Topic 1: Stereotyping. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is based on the experiences of one girl, Scout, growing up in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. The novel explains some conflicts in Scout’s life. Scout, the main character, learns that things are not always morally correct and is confronted with the reality of prejudice and stereotyping. Scout struggles with understanding the prejudice and stereotyping she witnesses. Atticus Finch, Scout's father, "with his strongly held convictions, wisdom, and empathy, Atticus functions as the novel's moral backbone." (2). Atticus tries to raise his children to be fair and nonjudgmental. It is through the lessons of Atticus and Scout's experiences with discrimination that the reader sees …show more content…
Regardless of the lack of evidence, the jury and town are reluctant to take the word of a black man over two white accusers. Atticus strongly pleads for the jury to look past race and stereotypes and serve true justice, "They were confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption- the evil assumption- that all Negro's lie, and that all Negros are basically immoral beings.” … “I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty." (1). Throughout this trial Scout not only witnesses prejudice and stereotyping, she becomes the victim of several people throughout the book. When Scout arrives for her first day of school, she meets Miss Caroline, a teacher from the north. Miss Caroline has predetermined thoughts as to how the class should be taught and how the children should learn. When Scout tells the teacher she can read and write, she is punished and told she should not learn outside of school and that she is too young to be able to read and write. Scout was mad with Miss Caroline's refusal to accept any other teaching method but her own. This shows how Scout was stereotyped because she was from rural Alabama and the teacher stereotyped everyone to be dumber than herself. When Scout is verbally abused because her father is defending Tom Robinson, she becomes
Harper Lee introduces Scout as an insensible tomboy caught in the midst of contrite prejudicial conception. She has not yet discovered what is right and wrong due to various misconceptions that the people of Maycomb
Atticus said, “They’ve done it befor and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it-seems that only children weep”(Lee 285). To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee. It is about two siblings , Jem and Scout, who live in a small town called Maycomb. Their father Atticus, is a well known lawyer, who is defending an African American that was accused of raping a white women. Throughout the novel, Jem and Scout are introduced to discrimination and learn that it’s an everlasting problem. Prejudice and discrimination are important themes in To Kill a Mockingbird because of racism, sexism, and ageism.
As children grow up, they open their eyes to the harsh truths in the world around them that they once did not understand or question. This is experienced by the main characters of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is of a girl called Scout and her older brother, Jem, who go through the trials of growing up in the fictional small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. Racism is rampant in the mindset of the townspeople, shown when the children’s lawyer father, Atticus, takes the case of an obviously innocent African-American man and they convict him in their hearts before the trial even starts. Through this all, we can see the theme of loss of innocence in the children. Lee uses characterization to portray
In Maycomb, a black man named Tom Robinson is on trial for raping beating up Mayella Ewell. From the beginning Mr. Robinson never really received a fair trial. The law states that someone should get a fair trial from a jury of their peers. However, in Maycomb this doesn’t happen. The Courthouse in Maycomb is filled with local white people. Two men say “You know the court appointed him to defend this nigger...Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That’s what I don’t like about it”(163). This quote is important because it shows the overall attitude of Maycomb’s white citizens. One critical moment may have shown why the trial wasn’t a fair trial. Atticus proved that Tom Robinson was not involved in the attack. “His left arm was fully 12 inches shorter than his right and hung dead at his side” (186). This represented the physical
Atticus is a man with morals. When he sees a person, white or black in need of justice he is always there to help, no matter the cost. In Maycomb County when a black man is on trial he is automatically seen as guilty. When Atticus was chosen to defend Tom Robinson many of the people in the community took it upon themselves to pay him a visit. It was understood by everyone that Tom had no chance and some of the men in the county went to Atticus to see if he would drop the case. Atticus knows though that Tom is innocent and deserves to have a fair trial. “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going until the truth’s told” (Lee 146) . Atticus demands justice no matter who it is or what they’ve been accused of. He understands what needs to be done to give those who have been wrongly accused an honest hearing.
Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a study in the way people’s view of the world changes as they grow older. To Kill a Mockingbird is from the point of view of a six year old girl, Scout, the daughter of a lawyer. She is forced to grow up quickly when Atticus defends an innocent black man in the South, much to the dismay of most of the white citizens. Lee uses similes and personification in To Kill a Mockingbird to show the challenges and discoveries that children make while transitioning from a child to an adult.
In the novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird' two important characters influence each other significantly over the course of the book. The book is set in the 1930's in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. The novel is centered around a young girl named Scout and the events that developed her into a mature you lady. Scout develops greatly alongside her father, Atticus, who teaches Scout, along with her friends and family that life can teach you a lot of lessons, if you know where to look. Scout changes from a naïve, impulsive young girl to a mature young lady that ,with her new understanding of the world, influences the those around her. Atticus has learnt that humans are not faultless and not all of them share his moral values.
Atticus shows that the case should have never come to court ¨To begin with, this case should have never have come to trial. This case is a simple as black and white” this quote shows that Atticus thinks that the case is so simple, it doesn’t need to have come to trial. Atticus shows that he thinks that the way the whites treat the blacks shouldn’t be happening. “A court is only as sound as its jury and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up” Atticus sees that the jury is filled with only white men who don’t like blacks. Atticus shows his opinion on the situation between the whites and blacks.
Atticus reveals there was no evidence to prove Tom Robinson’s actions towards Mayella. Atticus tries to appeal to the jury with hard physical evidence, for the jury to look at Tom Robinson as an equal not as an African American man. The use of ethos is evident in Atticus’ argument, by convincing the jury with credibility, “‘I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In his name of God, do your duty’” (Lee para.13).
Decades ago, in the 1930s, people of color were not treated fairly. Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird took place in the 1930s in the fictional place of Macomb County, Alabama. It was narrated through a young girl named Scout Finch. Throughout the novel, Scout, her older brother, Jem, and their good friend Dill discover realities of society. Scout and Jem’s father, Atticus, was appointed to be the attorney of a black man. Because of the time period, the case was almost hopeless, but Atticus fought anyway. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird displays universal themes such as racial intolerance and innocence of youth.
The outcome of a trial between a white and a black person will always favor towards the white. No matter what logic and reason the black person pulls, he will always lose the trial. During a trial, a decision should be made base on laws. However, Atticus has come to the realization that judgements are made by the color of one’s skin as oppose to the law.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a fictional novel about a young girl named Scout Finch. The story revolves around Scout and her family as they face prejudice and discrimination in Maycomb County. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is an innocent girl who hasn't come into contact with the evils of the world. At the end of the novel, Scout develops with understanding of that good always wins over evil no longer is always true. The events Scout saw made her knowledgable and aware of the human nature around her to mature with understanding of the world.
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout’s childish perception of the world throughout the novel reveals her lack of understanding and unawareness to her surroundings. Through the events in the small town of Maycomb Scout develops higher levels of maturity in interpreting the events occurring to influence her character. With racism being prevalent in the South, Scout’s exposition of the complexity of interracial relationships challenges her and the community’s views toward. Lee having Scout narrate the story filters the way characters evolve into the novel.
In her coming-of-age novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores how the precocious protagonist, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, struggles to fit into her role as a lady and has a difficult time coming to terms of the cruelty as well as the injustice her Southern town displays through discrimination. Scout resides with her family in Maycomb County, Alabama in the 1930s--a town severely divided by color. She goes through a breathtaking metamorphosis throughout the novel when her father Atticus defends a Negro man accused of rape, exposing her to the true roots of human behavior. Through the use of settings, characterization, and ironies, Lee implies that hypocrisy is a tragic act to be involved in; it can
n the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates that important life lessons that are taught at young ages from experience or words of wisdom can impact an individual. In the novel, Harper Lee tells a story about a five year old girl named Scout experiencing problems during her childhood and how the events that occur make her understand the community around her. Taking place in the South during the 1930's, it is a time that brims with great prejudice and racial injustice. The novel unravels as an account of injustice to the most innocent yet unlawfully accused people in Maycomb.