“No!” The child screamed. This one word comes out of the mouthes of young children all the time in contemporary society and it is directed towards their parents. When parents ask their children to do something, this is a common response. It is a usual response from children who think they have a right to challenge their parents’ authority. Children in the 1930s generally acted very differently towards their parents. A high degree of respect was expected from children by their elders. In modern society, this expected degree of respect has declined. Many theories exist to try to explain why the respect children give their parents is plummeting. This disrespect from children displays a great deterioration in civility in modern society. Since …show more content…
If the request is finally carried out, it is many times done under protest (Cowen). Insufficient amount of respect for authority is shown by them, compared to children in the 1930s. There are many theories and reasons why children now have a lack of respect for proper authority. One reason is that modern American parents have less time to properly discipline their children due to fathers' and mothers' extensive work schedules. They are generally rushed, so they will do whatever they can to have their children behave at the moment. These methods sometimes lead to poor decisions from the parents, such as giving in to the child’s demands to stop unwanted behaviors, such as tantrums (Cowen). Mass media may be another reason for this deterioration in authority. The media is everywhere, and it exerts great influence over today’s children. Children may choose to emulate certain characters from the media and think all of their actions are suitable. Frequently, these morals clash with those of the parents. The children may, consequently, look up to these icons in the media and use them, instead of their parents, as role models. In conservative American society, many of these actions are viewed as disrespectful. In the 1930s, mass media was much less extensive, thus its influence over children’s minds was much more limited. There are many additional speculations that can be explored to
Understanding perspective is essential to understanding people. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird presents this idea in multiple passages of her writing. It can be seen in the rough, unknown troubles that people face despite their wrongful actions. As well as the rumours that are untrue and give complete false impressions of people. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird uses these topics to illustrate the dangers of judging others before getting to know them.
Throughout our lives we're influenced by many. It can have an effect on the way we view issues within societal boundaries. One of the major influences children have in their lives comes from their parents. The parents of a child can have both a positive and a negative influence on their lives. In the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird", there are two excellent examples of how parents can be a major influence on their children. Atticus Finch, father of Jem and Scout Finch, plays the loving, kind and knowledgeable father. He is an example of how parents can have a positive influence on their children. Bob Ewell, father of Mayella Ewell, plays the drunken, abusive, and neglectful father. He is an example of how a parent can be a negative
Throughout our lives we're influenced by many. It can have an effect on the way we view issues within societal boundaries. One of the major influences children have in their lives comes from their parents. The parents of a child can have both a positive and a negative influence on their lives. In the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird", there are two excellent examples of how parents can be a major influence on their children. Atticus Finch, father of Jem and Scout Finch, plays the loving, kind and knowledgeable father. He is an example of how parents can have a positive influence on their children. Bob Ewell, father of Mayella Ewell, plays the drunken, abusive, and neglectful father. He is an example of how a parent can be a negative influence
Throughout most novels, characters encounter obstacles or events that once faced change their lives for the better or worse. In this book, that obstacle is racism. This is evident in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird when ... ____________________. Due to... ____________________. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Dolphus Raymond, Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell each encounter racism in different ways; however, they all suffer as a result.
In his article,“Herd” Mentality Explained, Rick Nauert Ph.D. talks about how we as humans tend to follow things even when people may never even realize it. This connects to how Lee uses the characters of Jem and Scout to show the struggle of choosing between following the herd or being an individual.
Mrs. Alexandra, from my understanding, a good parent is one who creates a safe nurturing environment for a child to grow up in, displays characteristics of a positive role model, and is an active part of a child’s life. (Atticus, look at Scout and Jem affectionately ) Good parents provide moral guidance, sets limitations, and implements consequences for a child’s behavior. (Atticus, use a ruler and slap it in your hand looking at Scout and Jem symbolizing a Spanking as punishment) Atticus is a very effective parent to Scout and Jem. I know he is constantly working; but rest assured, his children are his primary concern and he loves them very much. (Atticus, hug Scout and Jem or do something showing your love <3) Atticus finds time for his
In books, many characters go through moral development. The book To Kill A Mockingbird shows many examples of characters that go through this development and characters that help others develop. While there are many different characters in the book, the focus is on the development of Jem and Scout Finch with the help of Atticus and Calpurnia. The kids are introduced when they are young and over the span of the book, the adults teach and help them, making them have a different understanding of the world only two years later. With the guidance of Atticus and Cal, Jem and Scout go through a big moral change.
