ipl-logo

How Does Lee Present The Justice System In To Kill A Mockingbird

844 Words4 Pages

In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, a six year old girl, grows up in the racially divided town of Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930’s. Scout is a curious and intelligent child who is confronted with a harsh reality of discrimination and injustice in her small town. Atticus Finch, Scout's father, is a well respected lawyer in Maycomb. Atticus took on the case of defending Tom Robinson, a Black man who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a young White woman. Atticus is aware that there is a lot of racial tension and prejudice in the town, and he knows that his decision to defend Tom Robinson will not be well received by many members of the community. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout's perception of the justice system changes as her …show more content…

During the trial, Jem and Scout sat in the balcony, which was the segregated part of the courtroom. Reverend Sykes is the reverend of First Purchase, the Black church in Maycomb. He is a kind and generous man who is one of the few characters that directly teaches Scout about the racist justice system. Reverend Sykes had “never seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man" (Lee, pg. 210). Reverend Sykes's words underline the deep-seated racism that pervades the social and legal systems. This implies that there is a systemic bias against people of color in the justice system, which is reinforced by the prevailing attitudes of the majority White population. Reverend Sykes, as a member of the Black community and the reverend of First Purchase, is a firsthand witness to the racial injustices that occur in Maycomb. Reverend Sykes has an impact on Scout's loss of innocence as she begins to realize the extent of the racism in their town. Additionally, Reverend Sykes serves as a moral guide for Scout, helping her understand the complexities of the racial divide in their town. Through her interactions with him, Scout learns to empathize with people who are different from her and to stand up for what is right, even when it is

Show More
Related

Chapter 1 Summary In To Kill A Mockingbird

1316 Words | 6 Pages

Reverend Sykes walks them to the front pew. Lula is mad at Calpurnia for bringing them to a black church. While in church, they pay money to help support Tom Robinson’s wife, Helen. Scout realizes at the church that Atticus is defending Tom. Scout then

Read More

Examples Of How Did Scout Lose Her Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

828 Words | 4 Pages

Scout, Jem and Dill wanted to attend Mr. Robinson’s trial, and they expected for the truth to come out, and they thought the real culprit of beating up Mayella would come out. Although, this experience shattered Scout’s idealistic worldview. Even though Atticus presented enough evidence that proves Tom’s innocence, the racist all-white jury still convicted Tom Robinson. Scout, and Jem, witnessed the injustice of the trial and experienced the harshness of reality. Furthermore, Scout’s aunt Alexandra’s words after the verdict deepened Scout’s disillusionment: “I told you that you should have come to me when Walter got into trouble,”.

Read More

How Does Atticus Show Violence In To Kill A Mockingbird

1000 Words | 4 Pages

Published in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is a timeless novel that is narrated by young Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. The novel takes place in a small Alabama town called Maycomb during the 1930s, a period when racism and segregation were heavily prominent in society. Although Scout is young, she is already exposed to the presences of discrimination and inequalities within her small town. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is an esteemed lawyer with beliefs that differ from others and a strong desire to do the right thing. Atticus teaches his children valuable lessons, such as the other means of handling conflicts, the importance of equality, and the deception of outer appearances in hopes that they learn to feel compassion

Read More

How Does Lee Present Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird

757 Words | 4 Pages

In 1960 Harper Lee published a book by the name of To Kill a Mockingbird. The book tells the tale of a young girl named Scout and her life in the town of Maycomb. Harper Lee surrounds Scout with characters, her brother Jem, their friend Dill, her father, Atticus, Her Aunt Alexandra, and many others. The interactions of these characters and the events of the book portray the good and the bad of the 1930's, the book's setting. While the narrative displays many key themes of the time period, from racism to religion.

Read More

How Is Atticus Finch Told In To Kill A Mockingbird

842 Words | 4 Pages

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is based in a small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the early 1930’s. The story is narrated by Atticus Finch's daughter Scout. The main character, Atticus Finch is the father of Scout and Jem, growing up they were taught to accept people by who they are, not the color of their skin, they lived in a town where racism was very popular. Atticus Finch was a liberal lawyer who took on the case of Tom Robinson, an african american man who was accused of beating and raping a white woman named Mayella, many in the town of Maycomb didn't approve of a white man helping an african american who everyone believed beat and raped Mayella.

Read More

Calpurnia's Viewpoints

468 Words | 2 Pages

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird brings a look into the life of Southern America in the 1930’s. The view is mostly seen through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, two children who grow up around the controversy of their father Atticus and the case he participates in. Atticus is a lawyer who represents Tom Robinson, a black who is accused of raping a white girl. The lives of all the characters are changed by the case and the racism that comes with it.

