To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis

Jem advises her not to tell anyone, because he doesn't believe Atticus is proud of what he can do, and Jem "wouldn't care if [Atticus] couldn't do a blessed thing," as Jem realizes that Atticus is a gentleman and doesn't have to do anything special to be a good

Atticus is a wise father and helps his children accept people no matter how they look or act. This is evident when he says “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” (Lee 33). Throughout the novel, Jem and Scout mature at different paces. Atticus guides his children as they begin to grow and mature. “It ain’t right, Atticus,” said Jem.” “No son, It’s not right.” (Lee 243). When Atticus lost the case, Jem expressed how he felt. He had tears on his face. Here was a turning point for Jem because he was old enough to understand the case. Atticus comforted him and agreed it was not right. Atticus shows affection towards his children when they saved him from trouble with “the mob”. “As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jem’s hair, his one gesture of affection.” (Lee 176). At first, Atticus may have been frustrated with his children being at the office. Then, their innocence saved him. Atticus has many characteristics and is a loving father. Atticus displays a valuable lesson about equality and fairness for his children.

During the novel, Jem shows empathy to little Walter cunningham when he stops Scout from beating him up for not taking a quarter from their teacher and getting her in trouble for sticking up for him, Jem instead invites him home to eat lunch with them.Jem knows no matter what Walter couldn't have taken that money from their teacher , Miss.Caroline, in order to protect his family pride. Secondly, after years of making fun of Boo radley and even creating a game about him, while sitting at the table after the trial, he tells Scout that he finally gets why Boo Radley never comes out of his house. At this point, Jem is finally realizing that the people of Maycomb are not the best people in the world and have actually treated Boo very badly over the years. As a final point Jem shows empathy to his father,Atticus, when after being angry about Atticus not participating in the church football game Jem sees him shoot Tim Johnson,the rabid dog roaming the streets of Maycomb, he says “I wouldn't care if he couldn't do a blessed thing”.(Lee 131) Meaning Jem would not care if Atticus could not do a thing he was just happy he was his dad.Jem is showing empathy because he finally understands Atticus in ways he never did before.Jem just like Scout learns a lot over the time that this novel covers. Jem learns about empathy and how to treat

Atticus is very close to Scout and often sits with her on his lap when

Quote 4 pg.139 “I never thought Jem would be the one to lose his head over this” Atticus was disappointed that Jem allowed Mrs. Dubose to ppush his buttons over his father’s involvement of his case. He worried more about Scout. Week 3 Question 1 Why did Jem seem different to his

In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Jems perception of Atticus greatly changes after a particular event. At first, Jem and scout think that their father is old and boring. Scout says, “He did not do the things our schoolmates’ fathers did: he never went hunting, he did not play poker or fish or drink or smoke”(Lee 118). Although scout says this, it also relates to Jem.

After dinner with Walter Cunningham on the first day of school, she tells Atticus what had happened. He, in return, gives her a ‘trick’ to get along better with people and understand them: “‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.’” (Lee, 39). Here, Atticus tells Scout that in order to truly understand someone, she must look at things from their perspective and imagine what they must be feeling. In other words, he tells her to be empathetic. Atticus also displays his empathy to Scout by not boasting about his ability to shoot animals dead and not using a gun until he absolutely had to. And he had to when Jem and Scout saw a rabid dog walking down the street. Upon the realization that her father is not just a boring old man but an excellent shot makes her wonder why he hadn’t told her about his capability and why he doesn’t hunt if he’s so good, so she looks to Miss. Maudie for an answer. Miss. Maudie’s explanation is that, “‘[She thinks] maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things’” (Lee, 130). Her explanation leads Scout to think about what it would be like to have that disadvantage and she becomes more empathetic. She also imagines how Atticus feels having that advantage over most living lings. This change can be seen when Jem tells Scout to not tell all the kids at school about Atticus’s skill and Scout understands what he means. Atticus actions during this incident proves that he walks his talk when he tells Jem and Scout that to kill a mockingbird is a sin. After they get their air rifles for christmas, Atticus advises them to not kill mockingbirds. Confused, Scout turns once more to Miss. Maudie who responds, “‘They don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a

