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How Does Atticus Represent Injustice

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The mad dog represents the mob, injustice, and anything Atticus has to fight. Atticus takes one shot and kills the mad dog. He kills it because Heck Tate wouldn’t do it and he asked Atticus to do it. Atticus is very courageous because he risked missing and shooting something or someone else. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.” Atticus is saying this to Jem to show him what real courage is. The mad dog that Atticus shoots can represent injustice. It represents injustice because it relates to the trial of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson and Tim Johnson, both get shot and killed. Tom and Tim are both seen as threats to a majority of the community. Tim Johnson may also relate to the mob because the mob wants to kill Tom Robinson and Tim Johnson is wanted dead as well. …show more content…

Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk… He didn’t know what hit him.” Scout is describing what she see’s when Atticus shoots Tim Johnson. This is very similar to when she is at the courthouse at the trial of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson and Tim Johnson are mistreated throughout Maycomb. Scout sees all of this happening and it is a lot to take in for a little girl. Her father, Atticus, is well known throughout the county for being educated and intelligent, this is why he is chosen to represent Tom Robinson at court. Atticus shot Tim Johnson and he also represented Tom Robinson. That shows how the mad dog relates to Atticus and anything that he has to

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By looking at Harper Lee’s novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, one can see through Lee’s use of characterization of Atticus Finch, standing up for what he believes in is an admirable trait, which is important because in today’s community, there are people who are afraid, and decide to conform to societal norms. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee uses the scenarios where she illuminates Atticus’ courage in many forms. Due to the whole neighborhood watching, Heck Tate stated that this has to be done in one shot and gives the gun to Atticus and he shoots the dog. Scout and Jem have excitement and curiosity beaming out of them as Ms. Maudie informs them: “He’s civilized in his heart.

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1677 Words | 7 Pages

Atticus had a huge belief in fairness and respect. If Atticus thought he had an unfair advantage over killing an animal, he would not do it unless it was completely necessary. He believes that being a noble person who treats others with kindness and respect is far more important that shooting a gun correctly. Atticus had the opportunity to shoot the dog in an instant but because of his beliefs and morals he had waited until it was absolutely the correct time. Atticus soon decides to teach the kids a life lesson.

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704 Words | 3 Pages

Primary Evidence: Atticus killed Tim the dog so that his family and Cal would be safe and not get attacked (Lee 96). 2. Interpretation: Mockingbirds are very territorial, which Atticus shows when he tries to protect Jem and Scout from the dangers of not only people, but animals. C. Claim: Atticus also shows courage especially when he represents a black man in a racist town.

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916 Words | 4 Pages

In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus believes Maycomb is unjust because the town is inconsiderate of other people’s view, which is shown when Atticus gets targeted for defending a black man, worries that his kids will become bitter and catch Maycomb’s disease, and Aunt Alexandra advising Atticus that he is raising his kids wrong. To begin with, Mrs Dubose addresses to Scout and her family about how Atticus is disgracing his race and his color by defending Tom Robinson on the alleged rape case. Mrs Dubose says, “Your father’s no better than the ni**ers and trash he works for” (135). Atticus views Maycomb as an injustice town because during this time period black people were seen as a lower class. Atticus is mark as an overall victim because in the trial the county is shocked that Atticus is

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767 Words | 4 Pages

This shows us the symbol of evil because of what the court case did to Atticus because he was simply defending a negro. Bob Ewell had come across him at some point in time spitting on him and threatening him saying that he was going to kill him. Eventually, the whole town turned against Atticus just because he was simply trying to make a change in the town. Harper Lee uses Atticus to show that good and bad can happen to someone who is simply trying to be

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991 Words | 4 Pages

Tim Johnson is an old rabid dog that lives in Jem and Scout’s neighborhood. He is acting very strange, “He’s gone lopsided,” (93) as Jem says when showing Cal. Cal calls Atticus and tells him about Tim, “I swear to God there’s a mad dog down the street a piece,” (93), when Atticus arrives he is the person chosen to shoot the dog. Lee implements this as a metaphor for the Tom Robinson case. Atticus is chosen to take the shot on Tim just like he is chosen to defend Tom in court.

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935 Words | 4 Pages

Mr. Heck Tate asks Atticus to shoot it dead because he doesn’t want to risk missing the dog. Even though he isn't eager to do the deed, he obliges. While Atticus is preparing to shoot, his glasses fall off and crack. Atticus’s glasses symbolically help him see against the prejudice and racism in the town. “Atticus pushed his glasses to his forehead; they slipped down and he dropped them in the street,” (Lee 127).

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Although the rapid dog in "To Kill a Mockingbird" only appears in one chapter and is killed rather quickly, it acts as a symbol for the reoccurring theme of the evilness in racism throughout the book, illustrates the courage that is gained from overcoming difficult situations, and being an experience that allows for the development of maturity. In a setting that is dominated by racism, such as in Maycomb, a majority of the population also have aspects of evilness due to the damaging effects of their racist behavior, which is represented by the rabid dog. During the Tom Robinson trial, Scout thought to herself how watching Judge Taylor was “like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching

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393 Words | 2 Pages

The town’s sheriff, Heck Tate, is called to kill the dog. Even the town’s sheriff asked Atticus, who the town would describe as “...civilized in his heart,” to shoot the mad dog. Atticus is very clear that he doesn’t want to do it when he says, “don’t waste time, Heck,” after Mr. Tate hands him the rifle. The main reason that Atticus was so hesitant about killing the dog was that he didn’t want Jem and Scout to believe, “...that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.” In many ways, the mad dog in this chapter symbolizes racism in the community.

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Scout was amazed because she did not know that Atticus knew how to use a gun. In the book, the dog symbolizes anger, racism and danger. Scout learned that people need to make sacrifices to eliminate all negative feelings to protect others even if it is uncomfortable for you. One reason why the dog symbolizes anger is because in the story, Atticus is a humble, understanding and tranquil man. After all the anger that has built up within himself during the Tom Robinson case he sacrificed to keep calm in the

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1117 Words | 5 Pages

Firstly, Lee depicts the mad dog to represent racism and foreshadows Atticus’ willingness to shoot it, which shows that he wants to abolish racism. As the dog, Tim Johnson, walks down the street, everybody runs inside and locks their doors, fearing the abomination that stands before them. But as everyone does so, Atticus “takes the gun and walks out into the middle of the street…” where no one will stand, facing this monstrosity of an animal. “The rifle cracked. Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk...

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751 Words | 4 Pages

For instance, the scene where Atticus shoots the dog. The dog had rabies and had been roaming the neighborhood, and Sheriff Heck Tate calls Atticus to kill the dog since he is the only one who can shoot well enough. This is also the first time Scout and Jem learn that Atticus is a sharp shooter. Some simply see it as a dog being put down, but it actually symbolises the innocence of the poor dog who was sick being ripped away from him as his life was. In this instance, the dog was the innocent carefree mockingbird and the burden of his rabies/him getting put down were the evil outside occurrences that tore away that same

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1334 Words | 6 Pages

He is showing that no matter the race you do what is right. No matter the opinion of others, if you know something is wrong, stand tall and take charge. This is a positive role model where his kids can follow in his footsteps, look up to him and understand the rights and wrongs of things. Lastly, Atticus says, ‘’’I wanted you to see what real courage is... it’s when you know you 're licked before you begin

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566 Words | 3 Pages

In this part of the book, there is an old dog and nobody wants to kill it. So they give the job to Atticus

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732 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the term mockingbird symbolizes innocence in a person. In the novel it focuses on the fact that innocence, represented by the mockingbird, can be wrongfully harmed. There are two characters: Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley that are supposed to represent the mockingbird. In the novel, Tom Robinson is the best example of a mockingbird because he is prosecuted for a crime he did not commit. Also, he was judged unfairly based on the color of his skin in his trial.

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