Preview

Tom Robinson Misunderstod In To Kill A Mockingbird

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
779 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Tom Robinson Misunderstod In To Kill A Mockingbird
“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” (Lee 30). To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee revolves around Maycomb, Alabama, a county where racism is a rampant “disease” and judgement is present. Scout receives an imperative piece of moral advice from Atticus that controls her evolution for the rest of the novel. Rumors and gossip spread misconceptions about Tom Robinson, Dolphus Raymond, and Boo Radley that make them misunderstood. Tom Robinson is an african-american man that Atticus is defending in court for the rape and beating of Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson is easily persuaded to aid Mayella Ewell with her chores, not because of her “superior race”, but because he is a kindhearted person. Tom, however, is not able to return Mayella’s affection because he understands the consequences he may face when being seen with a …show more content…
Within the novel, there are numerous examples of characters being commonly misunderstood. Tom Robinson, Dolphus Raymond, and Boo Radley are just few of the characters that fall under harsh criticism, whether it be racial prejudice, social superiority, or false accusations, the book touches these subjects masterfully. Harper Lee’s fictitious tale, To Kill a Mockingbird beautifully portrays the battles of race and prejudice through the narration of a young girl. Brimming with the lifestyle of the 1930s, To Kill a Mockingbird is a perfect concoction of a particular setting and time period as well as the tale of how compassion and understanding can overcome the most apparent evils. Above all, To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on morality, and that concept will never expire. This is a story on how prejudice must be met, fought, and overcome - no matter where it takes place or how difficult it will be to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Mr Dolphus Raymond Quotes

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages

    People are not always as they seem, is one of the many themes in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout the novel Jean Louise Finch (Scout) overhears countless rumors about certain folks in Maycomb County, such as Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose is a revolting old lady, Mr. Dolphus Raymond is an evil man, and Arthur Radley (Boo) is the most rebellious individual in Maycomb. However, truly in the end Scout comes to know the people she once feared; and she realizes that they are not as bad as Maycomb citizens make them out to be.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is a parallel story about two young children who grow up in a racist southern town and learn that life is not all fun and games. In the beginning of the book the main characters Scout and Jem spend their days playing together and exploring their hometown of Maycomb, Alabama. They are especially intrigued with their mysterious neighbors, the Radley's. Later on in the novel, Scout and Jem’s father Atticus is appointed to defend a black man and the children realize how unfair and prejudice the townspeople of Maycomb really are. The trial of Tom Robinson and the mysterious Radley house come together in an action packed ending.…

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout life people are misrepresented, stereotyped, and seen as something they aren't. This can greatly affect the person's life and the way they interact with the world. The image of the mockingbird is represented through many characters in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. In the novel killing a mockingbird is a symbol of loss of innocence. There are many “mockingbirds” in the story, which takes place in a town called Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. One of the “mockingbirds” in the story is Tom Robinson, a African American man, accused of raping a white woman and falsely convicted for it. Another “mockingbird” in the story is Boo Radley, an outcast…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    As of today, we still have problem with prejudice and racism towards blacks. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel illustrating the struggles of a racist town in Alabama. Characters are at a struggle to comprehend the way people act. Knowing this, they have to learn what is right and act accordingly. Throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, characters discover and begin to emphasize each other’s lives in large portions and in doing so, many characters develop and mature to understand the world they live in.…

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Harper Lee’s, full name Nelle Lee’s, novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, published in 1960, there are many instances where characters challenge stereotypes or work to help defy them. Jem, for instance, is a character who does not act how a typical boy is supposed to, challenge the stereotypes of males. Another example is Atticus, a lawyer and the father of the narrator. Lastly, Boo Radley, a man prejudged by the entire town, ends up being the biggest hero in Harper Lee’s book. In summary, Jem, Atticus, and Boo Radley are all people who contribute to the novel’s theme of challenge stereotypes and prejudice.…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Empathy

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Atticus shows that his words are not empty, and he practices what he has taught his children. Atticus conveys empathy for the minorities around him, such as the Ewell family and the Negroes. Tom Robinson, a black man, is being represented in court by Atticus. Atticus empathizes for Tom who is wrongly accused of taking advantage of Mayella Ewell, a poor white women, and tries his hardest to win the case for Tom. After losing the trial and humiliating the Ewells in the process, Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, spits in Atticus’ face and threatens to get even with him. Atticus, feeling sorry for Mayella, takes this incident and uses it as a lesson of empathy for his children. Atticus says, “ Jem see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed every thread of credibility at that trial, if he he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always do. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there” (292-293). The lesson of empathy is supported largely through Atticus, and his ways with Tom and the Ewells. To sum up, Atticus’ inspirational experiences convey greatly to his children, and help to better them for the rest of the…

