What Is The Archetypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

Tom Robinson’s character exemplifies the mockingbird because he is a black man who is denied justice based on racial prejudice. After Mayella Ewell accuses Tom of rape, there is no way for him to be judged fairly because the narrow-minded, white townspeople are unable to get past their prejudices towards blacks. At his trial, Tom’s lawyer, Atticus, argues,

The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is an American classic and has been a staple in high schools for many years. The main storyline that this novel follows is of Scout, a young girl, living in the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. It follows the case of Tom Robinson, an African American man, and how he was accused and convicted of rape. In prison, Tom was shot and killed because he was said to have tried to escape. While Mayella is the one who is saying that Tom raped her, the real person who should be to blame is her abusive father. As is quite apparent, Bob Ewell is the person who is most responsible for the death of Tom Robinson.

A literary criticism is an informed written analysis or evaluation of a work of literature based on literary theory. The hero archetype type is one common type of character used by an author which displays morality, bravery, and self sacrifice. In the fictitious novel To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the hero archetype is shown in multiple characters. This archetype is used to help characterize the characters and help the reader understand them. Thought the story Lee uses the hero archetype in the characters Atticus, Jem, and Boo Radley.

Tom Robinson is another mockingbird figure. He was a genuinely caring person who is destroyed by his willingness to help Mayella Ewell. Just like a mockingbird, Robinson never hurt anyone. Yet, he was also persecuted by society for his kindness and his race. Tom Robinson was killed because of his kindness and the color of his skin; “ a harmless songbird that was shot down by a senseless hunter.” Lee uses the character of Tom as a mockingbird figure to express the innocence of the mockingbird and exhibit the narrow-mindedness and biased opinions of the towns folk.

The innocence of Boo Radley, along with the misunderstanding from the kids, alludes to Tom Robinson’s innocence. Although, the “kids”, with reference to the townspeople and jury members, misunderstand the truth about Tom Robinson and persecute him anyway: “‘Son,’ he said to Jem, ‘I’m going to tell you something and tell you this one time: stop tormenting that man’” (65). In this scene, Jem, Dill, and Scout act out what they know about Boo Radley’s life, and Atticus catches and scolds them.Though what makes this scene important is that the only things they really know about Boo’s life have been rumors, rather than proven stories.This is the same for the jury deliberating over Tom Robinson’s case. They have only heard information through Mr. Ewell, an unreliable source.Ass Tom Robinson tries explaining his side, the court does not believe him because he is black. Their years of segregation between the white and black community result

Tom Robinson had been accused to raping Bob Ewell’s daughter, Mayella. Although Atticus provided all the evidence that proved he was innocent, the jury declared him guilty and he was sent to a prison. There, he was shot dead by the guards after allegedly trying to escape. But this is all suspicious since Tom knew that he might still have a good chance of being released. It is also skeptical because the guards shot him seventeen times, an unnecessary amount, Atticus said “seventeen bullet holes in him. They didn’t have to shoot him that much” (Lee 268). Atticus realizesDill dares Jem to run up to the Radley’s door and touch it, which is a big deal to them. Scout’s comments and reactions aided in triggering her older brother to accept Dill’s dare. Scout teases and mocks him about being scared. She says that “in all his life, Jem had never declined a dare”, and he wasn’t about to now (Lee 14).When he hesitates, she laughs at him. He can’t admit that he’s scared, especially not to his little sister who would never let him live it down.

Literary criticism is informed, written analysis, evaluation of a work of literature based on literary theory. One literary theory is archetypal criticism which discusses reoccurring symbols, themes, and situations that operate on universal scales that are easily recognized and understandable by the reader. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee exhibits archetypal criticism. From the archetypes readers are able to understand the characters better and how their actions move the story along. Throughout the story, Harper Lee uses archetypes victim, mentor, and loss of innocence.

In court, Tom said that the reason he helped Mayella Ewell was because he “felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em ” (Lee, 197). Feeling sorry for Mayella became his only crime. After the trial, Miss Maudie sympathized with Jem, telling him that not everyone was against Tom; in fact, people like Judge Taylor, Heck Tate, and of course Atticus were for him. When Tom was shot, most of Maycomb didn’t care, but Mr. Underwood of The Maycomb Tribune “likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children” (Lee, 241). He recognized that Tom was innocent and his death was undeserved. Sheriff Heck Tate showed empathy for Boo Radley after Mr. Ewell attacked the Finch children. He says, “To my way of thinkin’, Mr. Finch, taking the one man who’s done you and this town a great service an’ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight—to me, that’s a sin. It’s a sin and I’m not about to have it on my head” (Lee, 276). He knew Boo wouldn’t be able to cope with the stress of being the town’s celebrity, so he decided to pretend that Mr. Ewell fell on his own knife and the children got away by themselves. Several people in Maycomb cared for each other and looked at things from another’s point of view.

