ipl-logo

Pivotal Moments In To Kill A Mockingbird

656 Words3 Pages

Coming of age means learning through a journey, experiencing new things in life and trying to be a good person in society. Pivotal moments play an important role in a person’s life as they provide new perspectives and opportunities to change lives. This is seen in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. The text reveals that pivotal moments in life can change one’s point of view about others. It is seen in the text after Tom Robinson’s case as how Scout gets to know what courage truly is to reveal the message that prejudice can lead to unfair judgment, as one should look at a person’s perspective and values before judging them. To Kill a Mockingbird reveals prejudice when describing Boo Radley at the start of the book. Scouts and other people in town have …show more content…

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or experience. This is seen as Boo Radley is not a menacing man, but is characterized by others causing there to be a nonbiased opinion and unfair judgment; This represents prejudice in the text. This reveals that prejudice in society leads to unfair judgment of Boo Radley without knowing about his issues or past. Later on in the text, Scout starts to learn what courage is because of Tom Robinson’s case. Tom Robinson’s case was defended by Atticus. He was criticized for it by a lot of people. One of the examples is Ms. Dubose criticizing Atticus. She says, “Not only a Finch is waiting tables. one in the courthouse is lawing for N******!”(Lee 117). As Scout was concerned about the statement, she asked Atticus why he was defending Tom Robinson. Atticus replied, "If I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head in town” (Lee 78). This changed Scout because it taught her that real courage is. It taught her that real courage is to act on one’s convictions and beliefs, even if there is an obstacle or challenge along the way. Scout learns this was

Show More
Related

The Theme Of Judging People In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

466 Words | 2 Pages

We shouldn't judge people for their appearance, instead we judge them in their way of being, behavior, and how they treat others. Prejudice is the case in To Kill A Mockingbird, In this novel Scout understand for who Boo radley really is and Tom robinson and Boo Radley being judged. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses character and plot to reveal the theme that we shouldn't judge people for their appearance. Harper lee uses the character Scout and Boo Radley to reveal the theme that we shouldn't judge people by the rumors you might hear about them because they might not be true.

Read More

Does It Make Sense For Atticus To Defend Tom Robinson

670 Words | 3 Pages

For example, Atticus mention to Scout that, if he didn’t agree to defend Tom Robinson he wouldn’t be able to hold his head in town (pg:) This example reveals that, Atticus regard himself as a model for the role society and his family. In order for them to follow him he have to do the right thing, which is defending Tom Robinson. Atticus Spend the night looking

Read More

Boo Radley Stereotypes

1327 Words | 6 Pages

Sometimes people are pre-judged by who they are perceived to be based on stereotypes. In the classic, To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee expressed the story about Scout, Jem, and Atticus Finch who live in the southern town of Maycomb, Alabama. The Finch’s were faced with many obstacles from the prejudice society of Maycomb. Boo Radley, a mysterious man from the story, exemplifies the theme of “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” when the people in Maycomb stereotyped Boo for being a creepy man, until Scout and Jem saw how Boo cared for them, and why Boo remained hidden from the public for so many years. Boo Radley embodied the

Read More

How Did Boo Radley Change In To Kill A Mockingbird

1182 Words | 5 Pages

Maya Angelou once said, “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” The book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is set in the town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. Despite first appearances, the community of the town festers with prejudice towards anyone who doesn’t fit the mold of an average citizen. This animosity towards so many people can only result in lasting damage. The characters of Mr. Dolphus Raymond, Arthur Radley, and Tom Robinson have been some of the people most strongly affected by the sheer amount of prejudice in Maycomb, Alabama due to being faced with hatred and rejection as a result of their differences.

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Courage Research Paper

325 Words | 2 Pages

“I’m simply defending a Negro- his name id Tom Robinson…there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man.”(100). Also Atticus shows courage by teaching Scout to read after Miss Caroline told him to stop. “ If you’ll concede the necessity of going to school, we’ll go on reading

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes To Show Courage

708 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus knows that “there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that [he] shouldn’t do much about defending [Tom Robinson]” (100). However, even though his family and friends my disagree, may even think less of him, Atticus’ interaction with this case gives his cause to think greater of himself because he is fighting for what he believes in. This kind of situation is difficult when you’re opposing you’re enemies, but even harder when you are up against your friends. Even so, Atticus on the path he knows is right, risking his popularity and status among the town. Atticus tells Scout, “you just hold your head high and keep your fists down.

