Works Cited
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1999. Print
Cited: Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1999. Print
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout learns valuable lessons on the evil of prejudice present in her Southern town of Maycomb, on the true nature of courage, and on the dangers of judging others before "...climbing into their skin and walking around in it." Set in the mid 1930s, Scout Finch is a young girl living with her older brother, Jem, and her lawyer father. Being a kid, Scout has the simple duties of a minor, to have fun and to stay out of trouble. But along the way, she also learns many important things. Although the majority of her hometown is prejudiced, Scout's innocent mind remains non prejudice and caring of others. To her, all is equal, so therefore, should be treated equal. There is no doubt that Scout's character is one whom is an individual, someone whom will stick to her own perspective no matter how cruel and racist other people can be. In her adult world, Scout learns to treat all people fairly with dignity and respect.…
- 984 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates determination through Atticus Finch’s ability to do what is right at all costs because he wants to set good examples. First of all, Atticus defends those who aren’t able to speak for themselves or for those who aren’t understood. Evidence of this assertion from the book is, “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.”- (pg. 39) Atticus defended Miss Caroline when Scout told him about Burris Ewell; Atticus told Scout to look at things from Miss Caroline’s perspective. Atticus knew that people shouldn’t tease Arthur Radley, so Atticus made sure his children didn’t make fun of Arthur. Atticus defended Mrs. Dubose and explained to Jem how she was the bravest person he ever knew. Second of all, Atticus accepts the trial of Tom Robinson even though the town is against him. Evidence of this second assertion is, “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience-Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.”- (pg. 139) Although Atticus knew that Tom Robinson was going to be guilty, Atticus still wanted to defend him. If Atticus couldn’t hold up his head in town, Atticus couldn’t represent this county in the legislature. He couldn’t even tell Scout or Jem not to do something again because Atticus could never ask them to mind him again. The town was against Atticus for defending a black man, but Atticus didn’t cave into the negative comments they were saying about him. When taking the case of Tom Robinson, Atticus took the responsibilities of protecting Tom. One of the times when Atticus protected Tom was when Atticus sat outside the jail late at night with a gun to protect Tom. Last of all, Atticus makes wise choices in regards to his children. Here are two evidences of this last assertion. “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one…
- 540 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Prejudice is a real life problem in the world, and in To Kill Mockingbird’s novel this problem is evident in May comb. Boo Radley, Atticus finch and Tom Robinson are all victims of prejudice.…
- 508 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Mockingbirds are placid, blissful, and vulnerable animals. They do not harm anything or anyone. Killing a mockingbird resembles sin to many people throughout the entire novel. In To Kill a Mockingbird many characters can be characterized as being a mockingbird, including: Tom Robinson, Arthur (Boo) Radley, and Charles Baker Harris (Dill). Mockingbirds do not deserve any form of harm or pain in any way, shape, or form. Innocent humans do not deserve to be abused or threatened by anyone or anything.…
- 610 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The life of an author can greatly influence and inspire their work. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Scout 's life, the protagonist, parallels Lee 's life in many ways, such as from the similar mischievous personality, rape case, and the familiar setting of where the character was born, which gives background information. It is clear from these many similarities how Lee 's own life is influential and reflected in her work.…
- 862 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
As racism, discrimination and prejudice against citizen with mental disabilities has been a part of our culture for many decades, it seems as we have found peace with all of this after many years. During the early nineteenth and twentieth century people where not at peace with citizens with mental disabilities, for they were being mistreated and institutionalized for having mental disorders. Many did not see people with mental disabilities as equal citizens, or even helpful to the community even though they were just as equal as everyone else. They were discriminated on badly during the 1950’s and 60’s just as much as African Americans were. Unlike back then, today this would be frowned upon not including citizens with mental disabilities. Although in To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee highlights how there is prejudice going on against people born with mental disabilities, her purpose for writing this show the social norms, and the cultural context during the time period of the novel taking place with such a strong hidden message for citizens.…
- 1326 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