Atticus has been very wise and helpful throughout Jem and Scout’s lives, and in early chapters it shows that his knowledge has paid off. In chapter 8, the book states “…Mr. Nathan put cement in that tree, Atticus, an‘ he did it to stop us findin’ things—he’s crazy, I reckon, like they say, but Atticus, I swear to God he ain’t ever harmed us, he ain’t ever hurt us, he coulda cut my throat from ear to ear that night but he tried to mend my pants instead… he ain’t ever hurt us, Atticus—” (page 96, Lee). This shows that Jem is no longer afraid to

Scout and Jem both think their dad is a calm person who does not do that much, but over the years of them growing up they think differently about him now. Atticus knows his kids think about him as a boring, wise person who does not do much.The kids think and kind of know that Atticus is a boring person. He does not even play football with Jem any more because he is to “old”. He does not go to the father football games, or do anything with the kids but, read. Atticus is a very wise man though. He reads so much books his english is extraordinary and he tries to teach his kids to be the same and they do but like do do other things like play outside. After a few years Jem and Scout have a different view on Atticus. One day when a “Mad dog” was

To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel about the injustices that part of society faced in the 1930’s. Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird to show that there are many people who can not achieve justice and fairness. Justice is the idea of behaving accordingly to what one believes is morally correct. This means that what is just to one person may not be just to another. Fair is the idea of being in the accordance of standards. This could mean social standards rather than the law itself. Because justice and fairness were non-existent for part of society in the 1930’s, Harper Lee used Scout and Atticus to convey the ideas of the people who believed that everybody deserved justice.

During the time To Kill a Mockingbird was written there were many historical troubles and injustices. Just a few of them include the expectations and roles of women, the Great Depression, and racism. Women were expected to talk proper, act proper, and dress accordingly. If they weren't they were judge by other women in the society; as seen in To Kill a Mockingbird Scout's aunt tells her that she needs to wear dresses and talk differently. The Great Depression is known as the most economic downturn in industrialized history. We can see in Lee's book the many consequences and effects it has on the characters' lives especially Walter Cunningham. As most know during the time of the 18 and 19 hundreds there were major problems with racism. Although some believed that white and black people were being fair and that they were equal they defiantly weren't. Harper Lee was inspired by these things she saw around her and in her own life that she wrote the inspiring and heartfelt novel that we now have and cherish today.

All humans crave love and attention. Throughout history, and even today, people fight for freedom, for justice, and for equality. One thing these have in common is that they are all another name for acceptance. To simplify terms, humans want to be accepted. Even the award winning classic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee conveys the message of the presence of prejudice and the unaccepting ways of society. From the oppression of colored people, to the mockery and exile of a white man who has resorted to locking himself up, to a basic white family fighting for what's right, racism, prejudice, and craving acceptance is a prominent theme of To Kill A Mockingbird.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a graphic novel that referenced racism and segregation within a community. There is Scout who is a young girl that is enthusiastic and energetic, she loves to be out in the world, she’s the main protagonist who, as she is older, is narrating her own story, telling everyone her life in poverty, racism and segregation. She learns throughout the story, no matter how energetic she is, life lessons that are important for her to know. Some questions are what new treasures do the children find in the knothole? Who does Scout think has been leaving the treasures? What do they see the next day? Why do you think Mr. Nathan Radley told the kids that the tree was dying? What happens to Scout the night of the fire? Who witnesses this? Why does Atticus feel he needs to defend Tom Robinson? These are only a few questions out of many, but they all are equally important with each other.

In Harper Lee’s chart-topping, To Kill a Mockingbird, the topics of unfair judgment and racism are displayed through the courtroom and citizens of Maycomb, Alabama. The reader explores the lives of Mrs. Dubose, Dolphus Raymond, and Tom Robinson and how they overcome their struggles. As Mrs. Dubose faces health issues, the Finch children struggle to deal with her strong personality. As Dolphus faces a racial backlash from both sides, he decides to give himself an alter-ego. Finally, Tom Robinson faces a white man in court and struggles to find justice. In the novel, Harper Lee discusses the theme of outward and surface appearance through the characters of Mrs. Dubose, Dolphus Raymond, and Tom Robinson to teach the reader not to define people by their outward appearances but instead by their inner character.

“Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119). Miss Maudie spoke the previous quote with deep thought going into each and every word. Not only was she trying to teach Scout a lesson, but she wanted there to be a powerful meaning behind it. Miss Maudie’s main purpose was to stress that you shouldn't kill something that is doing no harm. Everyday “mockingbirds” are killed, broke down, and mistreated by society.