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Maturation

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird, authored by Harper Lee, is an American novel of growth and maturation because it focuses on the character development of Scout as she comes to understand the world. This classic novel is set in a racially charged southern town during the Great Depression. The main character and narrator, a young girl named Scout, develops and changes from the conversations and actions that happen in the book. Scout’s direct maturation and learning of life lessons develops by witnessing the hypocrisy of her hometown Maycomb, Alabama, and her father, Atticus, being a major influence in her development.…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "To Kill A MockingBird''

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “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” (Lee). In the Maycomb County there is a lot of whites, blacks and even some mixed. There are some that are wealthy and some that are not. Some get along and others do not. Even in a small town, they all live so differently. Throughout Harper lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, hypocrisy, injustice and evil is envisioned in an adult society. Miss Gates and Lula contradict themselves. Atticus is harassed, Tom Robinson gets accused for a crime he did not commit. Bob Ewell tries to kill Scout and Jem and Maycomb is loaded with rumours of Boo Radley,…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the book To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee teaches life lessons that show the unfairness of prejudice, the importance of dignity, and the need for respect. To Kill a Mockingbird is a book about the small town of Maycomb and two children named Scout and Jem. Scout and Jem's father is a lawyer assigned to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Tom was charged with rape. Just because he is black Tom is found guilty.…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee revolves around ethical matters such as innocence , knowledge, racism and courage. The story is about a young girl, Scout Finch, and her journey in growing up and what she learns about people in those 2 years. It is set in Maycomb, Alabama where most of the society are divided into classes are extremely judgemental and racially prejudice. Scout, Jem and Dill all play together around the summer and they always try to find out more about their neighbour, Boo Radley, who is feared by everyone in town. Atticus, Jem and Scout’s father, is a lawyer who is currently defending a black man, Tom Robinson, who is charged of rape. The townspeople are not too pleased…

    • 694 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “To Kill a Mockingbird” a black hardworking man named Tom Robinson, is accused of raping a white women named Mayella Ewell. The truth of this matter is Tom Robinson, is Mayella threw herself at Tom. Mayella was a lonely women whose father abused her. She wanted to have intimacy with Tom Robinson, which “brings shame to her family”. When her father finds out Mayella tried to throw…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of life in the 1930’s from Scout Finch’s point of view. In any story there are problems and situations that nee to be dealt with. Atticus, being a defense attorney, shows Scout a first hand view of what really goes on in the little town of Maycomb, Alabama. This sparks her curiosity in her father’s newest case, which is Tom Robinson a middle aged black man with a wife and kids. He was arrested under the accusations of beating and raping Mayella Ewell a white female of the age of 19. Many don’t realize that segregation was beginning to heat up in the South during the 30’s, but that is the cause of tense controversy in Tom Robinson’s case.…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    to kill a mockingbird

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Empathy for others and understanding different perspectives are very important thematic topics in To Kill a Mockingbird. In the story Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are both ridiculed for being different. Tom Robison is ridiculed for being black. Many people assume he raped Mayella Ewell just because he is black. Boo Radley is often ridiculed because he rarely leaves his house. Since he rarely leaves his house people assume that he is a terrible person. Although these characters are assumed to be awful, in this story we find out that they are both good men.…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Critical Analyisis

    • 2098 Words
    • 9 Pages

    When Tom Robinson, an African-American man, is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Atticus is appointed as the defense attorney. Mayella and her shiftless father, Bob Ewell, live in abject poverty on the outskirts of town. The family is known as trouble and disliked by townspeople. Despite this, Atticus's defense of Tom is unpopular in the white community, and Scout and Jem find themselves taunted at school due to their father's defense of a black man. Atticus consistently strives to instill moral values in his children, and hopes to counteract the influence of racial prejudice. The children view their father as frustratingly staid and bookish, until he is asked by the sheriff to shoot a rabid dog that is roaming the street. After Atticus kills the dog, Scout…

    • 2098 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Scout has trouble dealing with all the negative comments about her dad at school due in part to her defensive nature. But she stands strong, knowing that Atticus is doing the right thing by defending Tom Robinson. When Tom’s case makes it to court, Atticus, serving as Tom’s defense lawyer, lives up to his full potential as a lawyer, father, and man by presenting a credible story based on the facts given. He provides plenty of evidence to show that Tom Robinson is not guilty of raping Mayella Ewell; nevertheless, the jury finds Tom guilty. Scout, her brother Jem, and every African American citizen of Maycomb is disturbed by the gut-wrenching verdict. But even when Atticus feels defeated, he stands tall.…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays