“‘...Mockingbirds...don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us [anyone and everyone]. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird…’” (Lee 119). In the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of 1961 To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee tells the story of a young girl by the name of Jean Louise (Scout) Finch and her older brother Jeremy Atticus (Jem) Finch, and what their lives were like growing up in Maycomb, Alabama during 1933-35. Scout and her brother Jem are both children of the morally passionate lawyer, Atticus Finch, and both are exposed to the same experiences that shape their sense of right and wrong. Yet Scout and Jem come to dramatically different conclusions about good and evil and the essential nature of humankind.
Rickey Williams says, “I don’t think people change. I think the essence of what I am today is the same as when I was five years old. It’s just maturity.” (Ricky, Williams). In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the characters face many challenges in their society and experience lessons that made them different, than from the beginning of the book. Atticus, the father of Scout and Jem, is a lawyer in Maycomb County during the 1930’s. Atticus is given a special case where he has to defend a black man, which creates many problems for him and his family against their town, dealing with racism. In the novel Atticus, Scout, and Jem are all wise people that symbolize a mockingbird.
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” - Atticus Finch. This is one of many important quote in this book. Therefore, in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, it is indisputable that Scout's perspective on the world changes and she matures from influences from others. This idea is developed through Atticus Finch by demonstrating how to be humble, Arthur Radley (Boo) teaching her to learn about people before you judge them. While Miss Dubose explains the act of courage.
The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is centered around the racism and injustice in the American South in the 1930’s. It focuses on a young Alabama girl named Scout, and her father, who is defending an innocent black man accused of rape. In her book, Harper Lee reveals the idea of empathy, through quotes such as, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb inside his skin and walk around in it" (Lee 30). In the book, Atticus Her writing exemplifies the theme that empathy helps people better understand the motives and actions of others, through juxtaposition, symbolism, and stereotype revelations.
Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published in the year of 1960, and is one of the few American classic novels awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The racism that is prevalent in many southern American towns in the 1930s is brought to life with profound imagery in To Kill a Mockingbird. There are several characters in the book, yet the true main character is the narrator's father, Atticus Finch. He is a man of great integrity and intelligence. A very heroic figure in more ways than one, Atticus possesses traits like being principled, determined, and, more importantly, he teaches others. When looking at To Kill a Mockingbird, one can see that Lee uses lots of description, dialogue, and actions to portray Atticus as a heroic individual.
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, Jem and Scout battle growing up around racism in a small town in Alabama. Their father, Atticus, repeatedly tries to teach them lessons about life. This novel utilizes a number of themes connected with the topics stereotypes, courage, and empathy.
A childhood of a youngster begins with a seed their parent plants. With utmost care and love, the seed comes to bloom just as their little one would. They learn to stand on their own and grow as tall as they can. As time goes by, fruits begin to grow in the tree and experiences begin to fill the child’s life. They start with being sour, then sweet, lastly bitter. Similar to how the child would pave the way through their childhood into the dark realities of life. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, outlines how with age and experiences comes knowledge, the realization of life’s harsh realities, and the wisdom and understanding after trials. Scout Finch, the protagonist, experiences many of life’s ups and downs as well as
The novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a simplistic view of life in the Deep South of America in the 1930s. An innocent but humorous stance in the story is through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch. Scout is a young adolescent who is growing up with the controversy that surrounds her fathers lawsuit. Her father, Atticus Finch is a lawyer who is defending a black man, Tom Robinson, with the charge of raping a white girl. The lives of the characters are changed by racism and this is the force that develops during the course of the narrative.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, there are many characters that demonstrate heroic qualities. The story is narrated by a young girl named Scout Finch who lives in Maycomb County Alabama in the 1930’s. There is a lot of racial prejudice in Maycomb County and Scout’s father, Atticus, is a lawyer defending a black man named Tom Robinson. In the novel, Atticus, Scout, and Scout’s brother Jem have to overcome many insults and bullying because Atticus is defending a black man. While the trial is going on, Scout and Jem befriend their mysterious neighbor whom they have never even seen. Through this friendship and the trial Scout and Jem are able to open their eyes to the injustices and prejudices of the people of Maycomb. Scout, Atticus, and Tom Robinson are all heroes in the small town of Maycomb.
Atticus, he was really nice…” His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me. Most people are, Scout when you finally see them”(376) because once you see a person from their standpoint, you can understand them better. The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in the 1960’s through the eyes of Scout Finch. Her father Atticus had been given a case which involved a black man (Tom Robinson) and a white woman (Mayella Ewell). He had been accused of raping Mayella. Scout and her brother Jem, learn from their father's actions. Atticus does his best even though he already knows that there is little chance he will win because of the segregation at the time. Atticus takes the case because he sympathizes with Tom Robinson. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, shows that without empathy society can’t understand anything beyond their own personal beliefs and experiences. Throughout the novel, Atticus, Scout, and Calpurnia all demonstrate their understanding of the importance of empathy.
1. “So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take.” (Lee 222)”
To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee, the novel was published in 1960. The novel was written in a time of racial inequality in the United States. To Kill a Mockingbird is told in the perspective of a young girl named Scout, in the late 1920s and early 1930s, who is naïve and innocent. Scout matures throughout the novel through her father, Atticus, and she becomes more aware of the prejudice in Maycomb County. When Atticus loses his case, Scout and her brother, Jem, learn that blacks cannot have a fair trial, but their new found maturity has taught them not assume someone’s character without knowing them first, such as with Boo Radley. Scout says, “‘…Atticus, he was real nice…’” (Lee 376), Atticus replied, “‘most people are, when
In the book “To Kill A Mockingbird” Scout Finch, a 6 year girl who lives with her brother Jem Finch and her father, Atticus Finch, fantasizes going to school, and always thinks first for herself. As she gets older and starts school she learns to think of how other people see things and to show sympathy. Scout progresses through part 1 of the book by realizing life’s not fair, how her innocence is gone and she isn’t as much of a child anymore.
Harper Lee uses her novel to teach us important lessons from the characters presented in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus, a fair and moral character, whose parenting style is unique, lined with honest and example, teaches us to follow his ways. Scout, an innocent girl who teaches us what’s important in life. Tom Robinson, someone who is ostracized for being African American, can teach us the importance of equal treatment and awakens us to our surrounding society. Lee’s construction of characters gives us perspective to issues in our society today, how they still matter and what we can learn from the novel such as compassion, justice and understanding.