I belive that the most significant passage in the book To Kill a Mockingbird is when Atticus is explaning why Tom was convicted to Scout and Jem. At this time, the two are trying to figure out why Mr. Robinson was convicted even though there is substantial evidence that proves him otherwise. Luckily, their father is there to clarify that the reason he lost the case was due to racial prejudice. Because Tom was black, the jurry refused to take into consideratition the solid evidence that was presented. This is a pivotal point in the book because, after this, Jem becomes more independent and Scout gets more intrested in becoming a "lady." This also forces Scout to realize that, even in her nice little town, there will always be impurity in
There were pretty significant moments in this novel about the trial. People that took part in the trial had different testimonies such as Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell, and Heck Tate. Heck claimed that after being contacted by Bob Ewell,he went to visit the Ewell home to find Mayella on the floor beaten. He said that he saw the right side of her face badly beaten with bruises near her neck. Bob claimed that he heard Mayella screaming within the Ewell house, and when he came inside, he saw Tom run away after seeing Bob. During Atticus' cross examination, furthermore, Bob consent with a request for Tom to write his name, which he did with his left hand. Mayella claimed that she offered Tom Robinson a nickel to ”bust up the chiffarobe,”
Lee implies that people learn lessons through life experiences that school can ever teach. Throughout this novel, Atticus taught his kids many lessons that was hard for them to hear at times, but it later on helped them in the story. Or it helped them grow up and mature. On page 40 of To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus was explaining to Scout that Miss.Caroline was new and didn’t know anyone, and she especially didn’t know the Cunningham’s story, Atticus states, “Atticus said… but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part” (40). This quote by Atticus is meant to explain to Scout that Miss. Caroline just made an honest human mistake. He tried to get Scout to realize that if he put herself in Miss.Caroline’s shoes then she might better understand the confusion. Obviously you can’t really be in her shoes, but he said it figuratively to show her why it was important to give her another chance, or at least try to be nice and listen. Atticus taught this to Scout at home later on that night. At her school after that she tried to just get by in her class. Lee also shows mainly throughout that the school system doesn’t help when it comes to teaching children life lessons. As shown in the earlier quote Atticus, had told Scout to jump in Walter’s shoes, and walk around in it. This other quote shows how Scout actually takes into consideration of Atticus’ words, and chooses to not bother Jem because she tried to imagine what it had
“Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you,” stated Bethany Hamilton, an American professional surfer, who survived a shark attack, when she was only 13 years of age. This quote relates to the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, on account that plenty of people in the book had fear, but did not let it stop them from doing what they needed to do. A few of these courageous people were Mrs. Dubose, Atticus, and Boo Radley.
“Remember, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” (Lee 119). In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, this is the quote that Atticus, one of the main characters, says to his kids. Atticus is a lawyer who takes on a tough case in his town, Maycomb. His kids are Scout, and Jem. Throughout the book, they grow and mature. They don’t mess around with their neighbor, Boo, as much as they used to. But, luckily because of him, they live to see the next day. In To Kill a Mockingbird, it shows that because of prejudice, innocent people can be harmed. This is shown through Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Jem.
The intriguing novel, To Kill A Mockingbird is written by the prestigious author Harper Lee. Lee has utilised the lifestyle and attitudes towards African-Americans" in the 1930's to create a novel which presents the reader with Lee's attitudes and values. The dominant reading of the novel is focused on the issues of racial prejudice, but there are also a number of other alternative and oppositional readings. Examples of this are the Marxist and feminist readings which can be applied to the text.
“It's right hard to say," she said. "Suppose you and Scout talked colored-folks' talk at home it'd be out of place, wouldn't it? Now what if I talked white-folks' talk at church, and with my neighbors? They'd think I was puttin' on airs to beat Moses, "But Cal, you know better," I said. “It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike—in the second place, folks don't like to have somebody around knowing more than they do. It aggravates 'em. You're not gonna change
The ambition of oneself to pursue justice and righteousness may result in prosecution. In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, and movie "A Time to Kill" by Joel Schumacher, each demonstrate one’s open-mindedness and forward thinking leads to penalization through protagonists Atticus Finch and Jake Brigance. Both egalitarians take the position as an attorney for an African American and are prosecuted in the process.
