same schools. It was the law that whites and blacks could not even be put together in the same jail cells. Looking at these things, one can only imagine the upheaval when a Negro was accused of raping a white woman: but did this stop Atticus from standing up for justice? No, it didn’t. He knew perfectly well how criticizing eyes would view the case; no matter how glaring the evidence was, the people wouldn’t accept an African American’s word over a white man’s. Atticus saw all people as equal, regardless of their skin color and he knew what was the right thing to do. He was a friend and ally to the African American community and they respected them for it. Another example is the Cunningham family. When Walter comes over for lunch, Scout criticizes him but
Scout’s school did not stress the importance of equality, and it showed in the town’s ignorance. But, Scout did not let school taint her perception of others, and she believed “everybody’s gotta learn, nobody’s born knowin’. That Walter’s as smart as he can be he just gets held back [...]. Nothing’s wrong with him. Naw, Jem, I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks” (Lee 304). Scout’s friend was going to get held back in school because he was poor and unable to attend as often. She stood up for him, because she thought everyone deserves an equal chance. However, a place that did not give everyone an equal chance was the courtroom where Atticus defended a black man accused of a crime he did not commit. After losing the case, Atticus consoles his children and tells Scout and Jem that “as you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it- whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, or how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Lee 295). While others may see a situation such as this and say that the black man was at fault, Atticus sees through the color of a man’s skin. He wants to make sure his children do this, too. Growing up in the south, racism was expected to be seen. But, just because something is common does not make it right. Atticus made it a priority to teach his
Race is the dominant cause of inequality in To Kill A Mockingbird, thus Maycomb’s views on race heavily influence every aspect of life. Although racial inequality is clearly illustrated in the in the injustice, prejudice, discrimination and antagonism surrounding the Tom Robinson trial, it is also shown more subtly throughout the novel. In chapter 25 Atticus Finch is quoted disclosing that the corrupt justice system is a direct cause of a racist society. “In our courts, when it's a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (Pg 295). To emphasize, on the same occasion Atticus attempts to explain to his children how widely spread racism is, “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men everyday of your life”
In the community of Maycomb Atticus is criticized by the way he talks to people and how responsible he could be. When Atticus had called Mayela ma'am and Ms. Mayella got offended. She became offended because she thought atticus was mocking her, she had criticized him for the way he talked to her. The way he was talking to her he was trying to show respect and was trying to be respectful to Mayella. "I got somethin' to say an' then I ain't gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an' if you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanta do nothin' about it then you're all yellow stinkin' cowards, stinkin' cowards, the lot of you. Your fancy airs don't come to nothin'—your ma'amin' and Miss Mayellerin' don't come to nothin', Mr. Finch-" This quote shows that Mayella is somewhat offended by Atticus calling her ma'am and that she doesn't expect much of him.
Throughout the book To Kill A Mockingbird Lee discusses the effects of ignorance and the toll it takes on people such as Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, Scout herself, and many more. Through her examples of sexism, prejudice, and racism, from the populist of poverty stricken Southerners, she shows the readers the injustice of many. The victims of ignorance are the ‘mockingbirds’ of the story. A good example of this injustice is the trial of Tom Robinson, who is falsely accused of raping a white girl and is found guilty. The book is from the point of view Scout, a child, who has an advantage over most kids due to her having a lawyer as a dad, to see the other side of the story. Her father tells her in the story, “you never really know a man until
Atticus is a firm believer in equal rights and to show this he did his best to treat everyone fairly. He has noticed the racism going on in the town and he is not okay with this, to show this, Atticus teaches his kids that racism is unfair and unreasonable “ “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men everyday
Atticus does not have a racist mind. For example, when Atticus is explaining to scout how to view the world he tells her “walk around in someone's skin” This Incorporeal idea of empathy illustrates Atticus`s understanding of the world and how to act when in public. Another example, Atticus took the case seriously, with reasonable evidence. As the other judge seemed insensate and oblivious towards The case at hand.”
Harper Lee uses two major fatherly figures to represent good and evil in "To Kill a Mockingbird". In the book, Harper Lee uses Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell to show the good and bad sides of humans. Even though Harper Lee shows Atticus and Bob to be alike because they are both fathers, old and live in Maycomb, they are a lot different with their own qualities and views. Harper Lee characterizes Atticus as good and Bob as evil.
Atticus Finch is an excellent role model for audiences to admire. Atticus is a role model because he displays splendid characteristics, for example, his moral integrity. Furthermore, Scout says that “Atticus says cheatin’ a colored man is ten times worse than cheatin’ a white man…” (TKMB 269). This quote proves Atticus is not racists, unlike a majority of the south, depicting that he has strong morals and is not prejudice. In TKMB, Atticus tells Scout not to use demeaning language towards colored people because “That’s common” (TKMB 99).
When Scout asked him if he would in the care, Atticus responded, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” Atticus was determined to fight the racism and prejudice and at the same time view the world from another person’s point of
Justice plays a major role in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In a perfect world, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation and other differences would not matter in the eyes of justice, but as it can be seen in this book, it does and the readers discover that justice is not served. Atticus Finch, being the hero of the story, told his son that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because all they do is create music and therefore are innocent creatures who mean no harm. Within the book, innocent characters are subjected to their own injustices by being victims of prejudice and racism, and are eventually destroyed themselves. Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, Jem Finch and Mayella Ewell represented the mockingbirds within the book. The only voice of justice within Maycomb is Atticus who tried to teach lessons of morality to his children and also tried to spread his views of justice