The black characters act justly throughout the novel by treating every one with equality and respect. In Chapter 12, when Jem and Scout visit Calpurnia’s Negro church for the Sunday service, Lula, a hostile Negro woman tells them impolitely to leave. Calpurnia defends the children and contradicts Lula by saying, “It’s the same God, ain’t it?” Amidst an argument over the antagonistic rifts between black and white regimes, Calpurnia acknowledges that all people, no matter the race, worship the same God, and are therefore equal. During Chapter 12, after the church service, Reverend Sykes takes up an extra collection of money that is collected towards Tom Robinson's wife, who has not been able to find work since her husband is sent to jail since he allegedly rapes a white woman. Reverend Sykes tells the attendees of the service, “I want all of you with no children to make a sacrifice and give one more dime a piece.” The Revenant shows justice by being equal and respectful towards everyone. In order to be fair he asks those who don’t have a family to feed and shelter to donate an extra dime, and not forcing those who have a family to donate extra money. During his testimony in Chapter 19, Tom Robinson states a different story than that of Mayalla’s; he is then questioned on whether he is accusing Mayella of being a liar. Tom refuses to accuse Mayella of lying, but persistently says that she is "mistaken in her mind." This shows Tom’s unrelenting respect and honest living; even though Mayella is unjust to him, he continues to treat her with justice and respect because he knows that she is just a little girl who is lonely and even though she sent him …show more content…
With their just, loving and humble actions they illustrate a perfect example of how a young woman must act. They are the true heroes that every young adult and adult generation must look up
Author uses Atticus teach these lessons through his wise words. Atticus teaches these lessons to not only the audience, but Jem and Scout too. Some of the main things he teaches his kids about are understanding people, using the mind instead of the body, the cruel reality of stereotypes, and true
Racism is something that most people would claim they do not believe in or support; however, as clearly shown in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, racism is a disease that spreads through a region and worsens as time goes on. Racism is an issue that is still prevalent in the American society today, and Harper Lee’s timeless novel continues to teach the lesson that one needs to look beyond the color of another man’s skin and see them for who they truly are. Mr. Raymond’s conversation with Dill after Tom Robinson’s testimony initially shows that racism is better comprehended with age. He says, “Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry… Cry about the hell white people give to colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too” (Lee, 1960, p. 269). Here, it becomes clear that children can be naive to racism and the evil in the world, but as they continue to grow up in an area that feels so strongly about white supremacy, they become immune to the injustice and prejudice. Further, Mr. Raymond’s words allow the reader to better understand the severity of the racism in Maycomb and the entirety of the country. It also unveils a crucial theme in the novel, namely that one must consider a person of color to be no different from oneself, as all humans are equal. Additionally, racism is repeatedly referred to as a disease in the novel, which is explained when Atticus is talking to Uncle Jack about the trial and he says “‘... I hope and pray I can get
The intriguing novel, To Kill A Mockingbird is written by the prestigious author Harper Lee. Lee has utilised the lifestyle and attitudes towards African-Americans" in the 1930's to create a novel which presents the reader with Lee's attitudes and values. The dominant reading of the novel is focused on the issues of racial prejudice, but there are also a number of other alternative and oppositional readings. Examples of this are the Marxist and feminist readings which can be applied to the text.
Lee implies that people learn lessons through life experiences that school can ever teach. Throughout this novel, Atticus taught his kids many lessons that was hard for them to hear at times, but it later on helped them in the story. Or it helped them grow up and mature. On page 40 of To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus was explaining to Scout that Miss.Caroline was new and didn’t know anyone, and she especially didn’t know the Cunningham’s story, Atticus states, “Atticus said… but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part” (40). This quote by Atticus is meant to explain to Scout that Miss. Caroline just made an honest human mistake. He tried to get Scout to realize that if he put herself in Miss.Caroline’s shoes then she might better understand the confusion. Obviously you can’t really be in her shoes, but he said it figuratively to show her why it was important to give her another chance, or at least try to be nice and listen. Atticus taught this to Scout at home later on that night. At her school after that she tried to just get by in her class. Lee also shows mainly throughout that the school system doesn’t help when it comes to teaching children life lessons. As shown in the earlier quote Atticus, had told Scout to jump in Walter’s shoes, and walk around in it. This other quote shows how Scout actually takes into consideration of Atticus’ words, and chooses to not bother Jem because she tried to imagine what it had
The ambition of oneself to pursue justice and righteousness may result in prosecution. In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, and movie "A Time to Kill" by Joel Schumacher, each demonstrate one’s open-mindedness and forward thinking leads to penalization through protagonists Atticus Finch and Jake Brigance. Both egalitarians take the position as an attorney for an African American and are prosecuted in the process.
“It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. ‘It ain’t right,’ he muttered”...
