Does Atticus Kill A Mockingbird?

“I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negros here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refused to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together.” (King, Jr., n.d)

In a speech, Frederick Douglass stated “[t]here are seventy-two crimes…which, if committed by a black man…subject him to the punishment of death; while only two of the same crimes will subject a white man to the like punishment.” While that is not the case today, racism continues to be an important and urgent issue in the United States. Although the shadow of racism continues to haunt Americans, race relations among people in America have slowly improved. From the active practice of institutional racism during the 19th and early 20th century, the spike in criticism against institutionalized racism during the Civil Rights Movement, and the dissolution of racial barriers in the past two decades, the wane of racial tension in America is evident.

When Atticus ran into Bob Ewell, Bob spit in his face and Atticus took it instead of beating him up because he doesn’t want Bob to take anger out on his kids, this shows how good and courageous Atticus is as a person. Atticus tries to educate his kids about the way they treat people that they don’t know. “You never Really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” pg 33. Atticus is the best character that doesn’t judge the way people act so he treats everyone the same and will stand up for

The purpose of this statement is to show the jury that in court, everyone is equal. This could poteniálly sway the jury because they are forced to look beyond race. Without a doubt, Atticus shows the jury that the court is only as fair as the people sitting in it. "I 'm no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system—that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality. Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.” Atticus tells the jury this to persuade them to be their best selves and really consider everything going on beside the race in play. A reader could infer that Atticus is using ethos to persuade the jury to really listen and trust him. In conclusion, Atticus’ use of ethos played a very important role in his closing argument. It was extremely useful to show the jury and the rest of the court that they need to trust his credibility in order to make the right decision.

resist learning.” (Chapter nine) Atticus was a fair lawyer, his promise to always defend everyone equally is shown greatly in how he could never hold his head high if he had treated Tom Robinson differently and did not give him a fair chance. Most lawyers then would not have supported colored people, because a lot people could not see them as normal people or equals.

Atticus Finch is remarkably courageous throughout the novel. Atticus does not retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face, goes to Tom’s cell knowing there would be a mob, and does his best in court to exonerate Tom. Firstly, Atticus does not retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face. Atticus says “ ‘...if spitting in my face saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take’ ” (Lee 218). Atticus is being disrespected in one of the worst ways by a man he could destroy, but knows that he was helping a victim of abuse, Mayella, so he does not make things worse by retaliating. Secondly, Atticus knows there is a mob coming, but nevertheless goes to Tom Robinson’s cell to defend him. Atticus knows the possibly dangerous mob is coming, with Scout observing “He seemed to be expecting them” (150). However, Atticus recognizes that he is Tom’s only hope, and utilizes his immense courage to face the mob. Thirdly, Atticus does his best to defend Tom in court. As Scout tells us, “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (241). Atticus knows from the beginning he has next to no chance to win the trial, but still tries for Tom’s sake, for the other black people in the community, and for the chance he could appeal it and change laws for the good of African Americans. Atticus is an amazing example of courage in the face of adversity for his actions in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Atticus displayed a large amount of courage in the novel, especially through accepting the Robinson case. He knew that defending Tom Robinson meant downgrading his social status and possibly risking his and his children's lives, but he still did what he had to do. He also displayed courage when he decided to face a lynch mob alone to protect Tom Robinson. Atticus lived up to his own definition of courage. Atticus knew that his children didn't like or understand Mrs. Dubose and he made them read to her every day for a month. After her death he explained to them that Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict and her goal was to give it up before she died. Through this, he taught his children what real courage is and this sends a direct message

Through the interactions with Tom Robinson on a case, Atticus demonstrates the will he has to defend Robinson against false accusations the Ewells have on him but due to racial injustice, the court will favor the white man’s claim. Atticus argued, “‘I know, and lots of ‘em probably deserved it, too—but in the absence of eye-witnesses there’s always a doubt, sometimes only the shadow of a doubt. The law says ’reasonable doubt,‘ but I think a defendant’s entitled to the shadow of a doubt. There’s always the possibility, no matter how improbable, that he’s

“And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had made the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry’ for a white women has had to put his word against two white people’s. I need not to remind you of their appearance and conduct on the stand. You know the truth and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women – black or white. But there is one way in this country where all men are created equal… this honorable court that you serve.” (Lee 232-233)

“Gentlemen, a court is no better than each of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury only as sound as the men that make up of it.” (274) Atticus uses their emotions when he is explaining this to them, he is showing that they make the decision and are very important, which is turn starts to change their mind a little. “She was white, and she tempted a Negro.

For him, like many other real-life Negroes in American history, the principles underpinning political, social and criminal justice failed. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus’ belief that, “in our courts all men are created equal,” ( p. 209) makes a complete mockery of the judicial system.

This quote can show you how blacks were treated in the

An important psychological concept named mass delusion is observed in the film. A mass delusion is when a large group of people all hold the same false belief. In the film, all the whites hold false belief about the blacks. The white folks typically sees the blacks as criminals, rapist etc. That is why when the black guy Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white girl, none of the white folks tried to find out the actual truth. They totally believed that the black guy was the rapist. However, the defendant lawyer Atticus believed that Tom did not commit the crime. In spite of being a white man, he decides to take Tom’s case and get justice for him.

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, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Lee 295).

Many things happen in this courtroom to prove that there was lots of racial injustice in the South. Although there is so much racial injustice, Atticus is giving hope to the blacks. “And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity