The connection people make with others has the ability to shape their thoughts and perspectives on larger issues. Interpersonal relationships mold an individual's mindset beyond a group dynamic. It is where we experience genuine empathy and learn the truth about one another. In the novels, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, we learn that interpersonal relationships can transcend racism. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, six year old Scout Finch, lives in Alabama during the 1930s. Scout develops a deeper understanding of the culture of racism through her close relationship with her father Atticus. She develops her perspective on racism through her father’s teachings. In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry …show more content…
(Lee) This proves that he could be seen as vulnerable and innocent. As Atticus helps Scout to perceive the world in a more compassionate way, it is the opposite for young Huck. He is the son of an alcoholic, abusive father, who locked his son up inside a cabin. Huck describes this behavior when he states, “But by and by Pap got too handy with his hick'ry and I couldn't stand it. I was all over welts.' . . .'Once he locked me in and was gone three days. It was dreadful lonesome”(Twain 18). Huck’s father, Pap, was responsible for Huck’s initial view of society and the role each person played in it. For example, his father makes the claim that, it is a problem that a black man can be well-educated and allowed to …show more content…
Huck comes to recognize slavery as an oppressive institution through his interpersonal relationship with Jim. In comparison Atticus and Scout have a conversation about the case, and Scout learns how racism has taken over. The conversation starts with Atticus saying, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,” Atticus said’ ”(Lee 87). Scout learned from her father that although you have been mistreated and discriminated against before, does not give you the right to stop fighting for something that you believe in. Scout develops her understanding of what racism really is due to the relationship with her idealistic, smart, and loving father, Atticus. The setting acts as a backdrop to the deeply rooted prejudice where Scout learns about true racism. For Atticus Finch and his family, issues such as racism and injustice were
In the novel, How to Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the main character Scout goes through many hardships and changes as a result of her experiences. Scouts learn to understand different people and the world as a whole. To understand people, Scout had to learn to become mindful about racism, learn to see others by walking in their shoes, and how her father, Atticus, is not just an old man who reads daily but a brave man who stands up for what is right. Scout becomes mindful of the racism around her in Maycomb County and around the world. Towards the beginning of the story, Scout doesn’t understand why racism affects people so much and why her father is being insulted by her classmates everyday.
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, gives an eye opening view of the South during this time period through the eyes of Huck and Jim. Huck and Jim are very unlikely friends but become friends never the less and share many experiences on the river together. The two influence each other in more ways than one and may not even realize they do. They both have their own opinions and views although society heavily impacts them. Society’s view on racism is Huck’s view on racism because that is what he was brought up to be. The society has a powerful effect to smother problems such as slavery and racism. Huck being brought up in a society that ingrains racism in to you as a child is struggling to decide what is morally right and wrong to do and who will hopefully realize Jim's humanity at the end of the novel (Culture Shock).While talking to Huck, Aunt Sally projects "It warn't the grounding -- that didn't keep us back but a little. We blowed out a cylinder-head." "Good gracious! anybody hurt?" "No'm. Killed a nigger." "Well, it's lucky; because sometimes people
Friends are a more powerful influence on children than parents. Yes, parents teach their children many things and feed them every day, but friends are also a powerful influence on children. Throughout the novel, Scout and Jem were convinced to do some things by their friends. They learned many things along the way, too.
Understanding others can be difficult depending on how you are raised. Unfortunately not everyone is understanding of others. This is a lesson Scout is taught through most of the book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout this novel Scout changes from curious to understanding, due to learning that you don’t truly know a man will you walk in their shoes.