The trial begins with the prosecuting attorney, Mr. Gilmer, calling Sheriff Heck Tate as his first witness. Sheriff Tate testifies that he found a beaten Mayella Ewell lying on the floor of her home. He says that Mayella’s right eye was bruised. Mr. Gilmer calls Mr. Ewell to the stand and he supports Sheriff Tate’s statements and says that he witnessed Tom Robinson assaulting his daughter. When Atticus cross-examines Mr. Ewell, he establishes the fact that Mr. Ewell was not concerned enough for his daughter to call a doctor. Then Atticus asks Mr. Ewell to prove that he can write and in the process proves that he is left handed. This is important because Mayella’s right eye would have been bruised by an attacker’s left fist and Atticus is
To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee, 1960), an insightful and gripping novel composed by Harper Lee in 1960. Originating in Alabama South America, based during The Great Depression. This didactic novel highlights the controversy of racism, dominant discourses and social inequality through the storyline of young ‘Scout’ who has grown up with these prominent social issues in her everyday life. Scout finds herself having to find a new perspective as her father takes on the risky case of defending a wrongly accused African American man of rape.
Growing up is a difficult task, especially when the town around you doesn’t offer to help you understand what’s going on around you. Using many examples of the loss of childhood innocence, Harper Lee shows us that a corrupted society leads to growing up faster and one’s childhood is stripped away. Through Jem, the eldest of the Finch children, and Scout, the youngest, the readers see how a trial in 1930 Alabama takes a toll of young minds. In Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she implies that growing up leads to loss of innocence, especially in troubling times.
In both the text “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee and the film “A Time to Kill” directed by Joel Schumacher, similar ideas are presented using language devices and stylistic features in differing ways to appeal to their target audience. Each have very similar storylines in which a white lawyer defends a an African-American in a prejudiced court case. Racism is a key idea presented strongly in each due to the eras they are set in. The era and country set in each story provide a strong base for the prominent issue. With the unpleasant happenings in each text and through the racist acts the idea of compassion shines through. As well as compassion being a significant idea, forgiveness is also presented through the racists acts.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays the development of Atticus Finch through the eyes of his daughter Scout, from her perspective Lee presents his many obstacles during a conflicting trial. From morally challenging societal beliefs to physically confronting society, this struggle develops Atticus’s morality and strengthens his sense of justice no matter the race or position in society.
To kill a Mockingbird is a novel that was published on the 11th of July in 1960. The novel explores the racism and prejudice of a small American town called Maycomb in the 1930s. the story is told through the innocent eyes of Scout Finch, daughter of Atticus Finch who is a lawyer and well respected member of Maycomb’ society. The novel is written in two parts with the second focusing on the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man who was falsely accused of falling for and raping a white woman called Mayella Ewell. The fact that Tom Robinson lost the case purely based on the colour of his skin shows us that Maycomb is a town built on structured racism and prejudice.
At the time of writing the novel To Kill a Mockingbird in the 1950s, Harper Lee was around 30 years old. Throughout these 30 years, she had witnessed many racial injustices (such as the Scottsboro trial), and had seen no change in the frequency or severity of these said injustices. There had been little change in society, and the pent up frustration as a cause of this fact is likely what angered Harper Lee. She took all this aggravation and expressed it in To Kill a Mockingbird through the character of Atticus Finch. This becomes clear throughout the course of the book, especially during Tom Robinson’s trial with Atticus’ closing arguments.
Harper Lee uses her novel to teach us important lessons from the characters presented in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus, a fair and moral character, whose parenting style is unique, lined with honest and example, teaches us to follow his ways. Scout, an innocent girl who teaches us what’s important in life. Tom Robinson, someone who is ostracized for being African American, can teach us the importance of equal treatment and awakens us to our surrounding society. Lee’s construction of characters gives us perspective to issues in our society today, how they still matter and what we can learn from the novel such as compassion, justice and understanding.