First of all, Tom Robinson’s family has been greatly affected by the case. After being convicted, in addition to being sent away to jail, his wife Helen also faces discrimination. Jem asks Calpurnia, “I know Tom Robinson’s in jail an’ he’s done somethin’ awful, but why won’t folks hire Helen?” She responds with “It’s because of what folks say Tom’s done,[...]Folks aren’t anxious to—to have anything to do with any of his family”(chap.12). Racism being the reason that Tom goes to jail, and also the reason that no one will hire Helen anymore, proving how despair to the community through racism. Because of this prejudice, an innocent family becomes social outcasts within the town, which would be detrimental because in a small town like Maycomb, people need to stick together to be able to live a good life. Another way in which racism victimizes someone, when Bob Ewell spits on Atticus. He was leaving the post office: “Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat

Atticus decides to take on a highly controversial case in Maycomb, where Mayella Ewell, a 19 year old white female, accuses Tom Robinson, a black man in his thirties, of rapeing her. During the trial, Mayella, Bob, and the sheriff state that Robinson hit her on the right side of her face; however, Atticus contradicts the Ewell’s story by showing the jury that Tom Robinson only has one useful hand. Jem then whispers, ‘We’ve got him’” (Lee 202). Although, Maycomb’s society would never allow for Tom Robinson to win the trail, Jem’s innocent perspective enables him to believe that race does not come before the facts. Shortly after the trial, Jem says, “‘Doesn’t make it right. You can’t just convict a man on evidence like that-—you can’t’” (Lee 252). Jem displays an understanding of the racism and divisions in society within Maycomb in this quote. He knows that the conviction of Tom Robinson is bias and that the treatment of all blacks is unfair. Jem shows moral growth in this quote and has a more mature mindset about equality than most of the folks in Maycomb.

Tom Robinson’s trial was a hard one to watch, but it was so intriguing for the kids. Jem, Dill, and Scout just had to watch, so they left their house without permission to go see their dad defend Tom Robinson against Mayella Ewell. Jem thought that Atticus had a good chance at winning due to his cross-examination questions and the evidence he had. Once all of the jury’s votes came in unanimously as guilty, Jem started to realize what a twisted thing racism was. “I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: “Guilty … guilty… guilty...guilty” I peeked over at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them” (Lee 282). This quote really shows that Jem cares deeply for the trial and Tom Robinson. He does not understand why people are so rude to black people just because of skin color and he just wants everything to be equal. “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” (Lee 284). Jem’s anger reflected the unfairness towards Tom Robinson and the fact that justice was not served. During the trial Jem never seemed too phased by Bob Ewell’s attorney Mr. Gilmer clearly showing that Tom was worthless, because he thought that his dad was a

After the jury deliberates longer than expected, they come back and announce that Tom Robinson is guilty of all charges. Bob Ewell, who is the one who accused Tom Robinson of rape vows to take his revenge out on Atticus a black man. It comes out in the paper that Tom Robinson tried to escape prison and ended up being shot. During the night of Halloween when Scout and Jem are coming home from a school event, they start to feel like they are being followed. It turns out to be the Bob Ewell and he starts attacking Scout and Jem. Boo-Radley ends up stabbing Bob Ewell to help the children get away. The book ends with the sheriff convincing Atticus that Bob Ewell’s death will be one that was an accident caused by himself.

Literary criticism is defined as an informed, written analysis and evaluation of a work of literature. An example of a literary criticism is intertextual criticism, which is a comparison of two literary works in terms of symbols, themes, characters, and other criteria. In the fictitious novels To Kill a Mockingbird and A Separate Peace, Harper Lee and John Knowles use intertextual criticism to allow the reader to associate the novel with other works and establish connections. Throughout the stories A Separate Peace and To Kill A Mockingbird, the stories contain several similarities in terms of loss of innocence, using a tree as a symbol of friendship, and using the scapegoat archetype.

To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a powerful novel that explores the widespread racial discrimination in 1930’s Alabama. Throughout the novel rarely is Alabama’s racism bridged, with the exception of three main protagonists Scout Finch, her brother Jem Finch and their Father Atticus. Lee’s use of symbolism, foreshadowing and irony present the consequences of the loss of innocence and the penalties that racial prejudice can have on a community.

The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird (TKM), has illustrated multiple themes, along with relating and connecting with society today in various ways. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression, and is narrated by the main character, a girl named Jean Louise Finch also known as “Scout”. Throughout the novel, Scout, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill is intrigued by the local rumors about the Radley place, within the house a man, Boo Radley, who is made out as evil. “The nuts lay untouched by the children: Radley pecans would kill you (TMK pg 11).” Although these rumors were believed strongly by the children at first, Boo Radley himself had shown various generous and thoughtful gestures, such as putting a blanket over Scout one night when her neighbor's house burnt down, and another including saving their lives, which led to one theme that stands out to me, good vs evil. Boo is the neglected innocence and the town the evil. Together, Jem, Scout and Dill, along with Atticus, Scout and Jem’s Father go about their lives, full of entertainment, enjoyment, make believe, arguments and fights, all while learning many valuable lessons that contribute to the growth of these young children. One of the main lessons lying within the case of Tom Robinson, a young African American man charged for rape by Mayella Ewell, who she herself, had been the one to blame. She has propositioned Tom and was caught by her drunk of a father, Bob Ewell. In order to