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Examples Of Social Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Have you ever wondered why acting with empathy in situations of social injustice can be so difficult, even though we know it's the morally right thing to do? It may seem easy to do what is right immediately, but what if your reputation is on the line? If your kids' future was at risk of being compromised for something you acted on, would you still choose the moral route? In To Kill a Mockingbird, these questions are thoroughly explored. There are many complex issues represented, which present multiple opportunities for certain characters to be forced into a mental conflict with themselves. In the novel, characters are compelled to choose between doing what is morally right versus what society deems as right. Through the characterization of …show more content…

For example, after Atticus represents Tom Robinson at the trial, Bob Ewell, the accuser of Tom Robinson, goes up and spits in Atticus Finch’s face. Later, Jem gets bothered about what occurred, and Atticus empathetically replies, “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. You understand?” (292). This quote proves Atticus acts with empathy in socially unjust circumstances, as during this moment he must’ve been feeling immense rage and mentally going back and forth between wanting to fight back versus remaining calm and not showing any signs of being affected by his provoking. Atticus chooses to act on morals rather than that part of his conscience that wants to fight back; this is when his empathy shines through, and he takes the time to think about Mayella, who would be receiving another beating for his actions. Atticus infers he would rather Ewell take out his fury onto him rather than onto Mayella or any of the other children. Atticus chooses to not blame Bob Ewell for his crude behavior and instead sympathizes with him. Atticus’s actions prove that demonstrating sympathy in inequitable situations is challenging at the moment but is less mentally taxing on his conscience in the

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During the trial, Mayella feels like Atticus is mocking her with the ma’am and miss Mayella when he is showing her the proper respect because she is a young woman. The town knows that Bob Ewell likes to drink and when he does he becomes aggressive, the town has had several incidents with Bob Ewell. During the case Mayella claims, “He does tollable, ‘cept when-” (Lee 208) To which Atticus replied, “Except when he’s drinking?” (Lee 208) Atticus knew that Bob was aggressive, and he knew that he drinks and that when he drinks he gets physical, and since there is no one to take it out on he takes it out on his children.

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He had to take it out on somebody and I'd rather it be me”. Atticus says this after Bob Ewell confronts him and spits in his face, but rather than bursting into rage, he keeps calm, as he knows now that the trial is over, Bob Ewell has lost all respect he had, and so his anger must be directed

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Atticus Empathy Quotes

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This cruelty was presented to the reader conspicuously throughout different instances. However, Lee utilized the character Atticus to try and combat the racism and to be an exemplary man of empathy. One situation that shows this would be Atticus's final statement at the end of the Tom Robinson trial. “I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty” (Lee 275).

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During the trial, Atticus asked Mayella about Robert Ewell's anger and rage, hinting at the idea that Bob victimized his daughter.. Mayella seemed uncomfortable and answered rather unconfidently. Mr. Ewell also seemed rather uncomfortable in this

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766 Words | 4 Pages

The fear of her father and her nervousness clouded her judgement and, seemingly, she desired the jury’s pity. Mayella addressed Atticus, saying, “Won’t answer a word you say long as you keep on mockin’ me.” At Atticus’ puzzled expression, “Mayella looked from under lowered eyelids at Atticus, but she said to the judge: “Long’s he keeps on callin’ me ma’am and sayin’ Miss Mayella. I don’t hafta take his sass, I ain’t called upon to take it” (207). Bob Ewell’s oldest daughter knew exactly what had happened between herself and Tom Robinson, and essentially, she was completely aware that Atticus might be able to wheedle the truth from her.

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1079 Words | 5 Pages

From the late 1870s through the mid-1960s, Jim Crow laws affected many African Americans. With these laws, blacks were given very limited rights and were often victims of unfair judgment. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, a highly educated lawyer, gets a case where he needs to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Atticus faces many challenges, including judgment from the white community in his town and questions from his kids about the trial. Atticus demonstrates moral integrity, bravery, and empathy in response to conflict, which connects to the idea that one should achieve social justice by following morals, taking a stand when no one else will, and understanding other people’s perspectives.

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1253 Words | 6 Pages

By analyzing the struggle of these individuals throughout Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the reader observes that the prejudiced society hurts the mockingbirds; this is important because the author demonstrates it is a sin to harm an innocent being. To start, Mayella Ewell symbolizes a mockingbird that the discriminatory society misjudges as a result of her low social class. When Scout is in first grade, readers see that the Ewells are poor and struggle to survive. Atticus tells Scout, “the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations” (Lee 40).

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Examples Of Social Justice In To Kill A Mockingbird

801 Words | 4 Pages

So·cial jus·tice, noun, 1. justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. 2."individuality gives way to the struggle for social justice.” (Google Search). Social Justice is a term used to justify the equality in the world; equality of race, equality of gender, equality of religion, of age, of background; equality of all people not dependent on any outside factor, but of the people themselves.

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1112 Words | 5 Pages

With their unbeknownst number of kids the Ewell brood, specifically Bob Ewell becomes jealous and outright angry that Atticus would oppose him in the court of law by representing Tom Robinson. Although against the odds Atticus feels empathetic towards the Ewells not necessarily Bob but instead for Mayella, he understands what she is being put through, Suffering through domestic abuse, and in court Atticus even goes so far as to state that he feels sorry for Mayella. To add to this he implies that the man truly guilty of beating Mayella is in the courtroom (Bob Ewell). This did nothing to calm Bob Ewell’s seething manner instead it only escalated it, and in an attempt to get back at atticus he tries to kill his children whom are saved by an unseen and unknown force which killed Mr. Ewell. The precursor towards this however was when Bob Ewell spit on Atticus but even through this Atticus was rational, he thought about it.

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Examples Of Compassion In To Kill A Mockingbird

1513 Words | 7 Pages

Moreover, Atticus’ compassion extends even to the people whom are deemed as “trash” and who supposedly should be his enemies. Jem is talking to Atticus about the current conditions, and Atticus elucidates, “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 there” (Lee 292). Although Mayella is on the other side of the case, Atticus still shows compassion, which helps him to realize the real situation of Mayella. Atticus’ compassion affects the way he feels, as he’ll gladly take the threats instead of Mayella getting beat.

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To Kill A Mockingbird Integrity Quotes

1110 Words | 5 Pages

When Bob Ewell spit in Atticus’ face he said to Jem, “...see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does” (Lee 292). Atticus takes the blame for what Bob Ewell did to him even though it wasn’t Atticus’ fault. Atticus also says “...I do my best to love everybody…”

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Here is an example of Mr. Bob Ewell doing a wrong moral dilemma: According to Miss Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him. Mr.Ewell (Lee, 115) Mr. Ewell felt angry and was obviously not thinking so he decided to bother Atticus. He was angry at Atticus because even though he won he was humiliated and he felt stupid.

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841 Words | 4 Pages

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654 Words | 3 Pages

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