To Kill A Mockingbird: The Use Of Social Pressure

Societal pressures have an impact on how a person can think or act. As Lee Ross author of obedience once said, “ people’s inflated belief in the importance of personality traits and disposition, together with their failure to recognize the importance of situational factors in affecting behavior”(Ross, 628). The follower problem, a book written by David brooks makes the statement “these days many Americans seem incapable of thinking for themselves”(Brooks, 650). Doris Lessing a claim “how often we'd say black was white because other people were saying it”(Lessing 652).So why do people react act like this. Outside influences have a huge impact on how people react and make their decisions. If you are by yourself and

Societal pressures and

Anthony Storr says that, “Originality implies being bold enough to go beyond accepted norms “ Social norms imply that everyone is the same or does something the same way, to break that you need to go out of your comfort zone and be bold enough to break those norms. Although it is very common for there to be social norms in society, when someone breaks one it can be the very first step to making the world a better place.

I think that peer “pressure” can push someone towards negatives or positives, and I choose not to apply the idea to every situation. I believe peer pressure impacts a person in society no matter the conditions, a society involves people living together. For instance, the expectations of my peers influences my behavior in a classroom. They might cause me to feel shame or humiliation if I do something they consider “wrong”. Or, my peers could encourage me.

People, everywhere, each live their lives differently. One person might be traveling to work, another might be working on a farm, and another might be serving in the military. Everyone person makes different choices that have lead to these diverse paths in life. But one thing greatly affects a person's choices and what they become. It’s single influence on a person can change their life for better or for worse. This powerful influence is pressure. Everyone has wants, desires, friends, and other things vying for their attention each second of everyday. These things each exert a certain pressure on an individual that can influence them one direction or another. Pressure shows the true nature of a person, but who the person

Atticus Finch, a noteworthy character in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, has demonstrated a prominent personality and expressed his beliefs through various behaviors. Whether it be by defending a black man in a town deeply rooted in prejudice or defending a neighbor with a dark past, Atticus’s character is clearly defined and distinguishable. Though it is said that actions speak louder than words, Atticus’s words are as equally impactful as his actions. Grounded on a philosophy of goodwill, Atticus’s benevolence shines through in all he does.

As Harper Lee indirectly characterizes him, Atticus Finch is a man of prevalent intelligence, serene wisdom, progressive politics, and admirable behavior. He guides his children with these qualities as they face the harsh realities of racism in the people they have grown to know and trust. When Atticus gives Scout crucial moral advice concerning her fellow classmates, he tells her, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk in it.” (Chapter 3). Atticus’ moral teachings such as this one not only governs the development of Scout’s character but it clearly stipulates his wisdom and reflects the straightforward manner in which he leads by his principles. His

Social norms are apart of every society in some way, shape, or form. Issues occur off these social norms when there are outcasters who don’t exactly fit in with society's expectations. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout was pressured by many relatives and neighbors to “act like a girl”. Accept, Scout wants to be her own person. She wants to play in the dirt and have fun. Although, one particular person keeps putting her down, and that is Auntie Alexandra. Alexandra tries to play a female role for Scout and tells Scout how she is suppose to act. Scout however is very similar to Juliet capulet in this way. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet was pressured by her mother to be more like other girls and to get married. Scout and Juliet,

Coming-of-age does not just involve cakes, parties, and grandparents, it is something much more exciting than that. Coming-of-age is the time when children gain new perspectives that will forever change their life. These perspectives may come from a great teacher, a mission trip, or even a disease. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is an excellent example of gaining perspectives. To Kill a Mockingbird is not only an intense book about a young girl’s adventure, but it also has a deeply philosophical meaning. David Dobb’s “Beautiful Brains” is also a good example of how coming-of-age involves gaining new perspectives. “Beautiful Brains” explains the science behind why coming-of-age involves gaining new perspectives. To Kill a Mockingbird’s

It is very rare to find someone with a good heart and good intentions. The readers of the fictional novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee sees these rare characteristics in the character of Atticus Finch.Atticus Finch plays a huge role in the story of Scout Finch and her coming of age. In the story Scout sees the world for what it really is and learns to not be judgmental through her father’s teachings and as she sees Atticus defending a black man, Tom Robinson, for the rape of Mayella Ewell. Atticus shows his heart of gold through these actions, Atticus displays tolerance, integrity, and consideration throughout the novel.

But in a lot cases peer pressure is good and it is what drives people to do better. For example, in the story Going to Run all Night, Nilson faces the peer pressure of all the men in his squad for him to succeed so they would live. This peer pressure also drove him to never stop and give up because he want to help those men. Peer pressure today is spread around like candy at halloween, But no ever seems to realize it. You might put rely on a classmate to do his or her part in a group assignment, or you rely on you team mates to do their part in the game. The team also relies on you to do yours. Without this reliance or pressure for others to do their share, people would just be self centered jerks. They would be that one guy on you basketball team that thinks he can drive to the basket when the whole other team is inside the paint. Peer pressure is so common that no one looks at it this way. The only kind of peer pressure you hear today is the peer pressure to do drugs or drink. This might be a true statement that peer pressure is what influenced that person to drink or do drugs, but that doesn’t mean that peer pressure is strictly evil. Peer pressure is what NFL players face every time they step on the field. It is what pushes them to be the best they can be because it isn’t just their team relying on them it is the entire stadium hoping they do something amazing in the

Courts are the “one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and an ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court.”(205) it is expected that the judge or jury evaluate both sides without bias. Unfortunately this is not always the case; there has always been bias against one side which affects the ruling, whether it be racism, class divisions, or of religion. This problem is illustrated in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird during the court hearing of Tom Robinson, a black man, in Maycomb Alabama. Atticus Finch, the lawyer of Mr. Robinson attempts to shed light on the ridiculous separation between those who are different. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates conformity and the consequences it has on society.

Also, society plays a big role in people’s opinions. People might change their minds because of the society. If the society refuses some ideas, the chance of having the opposite thought is very low.

It is easy to believe that peer pressure exists only where you’re directly being coerced by your friends to do something you don’t quite want to do. Peer pressure is not just about being offered drugs by a classmate, or getting pressured into sex at a party, or buying new shoes because everyone else has them. We are constantly being influenced by those around us, even the smallest decisions we make. We have all experienced peer pressure, whether we realized it or not. I can think of thousands of instances where my friends, family, and/or classmates influenced a choice I made. One specific experience I had with peer pressure had to do simply with how I did my hair. Its small things like that where we don’t even realize until later on

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his view …until you climb into his skin and walk around it” quoted by Harper Lee introduces Atticus Finch as one of the most steadfast honest and moral character in the novel “To Kill a Mocking Bird”. He is depicted in the novel as a very efficient lawyer with the qualities of being fair, by not holding grudges and by also considering situations from different perspectives. More than a lawyer he is also described as a very understanding and loving father. Your wealth or race does not make you a human but your kindness and positive attitude is what makes a living thing a real human and Atticus has been described as a human with a great personality which provoked me in choosing him as my subject for this essay. I admire this character not only because of his great qualities but also because I intend to be a skilled lawyer like him one day and I believe his