Read More

How Does Scout Mature In To Kill A Mockingbird

792 Words | 4 Pages

Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is a story that takes the reader on a journey through the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama, in the mid 1930’s. The story revolves around a young white girl named Jean Louise Finch, more commonly known as Scout. Scout’s life is filled with many events, like the Tom Robinson trial, that play a key role in her character development as she grows up in the racist community she is a part of. Throughout the novel, Scout learns that the society she lives in is filled with people who are dangerously influenced by racial prejudice. She matures from a naive girl who could not even comprehend the idea of racism to a knowledgeable person who realizes how unfair the racial justice system is.

Read More

How Does Atticus Finch Use Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird

774 Words | 4 Pages

After he is found guilty and shot in prison, Scout reads an article about his death being a “senseless killing” and fully understands how racism was the deciding factor in his guilty verdict, not the actual facts of the case. “Then Mr. Underwood’s meaning became clear: Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the second Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” (226). Because Atticus was willing to put everything on the line for this case, he was able to challenge the racism of Maycomb in not only the minds of his children, but in the minds of anyone who had been in that

Read More

How Does Lee Use Characterization In To Kill A Mockingbird

804 Words | 4 Pages

Her, as a character, has started to develop and it is shown here. She has a sense of maturity to her, showing she wants to stay, to not only see the end of the case, but to watch her father as well. This also ties into the theme by Scout, although she may be young, really understands what is happening and should not be perceived as not smart. Another sight of characterization is shown here: “I’ve heard that lawyer’s children, on seeing their parents in court in the heat of argument, get the wrong idea: they think opposing counsel to be the personal enemies of their parents, they suffer agonies, and are surprised to see them often go out arm-in-arm with their tormentors during the first recess. That was not true for Jem and me.”

Read More

Scout Finch Character Analysis Essay

1461 Words | 6 Pages

Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man. Unable to abide by the town’s comfortable ingrained racial prejudice views. Scout now has to deal with people treaty Atticus poorly. At the beginning of the novel, Scout says, “He announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers” (Lee 99). Scout is concerned for Atticus and why everyone in Maycomb is picking on him.

Read More

Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

1672 Words | 7 Pages

The Courthouse, ironically enough, is a place that represents injustice in Maycomb. It is also a factor in the children's new perspective on the world as they gain a new understanding of people and lose their innocence as they mature and go through these situations and have new experiences. At the courthouse, Scout is describing all of the different people she sees such as the, ”more affluent who chased their food with drugstore Coca-Cola and bulb-shaped soda glasses,” and the, ”Negroes who sat quietly and the Sun dining on sardines, crackers, and the more vivid flavors of Nehi Cola,” (214). Here, she recognizes the physical differences of the people and Maycomb as she loses a little more of her innocence as she points out that the Negroes sat in the sun whereas the Whites sat in the shade. This is significant because even here, when both parties are so close in proximity, they still try to be as segregated as possible; the Whites get to be more comfortable than the Negroes.

Read More

How Does Calpurnia Use Racial Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird

601 Words | 3 Pages

Racism infected the minds of the citizens of Maycomb County and showed itself in how the black people treated white people, how the white people acted towards black people, and even led to the conviction of an innocent man. While many people see racism as one sided, often black people can treat white people in the same prejudiced way. Not only the white people in Maycomb held responsibility for racism. For example, when Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church one Sunday morning, one of the black women lashes out in disdain, “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n” (119). Even in the black church racial discrimination found root.

Read More

The Justice System In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

833 Words | 4 Pages

In the book Atticus and the members of the court system express the reach of prejudice, justice, and fairness in the justice system. The justice system was filled with prejudice. In the book it states, “ Now don 't you be so confident, Mr. Jem I ain 't ever seen a jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man…”(279). Reverend Sykes is witnessing the trial of Tom Robinson.

Read More

Theme Of Racial Inequality In To Kill A Mockingbird

754 Words | 4 Pages

Tom Robinson is a black man who is wrongfully convicted of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell. This novel goes through Scout's life from when she was 6, till she is 9. She lives in the town of Maycomb Alabama, and lives an innocent life until about halfway through the story, where she begins to ask questions. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout shows the readers that racial inequality creates an unjust society through the African American community, through the people surrounding colored folks, and through Tom Robinson’s Case. The first example of the consequences of racial inequality is the African American community in Maycomb.

Read More

Examples Of Identity In To Kill A Mockingbird

975 Words | 4 Pages

Scout listens when Mr. Raymond says, “Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people, too”(269). Scout is comprehending how just because Tom is black, he is going to get treated much differently in the trial compared to how he would if he had a white man, starting to allow her to recognize how horrifying society really is.

Read More

More about How Does Lee Present The Justice System In To Kill A Mockingbird

Related Topics

Open Document