In chapter 11 Walter didn’t want to work at the garment center. Walter had wanted to be a lawyer at the age nine. Walter would simply memorize a passage and recited it. A coach had asked Walter to come for track his junior year. In chapter 12 Walter missed three weeks of school. Walter lusted three weeks before he stopped going to school again. In chapter 10 the idea of what it meant to be poor changed in the late sixties. Most of Walter life had been divided between school, reading, and ball playing. The second burden of that summer came in the form of Walter grandfather. William Dean was a tall, ramrod-straight man with mannerisms that seemed more appropriate for the nineteenth century than for 1951. After the civil war the former
In Chapter 16, it is the next morning and the family is eating breakfast (day of the trial). Atticus states that he is grateful for having his children disobey rules to help him and notes that Mr. Underwood never liked Negroes, which is odd that Underwood was there at the jailhouse. In addition, Jem claims that Mr. Cunningham would have killed Atticus the night before, yet Atticus defends his relationship with Cunningham by stating that he has “blind spots” like everyone else. The vast majority of Maycomb are heading for the courthouse, which include Baptists (Miss Maudie talks about these harsh people). Though, Miss Maudie proves that gardening is actually something beautiful in God’s eyes. Albeit that Atticus tells the children not
Harper Lee’s Novel To Kill a Mockingbird details the life of young Scout Finch and brother Jem Finch, who is growing up in a time of racial uniqueness. Jem and Scout Finch are what most would call a typical family growing up in the small Alabama town of Maycomb. They encounter many different obstacles during their childhood missions with many characters making the novel an interesting read. Throughout the book, Lee is showing Jem and Scout grow up and become mature young adults. This novel, written by Harper Lee, demonstrates the themes of growing up, Innocence and most importantly, racism.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, one cannot equate the story to have a sole purpose from the author throughout. Rather the story contains many scenes and passages that have meanings in themselves. In the book, one passage where Harper Lee expresses a clear purpose is where the children meet Dolphus Raymond. The purpose of the passage with Dolphus Raymond was to show the effects that prejudice can have on individuals as well as the community.
One major reason Atticus takes the case is that he knows as a parent he has to do the right thing. In chapter nine of To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus says, if he didn't take the case he wouldn’t be able to live with himself or be a good parent to Jem and Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960). Ann Althouse says, yes, he does take the case, but he has the option of other lawyers placed in his position to not take the case (Althouse); Atticus does not take the case because he must take it, rather he takes it because it is in his nature to help others out although he might not want to involve himself. Althouse justifies this taking a scene from chapter ten of To Kill a Mockingbird when the mad dog is on the loose and Sheriff Heck asks him to shoot
Mayella is scared of Atticus and it's her turn to testify. Mayella tells Mr. Gilmer that her father requested for her to cut up an old chiffarobe for kindling. Mayella needed Tom’s help for accomplishing this task and in return she offers to give Tom a nickel.Then Mayella states that Tom took advantage of her when she went to grab the money. Mayella states that she was screaming and tried to fight back. Then Mayella’s father comes and Tom runs away. Then Atticus begins his cross examination of Mayella. We find out that Mayella is nineteen years old and her family acquires relief checks.We also learn that her father is a drunkard. We also learn that Mayella’s mother is dead and she doesn’t have any friends.Atticus also questions Mayella if
Harper Lee fills chapter 6 with feelings and events specifically designed to put the reader on the edge of their seat. Lee begins by using words like “fishy,” “too casually,” and “sweetly” to convey an air of suspicion when Dill suggests they go for a walk. Just as Scout suspected, Dill guides the three children to the Radley house. Run-on sentences and repetition show Scout’s increasing worry and give a sense of urgency. Then, Jem recommends Scout avoid the collards, which he says will wake the dead. In any other circumstance, that particular phrase would not concern anyone. However, given the Radley house’s reputation, it seems to have a much more sinister connotation. Reading further, the text describes sounds in short, staccato sentences.
In both the text “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee and the film “A Time to Kill” directed by Joel Schumacher, similar ideas are presented using language devices and stylistic features in differing ways to appeal to their target audience. Each have very similar storylines in which a white lawyer defends a an African-American in a prejudiced court case. Racism is a key idea presented strongly in each due to the eras they are set in. The era and country set in each story provide a strong base for the prominent issue. With the unpleasant happenings in each text and through the racist acts the idea of compassion shines through. As well as compassion being a significant idea, forgiveness is also presented through the racists acts.
The story, in the eyes of two innocent children Scout and her brother Jem, of the discrimination and hypocrisy throughout the town. Maycomb County, Alabama, faces an African American’s injustice while the children learn valuable lessons from their father, Atticus and their housemaid Calpurnia, during the Great Depression. All the while, we are learning from it. To Kill a Mockingbird teaches us the lessons of morale, justice and equality.