Harold Bloom states that To Kill a Mockingbird returns people to an optimism about possibilities human nature and in societal concern that many of them no longer share (Bloom 1). Serving as one of the most influential pieces of fiction produced in the United States, To Kill a Mockingbird still draws almost a million readers annually, more than forty years after its publication. Even, it ranked second only to the Bible “as making a difference in people’s lives” (Shields 1). The novel portrays a young girl’s love for her father and brother and the experience of childhood in a town called Maycomb. A 9 years old narrator, Scout does not only reveals the primary theme, racism, but also other important themes including many valuable aspects. Shackelford …show more content…
Boo asks her to take him home. She agrees and her thoughts reveal a radically changed perception of this man that she once regarded as a mysterious. “Dill had stood there hugging the fat pole, watching, waiting, hoping…He gently released my hand, opened the door, went inside, and shut the door behind him…Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad” (Lee 531). Scout begins to see Boo Radley as a human being. The children learn how citizens of their community, which is made up of different races, classes, and temperaments, interact in times of crisis. Her newfound ability to see things from his perspective ensures that she will not become disillusioned as she grows into a young adult (Kasper 7). The children observe one man’s heroism in the face of community prejudice. In addition, they regard both Boo and Tom as demonic and witchlike, but in the process of maturing, they come to embrace the outsiders among them. They acknowledge that the mark of virtue involves having the insight and courage to value human differences and people that are unlike the others. The children grow up, learn civilizing truths, and rise above the narrowness of the place in the private codes and legal practices contradict the idealistic …show more content…
In addition, the children seem to be opposed to the adults, the African-American characters at odds with the white characters, and the lower-class Old Sarum characters set apart from the townspeople. At the same time, boundaries between these categories are often broken down momentarily, as when the children feel a kinship with the once-feared adult, Boo Radley, and when the adult Dolphus Raymond sympathizes with the children’s disgust at the trail (Johnson 7). Moreover, the children gradually acknowledge the prejudice and social inequality. Impacting the children with honest heart, Atticus contributes to the children’s change in thoughts and maturity. Bloom says that the novel came out of the last “Age of Innocence”, and long before the current crises of race relations, economic dislocation, and the failure of faith in government, indeed in all authority (Bloom 1). However, as mentioned in the introduction, To Kill a Mockingbird offers people with some optimism about possibilities in human nature and in societal concern that many people do not share anymore. Being studied in a numerous number of schools, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird definitely contributed to a part of American culture and idealism with magnificent
From this, one can see that Scout is still in a juvenile state of mind. Furthermore, one can see how the beliefs of the townspeople have been transferred to Scout, who had taken them as they are considered the social norm. She unknowingly accepts their racism when she thinks of Dolphus Raymond as a “sinful man” because he associates himself with black people and “…had mixed children and didn’t care who knowed it.” (201) She does not understand why he freely displays his transgression to the town when it is acknowledged as a wrong thing to do in Maycomb. However, Scout slowly starts to develop her own sense of right and wrong and create her own judgments of others. Boo was once the monster of her childhood, but after witnessing his cordial and courageous actions, she realizes that “he hadn’t done any of those things…he was real nice.” (281) In the end, Scout matures and sheds her childhood nickname to become the young lady called “Jean Louise” by family and friends. (211, 224, 229) This change in Scout is a result of her loss of innocence and is a focal point in the novel to give a thought-provoking perspective on the events of the book.
Harper Lee’s book, To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in the difficult times of the Great Depression in the early 1930’s. The novel surrounds the life of a young girl named Scout Finch, along with her brother Jem, and their friend, Dill. Who are forced at a young age to watch the people of their small town of Maycomb not only receive, but also give prejudice to numerous, harmless people. Whether it be Boo Radley, a shut in who falls victim to the town’s gossip, even though he is constantly showing acts of kindness towards the Finch children. Or it be Tom Robinson an innocent man that Atticus, Scout’s father must defend be accused rape, and be convicted of a crime he did not to just because of the color of his skin. Throughout the novel, the people of Maycomb deal with prejudice in the forms of sexism, intolerance of differences, and in racism.
First, Jem, Dill and Scout are curious about Boo (Arthur) Radley since he has not been seen out of his house in several years. One day, the children write a letter to Boo, wondering if he is still alive. Atticus caught them, red-handed, when they were about to put the letter in Boo’s house and said, “I’m going to tell you something and I’m going to tell you one time: stop tormenting that man. That goes for the two of you” (65). Jem, Scout and Dill learn that cannot torment Boo.
Women presently play a huge part in daily activities whether it is at school, sports, or work. Over the past three decades, women have gained many rights and privileges that men have had for half a century or longer. Gaining these rights and privileges has allowed women to play important roles in today's society. One of the most debated issues between men and women is Title IX. This issue has created controversial problems that have caused a separation between men and women. Although, Title IX is constantly brought up, it was the beginning of a new era for women. An era that would allow women to be accepted as equals to men in everyday activities.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is one of the most recognizable books of all time. Ever since it’s July 1960 release date it has been hailed for its genius writing, relatable characters, and narration. The novel is told through the eyes of Scout, a young girl living in the fictional Alabama town of Maycomb, and how she develops during an important time in her childhood. Scout’s character will affect the story in many different ways. As the only narrator, all of what you know of Maycomb and its inhabitants is through her eyes. Her childlike demeanor, strong southern accent, and personality add to the book’s charm and memorability. You will get to see her evolve as a person throughout the entire story. Scout is not only the most memorable, but the most important.
Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley is also very courageous throughout the novel. Boo contacts the children and gifts them items, wraps Scout in a blanket at Miss Maudie’s house fire, and rescues Jem and Scout from Bob
To Kill A Mockingbird is a book that a reader can turn again and again, gaining new insights and knowledge into life each time. Sometimes an author uses a motif- a frequently repeated incident or idea -to get a certain theme across to the reader. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee uses motifs to clarify her messages or insights about life. Three specific motifs that Lee uses throughout the whole story are the mockingbird, courage, and walking in someone else's shoes.
To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is a novel that explores heavy issues such as Civil Rights and racism in the segregated southern United States during the 1930s, along with the significance of corruption of innocence and finally, the coexistence of good and evil. Narrated by Scout Finch, you learn about her father Atticus Finch, who is an attorney endeavouring to prove the innocence of a black man who has been wrongly accused of rape. Lee uses memorable characters and an appropriate setting to inform readers on the controversial issues addressed in the novel. I believe that young readers would benefit from reading this complex and intellectual novel, as it is important to understand what changes our society has gone through and
Childhood years are a very impressionable time. This is no different for the fictional characters Scout and Jem Finch. Growing up in southern Alabama, they learned many lessons from the people around them and the circumstances they faced. Some of these important lessons learned are courage, empathy, and prejudice.
To Kill A Mockingbird is a universally beloved book that perfectly encapsulates being a child and growing up in the south. Though the times have changed, many of the experiences that Scout and Jem have are shared by children today, from an overactive imagination to playing with the neighborhood kids during the summer to a universal dislike of school shared by most young children. Not everything in TKAM is pretty; though Maycomb might seem like a sweet innocent town from the outside, on the inside however, anger, hatred, and racism run rampant. The town where everyone goes to church sunday is the same town that formed a lynch mob and would have killed Tom Robinson had it not been for Atticus and Scout. Race relations and social justice take
Harper Lee once wrote, “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.”(33) Now, even though the quote is from a work of fiction, and written as dialogue, the quote does not become any less accurate. Books and movies have this tendency to reflect real life and have themes that are true in the real and fictional worlds. Although the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, and the award winning movie by the same title have their differences, they both share many common themes. To begin, both of the portrayals of the story demonstrated the common theme that one never truly understands a person until one sees the world from the other’s perspective.
This case raises many interesting questions concerning the record setting issuance of corporate debt by WorldCom, Inc. (“WorldCom”). Both the surprisingly voluminous structure of the proposed issuance and the foreboding macro-economic climate in which it was slated spark concerns over the risk and cost of the move. One of the first questions that must be addressed is whether WorldCom’s timing was appropriate. Next, the company’s choice of structure for the bond issuance must be analyzed. Finally, the cost of issuing each tranche of debt must be estimated in order to determine how much WorldCom is actually giving up to achieve the $6 billion in funds.
To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Amongst the countless existing works of literature, almost all novels demonstrate the maturation of protagonists in one way or another. Just like many coming-of-age novels before it, To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee vividly illustrates the development of characters as the story progresses over a three-year period. What makes this novel stand out is that the story is told from the point of view of an innocent child, who is struggling to make sense of the world and to fit in while learning through experiences. Scout Finch, the narrator as well as the main character of the book, gains maturity through discovering the presence of evil, establishing a deep compassion for the innocent, and recognizing the truth
Weber referred to the “calling” as a religious concept that was a task set forth by God. He states that it is a “new idea” a reformation and a Protestant view. It is a Protestant doctrine stating that every individual has a given task in life so that they may be in good grace with God. (Text, pg.439) The concept of the calling was that it was a way to find fulfillment through ones labor in society.
“To Kill A Mockingbird” (1960), by Harper Lee, emphasizes and displays many different philosophical ideas. These ideas are about innocence, segregation, knowledge, and reality. Ideas include the right for all races to be treated as equals, and not be judged or segregated by the color of their skin. “To Kill A Mockingbird” especially emphasizes that children, as they grow into their teen and pre-teen years, start to realize their environment and observe the way people act. This is the idea of reality. Children will start having sophisticated and intelligent ideas whether adults like it or not but the children will fight even if parents don’t think they have a mind of their own. Children start disobeying and showing signs of rebellion.The environment we live in influences the way we think, it takes away our innocence because of bad things that happen, and give us a base to form our ideas on. Two siblings; Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, and Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch. Their Father, a southern lawyer defending a black-American man accused of rape and beating a white woman. Jem and scout are 10 and 6 at the beginning of the book. But end up being 13 and 9 by the end, Jem being the oldest. Jem and scout, along with many other characters in the book, like Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Charles Baker “Dill” Harris all have a message linked to them in the book.