In Mark Twain's novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the adults in Huck's life play an important role in the development of the plot. Pap, Huck's father, constantly abuses the boy, never allowing him to become an intelligent or decent human being. He beats and attacks Huck whenever they meet up, and tries to destroy Huck's chances of having a normal life. This situation is balanced by several good role models and parent figures for Huck. Jim, the runaway slave, embraces Huck like a son, and shares his wide ranging knowledge with him. He also protects Huck on the journey down the river. Widow Douglas is another good role model for Huck. She tries to civilize him and make him respectable to society,
Social norms are apart of every society in some way, shape, or form. Issues occur off these social norms when there are outcasters who don’t exactly fit in with society's expectations. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout was pressured by many relatives and neighbors to “act like a girl”. Accept, Scout wants to be her own person. She wants to play in the dirt and have fun. Although, one particular person keeps putting her down, and that is Auntie Alexandra. Alexandra tries to play a female role for Scout and tells Scout how she is suppose to act. Scout however is very similar to Juliet capulet in this way. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet was pressured by her mother to be more like other girls and to get married. Scout and Juliet,
Huck's father is absent until he finds out that Huck has found some money. Pap is an outcast full of hate for blacks and pretty much for all of society. Huck, as a product of his society, speaks the language of his society. By choosing as his point-of-view a young boy from the slave south, Twain is able to present and challenge the values and assumptions of this time. Among the assumptions and values of the time that the reader encounters in the book are the strict definitions pertaining to Huck's world and the people who inhabit it:
The relationship between Huckleberry Finn and Jim are central to Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". Huck's relationships with individual characters are unique in their own way; however, his relationship with Jim is one that is ever changing and sincere. As a poor, uneducated boy, Huck distrusts the morals and intentions of the society that treats him as an outcast and fails to protect him from abuse. The uneasiness about society, and his growing relationship with Jim, leads Huck to question many of the teachings that he has received, especially concerning race and slavery. Twain makes it evident that Huck is a young boy who comes from the lowest levels of white society. Huck's father, Pap, is a drunk who disappears for
The criticism brought on by social roles negatively impacts one’s views on themselves and their actions. Maycomb’s strict social roles have lowered somes self esteem and has trapped people in a certain personality or financial stance. These social roles can get in a person’s head and change their views and actions in result. An example of this is shown at the school where Scout explains to Miss Caroline about the Ewells, ” He’s one of the Ewell’s...They come the first day every year and then they leave… You’re supposed to mark ‘em absent the rest of the year”(27). The Ewells have always left the first day of school because that’s who they are and who they will always be, but how are the children supposed to better themselves if this social role has been placed on them since birth. This normal behavior of the Ewells restricts the
Child abuse had a great on effect Huck’s whether if it had to do with where he is living or a decision he has made. Huck has been abused for most if not all of his life by his father, Pap. Huck stated, “I used to be scared of him all the time, he tanned me so much” (17). This quote shows how Huck had to deal with Pap’s abuse before and could not help himself. It shows that Pap has poor ethics shown by beating his child simply because he can. This is an immoral act on Pap’s part because he believes he can control Huck’s life including his life choices and his possessions. Pap says, “I’ll take you down a peg, before I'm done with you” (17). Pap continues to torment and threaten Huck even though he has not been around of the most recent parts of Huck’s life. Pap’s ideologies have not changed since Huck was younger. Pap’s ideals consist of being able to do what he wants when he wants. This was apparent when he tries to threaten Huck and put himself above Huck. In the 1800s community leaders felt responsible for helping orphaned or abandoned
“You can choose your friends but you sho’ can’t choose your family, an’ they’re still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge ‘em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don’t” (Lee, 300) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was written in 1960. The book takes place in a small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression. The book follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman. Though this story, you explore big themes, Harper Lee chooses to tell it through the eyes of a child. The result is a rough and tender novel of race, class, justice, and the reality
One’s childhood is filled with happy memories and sweet innocence. However, everyone grows up sooner or later. In Jem’s case, it was sooner. Over a span of 3 years from 10 years of age to 13, To Kill a Mockingbird shows how a child begins to become more adult-like. Jem began to act more mature and adopt the opinions and values of an adult.
The human experience is expressed in different ways from different characters in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. She explains the experience through her characters and explains how the human experience is preternatural and bewildering.
Imagine you are a lawyer tasked with an impossible case, and everybody in your community is against you, but still there is a shred of hope you cling to. What might that be you ask? That to which you cling are your morals. In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch had been given the Tom Robinson case, where a black man was convicted of raping a white woman. As a single father of two children, he continues to reinforce his values throughout the trial and during his daunting task of raising his children. In To Kill A Mockingbird what Harper Lee suggests about the nature of morals is that you should try to stand up for what you believe in even if people oppose or reject your ideals. Even when faced with an insurmountable opposition you should stand up for your morals because in the end if your don't follow your beliefs you are just contributing to the problem. We should try to create a voice for what we believe in and impress that upon the next generation so they can continue to exercise their beliefs to make the world a better place.
Huck Finn is a picaro (adventurous hero), who despite being wronged by fate (motherless child, abused by his drunken father) has his own strong opinion about what good or bad for him and for his life. Throughout the narration, the reader sees how Huckleberry Finn evolves spiritually, morally and, even, intellectually in his own way. The reader sees that, in spite of lacking the proper upbringing and constant positive role model in his life, choices that Huck makes are the good ones. His common sense and humanity does not depend on a level of his “civilization”, education or social background. Huck’s grammatically incorrect speech is full of ironic, funny remarks as well as of really smart and precise conclusions. Only Huck is getting his knowledge in a practical way, not from books. For example, Huck’s conclusion about praying and getting for that everything that he needed from God: “I tried it. Once I got a fish-line, but no hooks. It warn’t any good to me without hooks” (Twain, 1994). Huckleberry Fin approaches each of the life dilemmas with his own native wit. In his spiritual and moral journey, Huck instinctively chooses to be influenced by Miss Watson’s runaway slave, Jim. Initially, Huck considers Jim is not worthy of respect, but, as always, he eventually makes a right conclusion and changes his opinion: “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither” (Twain, 1994).This quotation is momentous because it indicates the new stage of Huck’s evolution. Huck lives in society that long time ago decided that slaves are less human than their masters. Huck grew up in a racist society and, to some point, he was a racist himself. Thus, here the reader can see that Huck, once again, goes against the traditions and values of the society. He