How Does Atticus Finch Use Silence In To Kill A Mockingbird

Silence is a double-edged sword. One oftentimes wonders what life would be like if deprived of the unbearable light of city life, often yearning for the comfort one feels in a realm free of distraction and noise. Yet, only ten minutes go by, and silence becomes too heavy a burden. A message comes in, and the notification sound jolts our senses. Being dead to the world for ten minutes is somehow enough to make one crave the symphony of noises of the outside. The hustle and bustle of the city feel no longer onerous but rather harmonious. Nonetheless, silence can be powerful, far more than plain actions and words, often alarming the loud inadvertently. “Quiet people have the loudest minds,” observed Stephen Hawking, exemplified by multiple characters,

After all, as the adage says: “still waters run deep”. Two wholly different characters in To Kill A Mockingbird can exemplify this concept: Atticus Finch and Boo Radley, the two who barely speak yet permeate everyone and everything with their voice. Atticus Finch is renowned for his silent and serious manner, oftentimes referred to as “feeble” (Lee 92) by his children. Nonetheless, he possesses the strength that none did: the strength of his conviction, utilizing the same voice to defend against discrimination, striving for impartiality. His hands would mime every word representing righteousness, matching his eyes, full of passion. Moreover, his voice appeared particularly to protrude in spite of societal pressure. His voice emerged, buried deep in Scout’s mind, when she was wondering whether to start a fight, “I was far too old and too big for such childish things, and the sooner I learned to hold in, the better off everybody would be” (Lee, 85). It was Atticus’ counsel that she reminisced. Hence, although Atticus was commonly reticent, his counsels “echoed” in Scout’s brain, more powerful than any other

While the majority of society initially considers deafness to be a defect, this supposed disability may bring additional meanings to the world for them, allowing them to express themselves in other ways with more potency. Silence is permeated through their life, yet they notice elements in life other do not -- the enchanting rays of sunshine peeking through the crevice of windows, the slightly aching touch of thorns of leaves, the splendor hidden beneath the eyes of the beloved, and too many things to mention. They embrace silence, express their strength in another way, and voice themselves when necessary. Notwithstanding, an intense contrast regarding the concept of silence is manifested between these two characters, whose characteristics make them partially silent, and those who are unvalued by society, are compelled to be kept in a burden of silence. Tom Robinson, the innocent man accused of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell, was constantly being imposed on silence, depriving him of the right to disclose the truth. “The trees were still, the mockingbirds were silent” (Lee 98). This is an allegory Lee uses to showcase how Robinson, like mockingbirds, was unable to speak due to prejudice against race. The silence of the mockingbird is an apt analogy to Robinson’s voicelessness as he is depicted through the mockingbird’s image of