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird a major theme is the loss of innocence. Whether from emotional abuse, racial prejudice or learning, Boo, Tom, and Scout all lose their innocence in one sense or another. The prejudice that each character endures leads to their loss. Through the responses of Boo, Tom, and Scout, Harper Lee shows how each character responded differently to their loss of innocence.
The way and rate that people mature at can be directly attributed to the values and beliefs of the society that surrounds an individual. It is undeniable that society’s perspective on many controversial issues will generally be adopted by the younger generations in a given society. Moreover, the exposure to significant events, coupled with the major influence of family members, can have an enormous impact on how an individual matures. Additionally, family members greatly help each other develop into moral adults by instilling in each other values that will ultimately determine an individual’s character. In Harper Lee’s timeless classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, the constant reiteration of Atticus Finch’s values, in
Each character’s personality in the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is intricately described, therefore giving the reader an image or idea of the kind of person he or she is. A picture of the character is formed in the mind with maybe rough edges but a soft heart on the inside. A character’s personality may be oversimplified by drawing shapes in symbolism, but the shapes may be helpful in perceiving the general extent of the characteristics. With a little help from Lee’s descriptions, I have been able to form images in my mind (and draw them on paper) of the personalities of Scout, Jem, Atticus, Dil, Calpurnia, Boo Radley, and Bob Ewell.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee seems like a complete replica of the lives of people living in a small Southern U.S. town. The themes expressed in this novel are as relevant today as when this novel was written, and also the most significant literary devices used by Lee. The novel brings forward many important themes, such as the importance of education, recognition of inner courage, and the misfortunes of prejudice. This novel was written in the 1930s. This was the period of the “Great Depression” when it was very common to see people without jobs, homes and food. In those days, the rivalry between the whites and the blacks deepened even more due to the competition for the few available jobs. A very famous
“But I want to play with Walter, Aunty, why can’t I?” She took off her glasses and stared at me. “I’ll tell you why,” she said, “Because- he – is – trash, that’s why you can’t play with him” (Lee, 256). Imagine you were a small child hearing those words being told to you. You would not fully understand the reason why your aunt decides that, but you comply to her verdict. Flash forward to now, you’re more comprehensive and become aware that Walter’s family is less fortunate economically. This is frustrating and just does not make sense, right? Why should someones financial standing factor whether or not they can spend time with you? This is a prime example of prejudice and discrimination, which are two key elements in the novel, along with affecting the whole story and character development.
The younger people of this generation do not respect authority like the older generation. I have seen young children disrespect their parents in public many ways. For instance, children telling their parents “no”, and not listening to what their parents ask them to do. It is more common now to see the children control the parents rather than the parents control the children. Not only are the parents being disrespected, but also this type of behavior is carrying on into the classrooms, where teachers are being disrespected, as well as far as even the courtroom, which is a place you would expect to see a more humble attitude. I was raised not to ask my parents why I was told to do something, or argue about doing it. There was no questioning the
From the instant we are born, we are born into a world of conformity and obedience. Early in our lives, we look at authority figures like parents or teachers as these sentinels of guidance, as omnipotent beings with unwavering precision in their lessons. The concept of socialization is very perplexed, and it’s difficult to identify the variables that shape our development as we grow. As children, we communicate with the world free of inhibition, and find no fault in any of our actions; we could throw a tantrum and no one would bat an eye because it is socially acceptable for a child to have minimal restraint on their emotions. Over the years, we eventually become embedded in the norms of our culture, and mature to our respective social
To enforce the teaching or transmission of these values to the small child, authoritarianism was the rule. Physical punishment in different forms, from scolding or tongue-lashing, threatening, spanking, pinching, ear pulling, and sometime, whipping were resorted to. There are however contrasting childrearing practices between the traditional authoritarian parents and the younger parents of today who are more liberal, and more conscious of children’s rights. In contrast to the authoritarian upbringing which consists of prohibitions and constant admonitions for the child to stop touching, clowning, jumping or talking, climbing or running around, the more liberal parents tend to be responsive, indulgent and overprotective. They give constant attention and hardly make any demands on the children. Food, toys, and other rewards are promised to pacify the child. Among the