Read More

Examples Of Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

563 Words | 3 Pages

While using stereotypes in a literary piece of work can be monotonous, it can be very effectual when getting a point across. Harper Lee accomplishes to get her moral condemnation of prejudice in a precise way by using stereotypes within the story. Lee creates the characters to be judged upon without any knowledge of what is really the truth. Arthur “Boo” Radley is a victim of the stereotype in the story. He is believed to be a crazy monster who should be feared yet his only sins are his lack of communication skills and shyness.

Read More

Examples Of Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

1202 Words | 5 Pages

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird has a recurring theme of prejudice. Throughout the novel the narrator Scout Finch, Arthur “Boo” Radley and colored people are faced with prejudice. Prejudice is an assumption about someone based solely on what they believe is true or on what they were told or taught. Scout experiences prejudice because of her age, Boo because he is seldom seen and colored people because of the color of their skin.

Read More

Examples Of Isolation In To Kill A Mockingbird

311 Words | 2 Pages

In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the concept of isolation is closely intertwined with prejudice, showcasing the profound impact that prejudice can have on individuals' lives. The text provides compelling evidence of this isolation through the use of quotes and language techniques, highlighting the cause-and-effect relationship between prejudice and the resulting social exclusion. One poignant example of isolation can be seen in the character of Boo Radley, a reclusive figure who becomes the subject of rumours and speculation within the community. Scout, the narrator, reflects on the neighbourhood's perception of Boo, stating, "People said he went out at night when the moon was down, and peeped in windows... When people's azaleas

Read More

Calpurnia's Discrimination Quotes

1825 Words | 8 Pages

Maya Angelou once said, “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.” It is something that gets in the way of one doing the right thing and prevents people from making fair decisions. In Harper Lee’s esteemed novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the citizens of Maycomb, where discrimination is quite prominent, explore this issue in a variety of situations. Scout and Jem initially view Boo Radley as a scary neighbour due to his reclusiveness and mysteriousness. However, Boo ends up saving the children’s lives at the end of the book and the bias that they have against him is lifted.

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Coming Of Age Quotes

1449 Words | 6 Pages

“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare,” said Mark Twain. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age story about two young children, Jem and Scout Finch, growing up in Alabama in the 1930s and learning what real courage is through their father, Atticus, and the people of Maycomb. They learn to see the world from other points of view, which is also how they express empathy towards others, persevering and standing up for what you believe in, and putting yourself in danger to help others. One message that Harper Lee provides us with is that courage is when you persevere to do something even when it gets more difficult.

Read More

How Does Atticus Show Courage

662 Words | 3 Pages

Scout learns from her dad Atticus that it is important to have courage in standing up when it's the right thing to do. Even when scared. One of the first lessons Scout learns about courage is when her father stands up for a colored man. In the Exposition of the story a lesson Scout learns about courage is when Atticus and uncle Jack are talking and Atticus explains to uncle Jack why he takes the Tom Robinson case: “ If I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in own, I couldn't represent this county in legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 100).

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Critical Lens Analysis

1019 Words | 5 Pages

An Enotes certified educator says it best when she states, "…Boo Radley is discriminated against due to beliefs formed about him based on rumors." (K.H. Tamara 1). For these reasons, it is clear that Lee is commentating on the intolerance of people who did not fit in with everyone else, and how it is essentially unacceptable to be different. Secondly, Racial discrimination is prevalent throughout the novel.

Read More

Examples Of Social Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

977 Words | 4 Pages

Boo Radley had been kept in isolation for so long, he didn’t know how to communicate or socialise properly. He has been misunderstood as a malevolent person, when he actually is a benevolent person. He displays this when he put a blanket around Scout, whilst she and Jem watched the fire. As readers, we are shown social prejudice by the assumptions made about the Radley’s. Another example of social prejudice is the

Read More

Boo Radley Character Traits

507 Words | 3 Pages

In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee shows that we shouldn’t be too quick to judge another person’s character based on outward appearance and the stories and rumors we have heard. The character Boo Radley is a perfect example of why we shouldn’t be hasty to judge. On the outside, Boo looks like a scary neighbor that lives just a few houses away. “.....he had sickly white hands that had never seen the sun. His face was as white as his hands…..”

Read More

More about Pivotal Moments In To Kill A Mockingbird

Open Document