To Kill A Mockingbird Character Analysis Essay

During chapter 10 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout and Jem Finch’s opinion of their father Atticus changes from them being embarrassed by him to them feeling admiration and pride for him and his hidden talents; this teaches the children that there are many things that make up a person and they should not have a narrow or single view of people. In the beginning of the chapter Scout realizes all their schoolmates’ fathers are much younger than Atticus, and this is embarrassing for her. She wishes he could be normal, especially now with all the attention on her father from the trial in which he will be defending a negro. According to Scout’s narrative, “Jem underlined it when he asked Atticus if he was going out for the Methodists

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates organic unity through the use of literary tools to create, maintain, and amplify the central theme. Lee constructs and develops the theme of social inequality by employing dialogue, irony, and an extended metaphor. Through dialogue, the townspeople show contempt for blacks, viewing them and anyone who treats them as equals as inferior. This is evident in the analysis of the conversations of Bob Ewell, Mrs. Dubose, and Francis Hancock where they refer to black people as uncivilized savages. Not only does Bob Ewell, contribute to the theme through his dialogue, but his full name of Robert E. Lee Ewell provokes irony that clarifies the racist undertones of the novel. Moreover, irony functions

Never judge someone without knowing the whole story. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is about two young kids named Jem and Scout Finch growing up in the south in the 1930’s during the great depression and segregation. Through Jem and Scouts experiences, the author shows that before you judge someone, you should take the time to walk in their shoes and understand them.

To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of the trial of a black man, Tom Robinson for the raping of a white woman, Mayella Ewell, in racist Alabama in the 1990’s.

Essay Prompt: In a 1-2 page character analysis, explain what makes Atticus such a good parent, using quotes and evidence from the text to back up your claims.

Chapter nine of Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ begins with Scout fighting a classmate named Cecil Jacobs. It starts when Scout reflects what happens that day at school when she fought Cecil Jacobs at school and her cousin Francis later on. We also learn more information about the family of Atticus and his relatives. Lee’s style of writing is extremely coherent and uses imagery and figurative language in her writing. She uses these writing techniques to demonstrate human action and story development throughout ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. She also uses metaphors as a literary device. Using these writing techniques, she gives the story a unique perspective as the plot develops.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is an exceedingly powerful novel. It includes many significant minor themes such as racism and hatred which leave the reader to have grown more attentive to the past once they complete the book. The book takes place in Maycomb County Alabama during the great depression. During this period there was a great deal of hate and prejudice towards people of color, in addition to a great regard to social class. The novels protagonists, Atticus Finch a well-respected lawyer and his children Jeremy “Jem” Finch and Jean Louise “Scout” Finch are a few of the towns occupants who respect others regardless of social class or race. For this reason, Atticus has no objections

In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus advises Scout to consider things from another viewpoint. Atticus states that if she can learn this trick, she will be able to get along with various people. Throughout the novel, this quote can be applied to a number of characters to explain how they were misunderstood. Three such characters are Tom Robinson, Mrs Dubose and Boo Radley.

Purpose: To get readers to understand that although Mayella is guilty of causing an innocent man’s death, she still deserves some sympathy.

On March 4, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated in his first inauguration speech, “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance," (Baughman). This quote translates to a confusing concept at first, but once discussed is practical: the fear of an individual should not be the concern, yet it should be the damage fear itself has on one. Little did we know at the time that this quote, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” would turn into “the very symbol” of Roosevelt’s Presidency (Baughman).

The citizens of Maycomb have many theories about Boo’s life and about his personality. The most common theory is that he is dangerous and insane. Miss Stephanie said, “As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities”. It is also common thought that “When people’s azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he had breathed on them. Any stealthy small crimes committed in Maycomb were his work”. Boo Radley was considered a morbid phantom in Maycomb. Because of the public’s view of Boo, it would be daring for him to go out in public. People may hurt him if they see him as a threat or they might run away in terror. These risks made it even more admirable for Boo to risk his life to save the lives of Jem and Scout towards the end of the novel. Although he was under the cover of darkness, it was courageous of Boo to emerge from his home since he could have still been

Dubose, an old lady who was determined to break herself of her morphine addiction before dying, and succeeded. Jem and Scout are resentful and angry at her mean demeanor, until her situation is explained. Jem is initially scared after receiving a flower from her, but he is left “fingering the wide petals” (112). This is a turning point in Jem’s empathetic development. He has accepted the gift and is considering what Atticus said.

He realizes that the majority of people in the town are bias and automatically lean towards the Mayella Ewell’s side since she is a whites woman. It was claimed that Tom Robinson tried to involve Mayella Ewell in sexual intercourse and beat her when in reality he didn't; yet he was still convicted and executed for the crime he didn't commit. This showed Scout that people have unfair opinions and are not open to listening to new ideas. Throughout the trial, all of the evidence leaning in favor of Tom was sufficient and strong, almost superfluous. In addition, the evidence that was supposed to be on Mayella’s side even leaned in support of Tom. But the jury as well as the people of Maycomb were in denial that someone other than an African American could have committed the crime. This is another examples in which Scout learns people judge others too quickly and are hesitant or close off to any other opinions. Scout grows and develops through the main lesson she learns on judgement and believing what she

Tom, a black man was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white women, and she took it to court. Mr. Gilmer questions, “‘You're a mighty good fellow, it seems—did all this for not one penny?’ ‘Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em-‘ ‘You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?’ Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling.” (Lee, 264). Tom was a good guy, so it didn’t make much sense on why Mayella tried to make him look like some monster that raped her. It was easy for Mayella to make Tom look bad, because Tom (a black man) doesn’t nearly have as good as a life as Mayella, (a white woman). Yet, Tom tells everyone that he feels bad for Mayella. In their society, Tom shouldn’t think this because in everyone else’s minds, he isn’t the same and can’t be better than her so how could he feel bad for her? However he acknowledges that he feels bad for Mayella and wanted to help her. Tom was accused of something he did not do because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mayella got away with accusing Tom because she’s white and he’s black, symbolizing another example of a mockingbird in Maycomb. Later, Tom was shot 17 times trying to run out of jail because he knew he was supposed to be a freeman. Scout explains, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee you see the grave problems with judging before you have an understanding a person or a situation. The book illustrates this in the lives of Mrs.Dubose, Calpurnia, and Tom Robinson. The first example of judging before knowing deals with Mrs. Dubose and Jem. In Harper Lee’s book Mrs. Dubose is an elderly lady that Jem (one of the main characters in the book) doesn’t think too highly of.