Justice in To Kill a Mockingbird
The theme of justice plays a large roll in To Kill a Mockingbird. In the book, there is little to no social justice. Social justice is encouraging tolerance and equality to everyone, regardless of race, social class, gender, handicap, etc. The town of Maycomb proves itself to be extremely racist to the African American community, and biased towards the Caucasian males of the town. Not only are the people of Maycomb racist, but so is the court. A biased jury is an unfair jury, that will never give anyone justice.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, people think of others the way they do depending on how high they are on the social scale. The citizens of a certain social class tend to look down, or even despise the members of lower social classes. “Our kind of folks don’t like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don’t like the Ewells, and the Ewells hate and despise the colored folks” (Lee, P.239.) The African American community in Maycomb is considered the lowest of the social classes, even lower than the Ewells, who live by the dump, and are uneducated and are overall bad people. The unfairness shown to the lower classes is demonstrated in Tom Robinson’s case, When Tom was convicted just because he was in a lower social class than Bob Ewell, who happens to be considered human trash
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Whereas vengeance is a desire for revenge. Although Bob Ewell had no reason to seek revenge against Tom, other than the fact that he is African American, Mayella likely felt insulted that Tom turned down her romantic advances towards him, especially because of his social class. Mayella and Bob then falsely accused Tom of raping Mayella, hoping for revenge. A lot of the vengeance in the book is shown through the children. Negative comments about Atticus caused Jem to destroy Mrs. Dubose’s flowers, and Scout to beat up her cousin, Francis as revenge for what he had
Racism is a big part in “To kill a mockingbird”,and is a very important part of the story.the town's people of maycomb are very opposite to African American, one of example in the book the Tom Robinson's trial case where to had give a trueful,the jury still sided with Bob Ewell because he was a white man “I close my eyes as Judy Taylor was polling the jury vote ;guilty guilty guilty “Pg 209 this quote few the book shows that the body jury did vote Tom Robinson 100% guilty without looking at the evidence, they think because he african american he lying, and don't see his side of the story they just see the white man story and assume is true.Even with the evidence they think he is guilty even. . In today's times there is not that much racism but it does exist for instance jet in the story is not being racially at all but during the case he didn't understand like Atticus pointed out “ if you (jem) had been on the jury son, and the eleven other boy like you Tom would be a freeman.the
To Kill a Mockingbird, a classic novel by Harper Lee, is a quintessential example of a novel that brings to light the social injustice that occurred throughout history. This social injustice is not only experienced by people of color, but also people that aren’t perceived as high class in society. Some people that face social injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird are the following: Tom Robinson, the Cunninghams, and Arthur Radley.
What is justice? Is it a fitting punishment for a crime? Or a court or officer of the law? Is it the law itself? It has many definitions and interpretations, depending on various people. Some interpret it very simply, saying that it is fairness in every situation. Others give the word more complication, saying that it is doing what is morally right and fair. Oxford Dictionary defines it as many things, including, “Just behaviour or treatment...The quality of being fair and reasonable.” Black’s Law Dictionary defines justice as, “The constant and perpetual disposition to render every man his due.” All are various meanings and interpretations of one, single, word, that has been explored in many books and novels, including one by Harper Lee. In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the characters of Atticus and Mr. Raymond to show the meaning of true justice and how it transcends prejudicial divisions.
Justice. “the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness. [dictionary.com]” Justice is implyed when something in the right thing to do, whether or not the decision is in favoe of the reciever. Fairness. “the state, condition, or quality of being fair, or free from bias or injustice; evenhandedness. [dictionary.com]” Fairness is implyed when In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the concepts of justice and fairness are two conflicting topics. They don’t seem like they are two concepts that would have conflicts, though in this story, they are clearly displayed as conflicting topics. One thing is the fair thing to do, but it is not just. Many characters are prime examples of this idea, like Tom Robinson’s
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”
The Finch kids demonstrate friendly and kind attitudes, showing no malice towards anyone, yet a wicked man attacks and injures them, do to his rotten view of justice. Walking home from the school one evening, Bob Ewell charges at Jem and Scout, attempting, most likely to kill them both. This situation reestablishes the sense of injustice among the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird. Two adolescent bodies and souls experience physical wounds, as well as mental shock, and crime committed against the children as well as the town of Maycomb. “My arms were beginning to tingle, and they were red with small hexagonal marks (Chapter 28). Scout’s injury’s shows the true violence of Bob’s attack and a violation of human morality. Bob Ewell committed a heinous act, and while the children did nothing wrong, they are unjustly hurt because of someone else’s lack of morals.
