“The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box”(Lee 252). In the book Jem and Scout are exposed to many events that kids their age don't have to be, which teaches them that they may need to adjust their behaviour or views based on the situation. Throughout the book Atticus constantly talks to his kids about treating everyone fairly. As the book goes on Jem and Scout’s attitude change and they learn to treat everyone the same no matter what they look like. The first character that I will be looking at is Tom Robinson. Tom is one of the most important characters in the book. He is one of the centerpieces of the court case. He is accused of sexually harassing Mayella Ewell at her house. Although he is being accused of this it is quite false, as we learn that Mayella was coming onto Tom in this instance. Throughout the book you constantly get reminded of how Tom is black and is treated differently because of it. He is mistreated in the court and is constantly being being attacked by racists citizens. In the middle of all this is Atticus Finch. He is fighting for Tom in the court case and he is seemingly caught in the middle of all the conflicts between the white community and Tom Robinson. In one situation, Atticus is sitting in front of the county jail with a light and his newspaper when he is suddenly approached by a group of men who wanted to
Scout and Jem’s decisions were impacted greatly by how much Atticus has taught them. The methods he uses to bring them up are differ greatly, and give his children a very different set of beliefs than the majority of the people of Maycomb. For example, he teaches them about empathy, a ‘skill’ that much of the community does not know. “You can never really understand a person... until you climb into their skin and walk around in it” (39). Atticus teaches his kids how to empathize with someone, giving them an ideal to live by. As a child grows up, a lot of times they inherit their parent’s belief system as well. He will continue his open-,minded accepting attitude into his children, and their future decisions will be affected greatly by Atticus’s
Caring and noticeable is Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird take readers to the source of humans action, through faults and experiment, kindness and trouble, hatred and love, and the struggle between blacks and whites. Atticus Finch is a lawyer and a single parent at Maycomb town in the 1930’s. He was set by the judge to defend the guy who was charged with raping a white woman: Tom Robinson(Black man). Friends and neighbors of Atticus Finch were not happy with the fight Atticus was putting up to defend the man who was charged for raping a white woman. Not only does Atticus enjoy being a lawyer, Atticus even enjoy being a father of Jem and Scout. Atticus Finch is a excellent character who is known for certain accomplishment and superior. He is known for many stuff. Atticus Finch has remained a hero in modern days for american literature for decades and an honorable figure due to his honesty as a parent, a lawyer, and a respectable community members.
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.
Atticus teaches Jem and scout a number of important lessons which will help them in life. However tolerance is one of the most important, because if people tolerate one another then things like war or racism will not exist, and they are two of the biggest areas of conflict in the world. Atticus models tolerance for his children by taking the case of and accused rapist. He defends a black man even though most of the town is against it and treat him discourteously because of it. Scout went against her father’s wishes by not
One strong character within To Kill A Mockingbird is Atticus Finch, a lawyer and father in Maycomb. He fights against racism in the
Few people can imagine living during the time of racial segregation or the great depression. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird takes place from the year 1933 to 1995. During this time, two siblings named Scout and Jem Finch are living in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. While growing up, they go through many events and learn numerous lessons from their father, Atticus Finch. Throughout the novel, Jem goes through many experiences that change the way he perceives the town of Maycomb and it’s people.
White people believed to treat them like “trash” and they are influencing their kids to do the same which puts an impact on the community . The white people in Maycomb , Albama believe that black people are “ Filthy Beings” . Tom Robinson is a prime example in this book because , just because he’s an african american he loses the case of raping a white girl by the name of Mayella Ewell . Tom was given an defense attorney , which is Atticus and he was chosen by the judge . The law and system is so messed up that the judge picked a white man to be his attorney . Atticus Finch is a white man who is an experienced lawyer . Atticus is trying his best to win Tom’s case . All of a sudden he immediately loses the case . When the trial was over , Mr . Underwood said “Atticus has 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 was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed . “ (241)
Books have always been taught to students for many reasons. The main reason is that it is part of the teaching curriculum. Although students feel like they should not read books that are given to them, some are more important than they think. One book for example, is the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. This book has taught students many things that has happened back in the 1930’s and some still happen in the present day.
