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Examples Of Adversity In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Adversity is looked upon as something everyone wants to avoid, but without hardship there is no hope of learning, growth or discovery. In the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird”, Harper Lee demonstrates the way adversity can shape our individuality through the many experiences and challenges each character faces. Through adversity, we can only become stronger and better ourselves. It creates courage inside all of us, determines our personal values and through every experience we are taught self discipline. Harper Lee demonstrates the effects adversity has on our personal values through Atticus and his personal beliefs of courage, justice and truth. Atticus passes his wisdom through Scout and Dill and tells them “you never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee, 85-87). Atticus took a stand against the racism of Maycomb when he defended the Tom Robinson case and experienced the adversity that Maycomb community brought which only strengthened his personal values of justification for Tom Robinson because “the only thing that doesn’t abide …show more content…

Even though the innocent was found guilty and Atticus had lost, he was still “...the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long in a case like that... we're making a step--it's just a baby-step, but it's a step." (Lee, 289). Even though it was a “baby step”, Maycomb community shared personal growth through the court case. Scout also take’s on personal growth throughout her series of fights, but grows past these experiences after falling witness to the injustice Uncle Jack brought and learns fighting is not the answer when Atticus tells her “try fighting with your head for a change… it’s a good one even if it does resist learning” (Lee,

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In Harper Lee’s classic novel, ‘’To Kill a Mockingbird’’, the protagonist, and father of the narrator, Atticus Finch goes through many issues in his attempts to overcome separate forms of adversity, for many different reasons. In order to prevent these difficult situations, Atticus would have to risk his safety, reputation, and life. Finch had a distorted family life. Widowed only a few years prior to when the story takes place, Atticus worked incredibly hard as a lawyer, in order to support his two children, Jem and Scout.

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The Impact of a Lack of Adversity A lack of adversity can be problem larger than one could ever expect. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the detrimental effect of this lack of calamity is evident through the diminishing of Dill Harris, Alexandra Hancock, and Maudie Atkinson’s characters, especially regarding their value to the plot of the novel. These 3 characters had the potential to be great, strong leads, but, because of their lack of influential adversity, they are pushed to the margins of the novel’s plot and forgotten. When people are faced with a lack of impactful adversity, it causes their identities to become bleak and marginalized, even if their inner opinions and beliefs are powerful and cognate, because experiencing adversity

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In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout embodies Atticus’ advice regarding both her internal and external conflicts stemming from the court case, which leads to her discovering the theme that adversity is not worth one’s relationships with those they are close to. During the plot, Jem and Scout are continuously ridiculed by their family and classmates due to the fact that their father is defending Tom Robinson, a black man, in a trial. The two act irrationally in response, whether it is Scout fighting her cousin, Francis, or Jem cutting down fellow Maycomb resident, Miss Dubose’s camellia bushes. When Atticus discovers these things, he tells his children that in this case, “(they) aren’t fighting the Yankees”, but instead their loved ones; however, it should not get in between those ties, as in the end “they’re still (their) friends and this is still (their) home” (Lee 76).

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Scout proves that adversity strengthens an individual by taking difficult events and giving them a positive outcome, resulting in her becoming a mature adolescent. From the beginning to the end of the novel, Scout blossoms from an innocent young child to a sophisticated young lady. She undergoes situations that she would not have known how to handle when she was younger. Learning to walk away from minor as well as major things has helped Scout take on the adversities she faced in a positive way. Scout demonstrates that when an individual endures hardship, it’s possible to have a constructive outcome and transition into a stronger and maturer being.

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Throughout the Book To Kill A Mockingbird the author, Harper Lee explores the topic of Adversity through the eyes of many different characters which later helps shape their identity. Adversity is a thing that one encounters at least once in their life, despite it causing them hardships while completing a task they are able to gain knowledge through the experience. By using the perspectives of different characters, especially through the protagonist Scout. Lee explores how individuals overcome hardships in their life such as being judged by others based on societal perspective, as well as how guardians influence children's perspectives on the world, and lastly gender discrimination.

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They will learn from these difficult experiences and use this knowledge to better themselves. It’s time to begin to appreciate the challenges, for they will promote growth in the long run. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the protagonist, Scout Finch, initially is exposed to adversity at an exceedingly young age. In her mind, she is living in an intricate world, until she stumbles upon grievous scenarios.

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Everyone faces adversity, some more than others, but that is not all bad. Arthur Radley hid because of what people did to him, and to others. But he came out when someone showed that they genuinely cared. Jem Finch faces adversity just by growing up, but also because of the racism and hate in Maycomb.

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In the story To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch has completely different views from the rest of Maycomb, who are heavily influenced by rumors and racism. He takes on a huge role in defending a black man, Tom Robinson, and faces many issues from other people by doing so. Atticus knows his client,

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These actions caused by the society advise Scout about people and the existence of Maycomb. For example, when Scout and Miss Maudie are discussing how some men were born to do undesirable jobs for the world, Scout says, “I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that’s what they seemed like” (218). Scout is definitely learning the shady elements in reality of Maycomb, from the undesirable jobs to unpleasant people, they come from cowards. Miss Maudie realizes how prejudice citizens are about colored citizens and others unreasonable assumptions. In addition, when Atticus was strolling by the Post Office, Bob Ewell approaches him and spat in his face after stating he would get him if it took him the rest of his life.

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Courage is strength in the face of physical pain, hardship or death. It is also the choice and willingness to confront shame and personal loss. In Harper Lee's novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird', people demonstrate courage by standing up against prejudice, and overcoming their own loneliness and fears to live a good life. Mrs Dubose faces up to her morphine addiction. Atticus faces down the racism of the town.

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As Atticus states, “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 30). Atticus acknowledges the daunting odds stacked against him in the racially charged society of Maycomb County, yet he remains resolute in his pursuit of justice. Additionally, Atticus challenges societal norms and calls upon others to do the same when he passionately implores, "In the name of God, do your duty. In the name of God, believe Tom Robinson" (Pg 104).

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To Kill a Mockingbird Have you ever commited a sin? If you are a living, breathing, human being, the answer is yes. Everyone, no matter what your race, religion, ethnicity, or gender has committed a crime against nature, whether willing or unaware. To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, elegantly and expertly displays this truth and many more. Through her unique dialogue, development of conflict, and promotion of deeper meaning.

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Humans live in a world where moral values are very clearly set determining what is good and what is bad. We know what scares us and how racism should be treated. Nevertheless, this was not the case back in Alabama during the 1950s. In the famous novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee narrates the lives of the people of Maycomb, Alabama, focusing on the story of Scout and Jem Finch, and the case of a said to be rape. In this emotion filled narrative, readers learn how life was back then not only in general, but for the separate social statuses that there was.

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The Co-existence Of Good and Evil In Human Morality: To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis Essay Set in the rural southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, To Kill A Mockingbird is seen through the eyes of Scout Finch and her older brother Jem, Maycomb appears to be friendly and peaceful. However the children are exposed to the dangers and the truth of their community. As they mature and learn important lessons from others, they’re exposed to prejudice, inequality, racism, social class and injustice.

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