To Kill a Mockingbird,ANALYTICAL ESSAY
Analytical Essay, To Kill a Mockingbird
Task: The novel teaches readers about the importance of maintaining personal integrity despite dominant social attitudes such as racial prejudice and discrimination?
Questions: How has Harper Lee used certain characters to demonstrate this?
To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM) by Harper Lee is arguably one of the most well known novels, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. The novel, set in Maycomb, Alabama demonstrates the racial prejudice and discrimination in the southern states of America in 1930s. Moreover, racial prejudice and discrimination is overt and both perpetuated as well as challenged through the actions and language of the characters. Atticus Finch and Link Deas both stand up for Tom Robinson, a black man, in court. In addition, Link Deas also helps Tom Robinson’s family. Finally, Tom Robinson challenged racial prejudice and discrimination when he ignores social boundaries in order to help Mayella, a white woman. Despite dominant social attitudes like racism and prejudice, characters such as Atticus Finch, Link Deas and Tom Robinson follow their personal beliefs and show kindness and humanity, demonstrating the importance of personal integrity and morality.
In this novel, Atticus Finch stands up for his personal beliefs despite the contrary attitudes of majority of the people in Maycomb. Though Atticus is aware that his reputation is threatened, he still fights for his sense of morality. When Scout asks Atticus whether he is a “nigger lover”, he responds by admitting, “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody… I’m hard put, sometimes -baby, it’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name” (pg 118). This quote illustrates that Atticus does not care about what people think and he will always defend his beliefs. It is emphasised in the novel through Atticus’ actions and language that he strongly maintains his personal ethical practices and challenges the societal attitudes of
Task: The novel teaches readers about the importance of maintaining personal integrity despite dominant social attitudes such as racial prejudice and discrimination?
Questions: How has Harper Lee used certain characters to demonstrate this?
To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM) by Harper Lee is arguably one of the most well known novels, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. The novel, set in Maycomb, Alabama demonstrates the racial prejudice and discrimination in the southern states of America in 1930s. Moreover, racial prejudice and discrimination is overt and both perpetuated as well as challenged through the actions and language of the characters. Atticus Finch and Link Deas both stand up for Tom Robinson, a black man, in court. In addition, Link Deas also helps Tom Robinson’s family. Finally, Tom Robinson challenged racial prejudice and discrimination when he ignores social boundaries in order to help Mayella, a white woman. Despite dominant social attitudes like racism and prejudice, characters such as Atticus Finch, Link Deas and Tom Robinson follow their personal beliefs and show kindness and humanity, demonstrating the importance of personal integrity and morality.
In this novel, Atticus Finch stands up for his personal beliefs despite the contrary attitudes of majority of the people in Maycomb. Though Atticus is aware that his reputation is threatened, he still fights for his sense of morality. When Scout asks Atticus whether he is a “nigger lover”, he responds by admitting, “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody… I’m hard put, sometimes -baby, it’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name” (pg 118). This quote illustrates that Atticus does not care about what people think and he will always defend his beliefs. It is emphasised in the novel through Atticus’ actions and language that he strongly maintains his personal ethical practices and challenges the societal attitudes of