In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the main characters Scout and Jem, embark upon a three year journey of moral development in which they gain wisdom and understanding, allowing them to mature. In the book, they are taught by their father, Atticus, to be good, moral people. Atticus does this because he does not want his children to be instilled with the racist beliefs of Maycomb. Scout and Jem deal with the townspeople’s backlash against their father, who defends an african-american, Tom Robinson, in court, and they confront Mr. Arthur ”Boo” Radley, who they believe to be a monster. Even though Scout and Jem experience many of the same pivotal moments, the ways they deal with, cope, and understand their maturation differs greatly.
The central conflict that drives the plot is racism. Since racism in that period of time was very rough, the relationship between blacks and the whites were terrible. The plot started to drive when people in Maycomb County found out that Atticus Finch, a white lawyer, was going to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. As racism was even held in the court, despite Atticus’s capable and strong defence, the jury found Tom Robinson guilty. Soon later, they found out that Tom Robinson was shot dead right after the court as he tried to escape.
One of the books main scene was when Atticus defended Tom Robinson who was black, and Atticus was white. Of course people had things against this like in Chapter 15 when Walter Cunningham and some other guys come and are threatening Atticus. Also there was a time when Bob Ewell came up to Atticus and spit in his face calling him horrible names. But in spite of it Atticus still went to defend Tom.
Over the course of the novel, the reader watches Jem mature from age 10 to age 13, growing up from a brave and playful boy, to a calm, collected young man similar to the likes of his father Atticus. One of the most important life lessons that Atticus teaches Jem is to always do the right thing even if it’s the hardest thing to do. Atticus Finch is known as a man who is “the same in his house as he is on the public streets.” (Lee, pg. 61) He lived by morals, and always abade by them. After Atticus took up the court case of Tom Robinson, a coloured man, he had many people insult him and make fun of him. Atticus knew that he couldn’t refuse the case, as he stated “before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”(Lee, pg.140) Atticus took the job that no person wanted, especially knowing that he was going to lose the case before it even began. In doing so, Atticus shows Jem that you should always be a man of your morals, that you should always do the right thing even if it is the hardest thing to do. Although he has a hard time understanding Atticus’ actions at first, Jem begins to comprehend his father’s values in the world around him, with more mature eyes.
Along with Scout, Atticus is another example of a character that breaks stereotypes. An important instance of this is that he fights racial prejudice. “‘I’m simply defending a Negro—his name’s Tom Robinson. He lives in that little settlement beyond the town dump’”(Lee 77). When Scout asks why, he says that he has to stand by what he believes in. The fact that Atticus defends Tom shatters the stereotype that all white men are rude to black men. The stereotype limited the town citizens, as shown by Mr. Raymond, and is also extremely harmful to the black community. Another way Atticus fights prejudice is by letting Scout dress and act how she wants. Almost all the other adults in her life shame her for it, but Atticus lets her be free. This is critical, because without Atticus’s actions, Scout would not be supported by anyone. After being yelled at for her attire, Scout remarks, “She hurt my feelings and set my teeth permanently on edge, but when I asked Atticus about it, he said there were already enough sunbeams in the family and to go on about my business, he didn’t mind me much the way I was” (Lee 84). This leads into Atticus’s unique parenting style that lets the kids be free. Atticus doesn’t impose any stereotypes on his children, so they are free to be themselves. He explains this to Uncle Jack in the end of chapter 9. “Jack! When a child asks you
To begin with, the most important theme depicted in this novel is race. The main conflict is between the African Americans and the Caucasian, for generations the African Americans have been enduring continuous racial abuse from the Caucasians. For instance, when Atticus Finch—a Caucasian lawyer—gets involved in Thomas ' case as the defense lawyer, he faces great criticism from his dear ones. Thomas Robinson is an African American who is accused of sexually assaulting a 19 year old girl named Mayella Ewell. Atticus is a man
As Scout begins to consider people?s opinions about prejudicial behavior she soon feels obligated to understand these racial judgments. Scout, being the curious and forthright girl she is, feels that only way to do so is by interrogating these estimations. ?As Atticus had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem?s skin and walk around in it? (57). At this specific point in the novel, it is clear that Scout has learned a valuable lesson. The social lesson accomplished is never to judge anyone before determining their past experiences or hardships. Not only Scout?s social well-being, but her mental and emotional well-being progress extensively throughout the events of the novel. This is clearly defined by the following quote. ?Atticus had promised me he would wear me out if he ever heard of me fighting anymore, I was far too old and too big for such childish things, and the sooner I learned to hold it in, the better off everybody would be?(74). The quote stated by Scout proves that she is willing to mature at such a crucial time as the trial. She discovers that it is more important for Atticus to