Isaiah 59:8 illustrates, "The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths. " Clearly, Scripture recognizes the existence of flaws of the behavior in man. Injustice comes in many forms. Racism, prejudice, false judgment, and stereotyping are all skewed perceptions. These distortions spill over into behaviors and human interactions, often resulting in the suffering of the innocent.
Scout is let in on racial inequality, “‘A nigger-lover. I ain;t very sure what it means, but the way Francis sad it- tell you one thing right now Uncle Jack, I’ll be -- I swear before God if I’ll sit there and let him say somethin’ about Atticus’” (Lee 86).
By far, the largest concern brought upon this novel is its depiction of racist scenes and its use of racial slurs. The most prominent character that correlates with these themes is Atticus Finch, the father of main characters Scout and Jem. From the start of the novel, it is evident that Atticus is presented as a savior-like figure and is worshiped by the townspeople for the duration of his career as a lawyer. One of Atticus’s most famous quotes teaches moral character, for example. “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”(Lee 33).
Injustice for African- Americans in the 1900’s occurred consistently even after slavery had ended in 1865. “The Murder of Emmett Till,” and the Tom Robinson case in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” show how African Americans experienced injustice. Emmett Till was a 14 year old boy from Chicago, Illinois that traveled to Mississippi to see relatives. It was there that Carolyn Bryant accused Till of whistling and verbally assaulted her.
There is not a "true" definition of justice and there will never be a totally correct definition either. The word just means acting or doing something based on your morals and ethics. Because the definition of just can take many forms, so can justice. To understand justice, you have to understand how to be just. What people consider just evolves with time.
Innocent Injustice To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has many cases of characters who illustrate the qualities of a Mockingbird such as Tom Robinson, when he did a favor for Mayella, gets killed and when he is found guilty by a jury. Miss Maudie describes why the kids cannot shoot a Mockingbird by saying “They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us” (Lee 119). Mockingbirds do not take what does not belong to them, and Tom will not accept payment in return for favors. Therefore he helps Mayella out of the kindness of his heart. Scout recalls the message of Mr. Underwood’s article regarding Tom Robinson’s death as being “He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter
Law and Injustice in “To Kill a Mockingbird” "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a novel by Harper Lee set in 1930s Alabama. It tells the story of a young girl named Scout Finch and her experiences with racism, prejudice, and the justice system. The novel's main plot revolves around the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of rape, and the efforts of Atticus Finch, a lawyer and Scout's father, to defend him in court. The novel explores themes of justice, race, and prejudice. In "To Kill a Mockingbird," The events in regard to Tom Robinson and Boo Radley demonstrate how the law and justice can be at odds with each other,highlighting the ways in which the legal system can fail to deliver justice and the ways in which personal moral
This shows a moment Atticus took to explain to Scout the importance of realizing that arguments can not get in the way of your friends and home. Another example of Atticus exemplifying his morality, is when he explained racial differences to Scout. “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Lee, 220). This quote demonstrates another example of Atticus passing his values down to his kids. In the end, Atticus wants his kids to grow up with good morals with them treating people fairly and with
To Kill A Mockingbird contains three forms of injustice. First, discriminating against a person because of the color of their skin, second, violating every persons right to a fair and unbiased trial, and thirdly, harming the simple and defenseless. Body
Merriam-Webster defines poetic justice as a result or occurrence that seems proper because someone who has done bad things to other people is being harmed or punished. Bob Ewell’s death in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is a perfect example of poetic justice. If this statement was made to Atticus, Calpurnia, or Scout, they would all agree with it. Bob Ewell was a nasty man, who was the only character in To Kill A Mockingbird who even remotely deserved to die.
Landon Bennett Mrs. Alfaro English 3 May 22, 2023 To Kill a Mockingbird In Harper Lee's timeless novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the character of Atticus Finch serves as a moral compass and a pillar of righteousness. Through his actions, words, and unwavering principles, Atticus demonstrates the qualities of a compassionate and just individual, whose beliefs are deeply rooted in fairness, equality, and respect for all individuals. Atticus's commitment to justice and equality is evident throughout the novel. He consistently upholds the belief that every person deserves to be treated fairly and without prejudice. Atticus imparts this wisdom to his children, Scout and Jem, when he tells them, “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”.
Justice is everything “The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.”- Lois McMaster Bujold.
Of the numerous themes from Harper Lee’s famous novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, one stands out, injustice. This subject appears multiple times throughout the book. Firstly, Mr. Ewell demonstrates injustice towards the Finch family by insulting them and harming them. Again injustice shows itself in Tom Robinson’s false accusation. Lastly, this horrible topic becomes apparent in Aunt Alexandra’s actions towards Calpurnia.
The main theme of the book is that fairness and justice are two virtues that are extremely hard to find. The central question, “How can a virtuous person continue to believe in these morals and not get discouraged?” is portrayed by the central characters Atticus and Scout. The deeply ingrained prejudice, that people of color cannot hope to live up to those who are “high class and white ” is explored and exposed. Sexism and class warfare are other conflicts within the story line. People in Maycomb are discriminated against because of the color of their skin, their social class and their gender.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The author Lee demonstrates some major themes such as social inequality, intolerance, education, legal justice and bravery through this character. The title To Kill a Mockingbird symbolises innocence where Lee explores this through the eyes of Jem and Scout who are kids of Atticus Finch. He is one of the most honest, patient, kind, fair, respected and admired men in Maycomb during the Great Depression. Atticus is known for his moral character throughout the book.