“Racism is a disease in society. We’re all equal. I don’t care what their colour is, or religion. Just as long as they’re human beings they’re my buddies.” These words said by Mandawuy Yunupingu, are saying skin color should not matter and individuals should be treated the same because people are all human beings. Putting oneself in someone else's shoes and seeing what he is seeing and feeling is the main theme, in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the main character, is a lawyer in a small town that he and his family live in. He tries to win a trial about a false rape of a different skin color that he knows he will not win; but he does not give up. He keeps trying with all his might to win. Atticus is trying to set an amazing example for his children, Scout and Jem. When Bob Ewell, the person against Atticus on the trial, spits on Atticus
Do unto others as you would have them do to you. This proverb means to treat others the way one wants to be treated. For example, I treat my close friends with loyalty, respect and kindness because this is how I want them to treat me. As a case in point, when my friends need help with biology homework on cell division, I help them when they need it because I know more about cell division and when I need help on history homework on the Revolutionary War because I am not so good at history, I would expect them to help me. In fact, I would be there by their side when they need help. Truly, I expect them to have my back the same way. This maxim connects to social justice because the concept of the maxim
In To Kill A Mockingbird injustice is exhibited at intense depths; sometimes it takes extreme measures for justice to be displayed even though it might be wrong in the law’s eyes. The most prevalent of these is the injustice the because this leads to the stage in the book where justice has been revealed.
There are unforgettable moments in a society when one can shape events for generations to come. For an individual to use proper judgements to change one’s living environment, and make the situation equal for others is a significant responsibility. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch presents as an evident contradiction of the society of Maycomb in which racism and injustice are customary in able to emphasize Lee’s lesson that one must stand with their own moral code, regardless of what others think in order to change society.
Through the study this term of the central text, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and related texts, films Rabbit Proof Fence by Phillip Noyce and In the Name of the Father by Jim Sheridan, my understanding of the concept of justice, or what constitutes justice, has altered considerably. We all think we know what justice is, or what it should be. In Australian colloquial terms, it is the principle of a “fair go” for everyone. In a perfect world, everyone is treated fairly. No-one is subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sex or disability. But the reality is that the world we inhabit is far from perfect, human beings are by their very natures
A country rife with injustice and inequality is presented in To Kill A Mockingbird, established over decades of inculcated notions and false preconceptions -- but it’s shown to be progressively improving due to awareness and cognizance based on personal experience and education, leading into the tolerance and acceptance that is predominantly present in modern day society. The trial of Tom Robinson illustrates the inequitable views and latent hatred based on race; the impact it has is prominently negative — but it also acts as a key event that has an hard hitting significance in Maycomb — enlightening some to the prejudice and partiality in their community and way of life. In today’s world, instances of police brutality and widespread racial
Justice can mean lots of things some may think justice involves some sort of high power like the law and government. Others might think it’s being fair but then there are those people who think justice doesn’t exist. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is the story of young Scout and her point of view during a trial her father had to defend. Justice is not a universal guaranteed to everyone such as there is such a corrupt society. For instance Tom and Boo Radley weren’t fortunate to get.
There are a few social classes in Maycomb. “There’s four kinds of folks in the world. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.” (Lee 230) If you analyzed this quote very carefully, the Ewells are a higher class that the people of color. This quote comes to life when Mayella Ewell falsely accuses Tom Robinson, a colored man, of rape. IN the trial Atticus was constantly dominating, but lost because of one word, racism. Keep in mind that the year is 1930 and Blacks were constantly getting discriminated. Atticus was prepared to lose the trial and he said to Jem with these words, “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life.”. (Lee 224) Mr. Ewell must have had a brain to know this and he made Mayella falsely accuse Tom of rape. Mr. Ewell did this because he wanted
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