It was cool and breezy November morning in Maycomb. The last of the leafs had just fallen off of the trees. The year was 1951. There was a large crowd around the old oak tree in the cemetery, looking down at the casket. The casket belonged to Atticus Finch. Atticus was the greatest father anyone could ask for. Jem was standing at the head of the casket with his expecting wife Lisa. He put his warm and soft hand on the casket and looked at the sky. He suddenly felt someone touch his back lightly, it was Scout. He turned around and hugged each other for what felt like forever. Soon, many other people joined around Jem and Scout and murmured different things about how great of a man Atticus was. He was the most respected man in all of Maycomb. Jem and Scout tried to look at the positive things about Atticus. Dill wrapped his arms around Scout, which the two married only three months before Atticus’s death. The family of Tom Robinson showed up and Tom’s wife spoke very softly about how Atticus was the greatest man to ever step foot in Maycomb. This made Jem very proud because he took up just like his father and became a lawyer. Scout became a school teacher, and she teaches the 1st grade. Dill works at a Wood Mill in Maycomb. This was a new addition to Maycomb; it was built only six years ago. Miss Maudie handed Jem and Scout the will that he wrote. The will gave Jem and his wife the house that he grew up in. It also listed for Jem to have Atticus’s pocket watch. Next it was Scouts turn. Scout got Atticus’s car. There was a spot for Boo Radley. Unfortunately, he died three weeks before Atticus did. The sun was beginning to set in the distance, and they started to lower Atticus’s casket into the ground. As if began to lower, three tears suddenly fell onto the casket. The tears belonged to Jem, Scout, and Dill. As the casket finally fell into its stopping point, Scout reached down and grabbed a handful of dirt, she tossed it…
- 506 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Scout goes on to learn many important values. She learns that she must look at situations through others' eyes. Her father, Atticus tells her, "If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-" (Lee 30). Scout took her father's words to heart, which one may see through her actions and thoughts throughout the book. Scout ponders about a scenario between her and Boo Radley, "[She] imagined how it would be: when it happened, he'd just be sitting in the swing when I came along. "Hidy do, Mr. Arthur," I would say, as if I had said it every afternoon of my life..." (Lee 242). Scout was imagining what it would be like to finally meet the mysterious Arthur "Boo" Radley. Again Scout…
- 658 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Harper Lees classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, remains relevant despite its age and deserves a place in the English curriculum of modern Australian classrooms.…
- 1064 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Atticus Finch included many themes in his closing speech to the jury. Some of the themes were loneliness, racism, human nature, and equality. The theme loneliness was demonstrated in the speech when Atticus attacked Mayella’s loneliness and blamed her for her child – like decision to accuse Tom Robinson for her unhappiness. “She did something every child has done – she tried to put the evidence of her offence away from her. But in this case she was no child hiding stolen contraband: she struck out at her victim …” Another theme of Atticus’s speech was racism, which was shown when the jury did not believe the word of Tom Robinson, a black man, over the word of “white trash” like the Ewells. Atticus attempted his point that Tom had been exploited and unjustly accused. “And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry' for a white woman has had to put his word against two white people's.” Racism was also demonstrated throughout the story by how Tom Robinson was convicted purely because he was a black man and his accuser was white. The evidence was so powerfully in his favor, that race was clearly the single defining factor in the jury's decision. Human nature was one of the themes shown in Atticus’s speech. It was shown when Atticus reminded the jury that not all Negroes lie, not all are immoral, and not all can be trusted around women – black or white, and that blackness does not necessarily associate to evil. “… some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women – black or white …” Atticus then further appealed to the jury the honest of nature. “… this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire.” Lastly,…
- 531 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Harper Lee's book, To Kill a Mockingbird, about Jem, Scout, and Dill growing up in Maycomb County and their fascination and thoughts about Arthur (Boo) Radley is very exciting and interesting. The children's personalities change drastically throughout the story as well as their views of Boo. Growing up is the process of shifting from a child to a young adult. Watching their views grow and their minds expand made the book appealing and fascinating.…
- 634 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Scout is evolving further into the novel and has begun to sympathize with other characters as well as understand the world around her. She demonstrates that she has learned from Atticus’s advice when…
- 837 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The lessons we learn accumulate over time to create who we are. The earlier we learn these lessons, the more effective they are. Having the help of someone who already knows these lessons is helpful. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, a young, curious girl named Scout learns lessons and experiences that grow her into a better person.…
- 1027 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, reveals the development of Jem's character throughout the novel. The reader watches Jem undergo a metamorphosis during the three years that the novel spans. Boo Radley, Jem's family, and the Tom Robinson trial, shape Jem into what he becomes by the end of the book.…
- 1268 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
In the story Of Mice and Men many characters break social conventions with each other. Comparing Lennie and Montresour the both of them can be unpredictable. Each one has a different belief system. How this comparison is shown is how I believe they broke social conventions in favor of their own ideas…
- 701 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays