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To kill a mockingbird movie analysis
Analyze to kill a mockingbird
Analyze to kill a mockingbird
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A critical event in the book is when Atticus accepts to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell; however, he is disfavored against by the town due to his race. In the book, Atticus says, “...The only thing we’ve got is a black man’s word against the Ewells’. The evidence boils down to you did--I-didn’t. The jury couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson’s word against the Ewells’...” (Lee 117).
A hero is a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. While anyone could be considered a hero depending on the circumstance, in the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, one character stands out for his achievements and additions to the greater good of the society he lives in. Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the 1930s who was tasked with defending Tom Robinson, a black man accused of assaulting a young girl in a society that was pitted against him. Atticus demonstrates the qualities of a hero throughout the conviction and trial of Tom Robinson by taking on his case and defending him even though he knew he wouldn’t win it, standing up to those who wanted to intimidate him, and trying to better the legal system
In his closing argument Atticus Finch made a statement about how most white people at that time saw black people,“... the evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber”. No matter how truthful or respectable Tom Robinson was on the stand and in his day-to-day life, no one would ever believe that he did not rape Miss. Mayella Ewell.
Tom was accused of raping a white woman who was Mayella Ewell, Mayella said he raped her while he was helping her with chores. She later on tells the readers that it was false allegations. The reason why she didn 't tell the truth at her first trial was because, Mayella was afraid of being embarrassed because she kissed a black male. She rather have an innocent man get charged with a crime than that. “However, Robinson was transferred from the state prison to Maycomb 's county jail on Saturday, two days before he stood trial on Monday, and Atticus had to defend him against a lynch mob”.
Discrimination is shown throughout To Kill A Mockingbird in numerous ways. Racism and prejudice are shown when the jury makes the ruling to convict Tom Robinson as guilty, despite all of the evidence to prove his innocence; Scout is known for being a tomboy. The lessons about discrimination that Scout learns throughout the novel are applicable to all types of prejudice, Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem Finch, is judged for defending Tom Robinson, an innocent man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a low class teenage girl. Since most of the community is racist, Tom Robinson’s case is very hard for Atticus to defend. They do not believe a white man should be defending a black man.
A hero can mean many different things. It could be a man unknowingly be chosen and rise to the point or a man that chooses to be the hero. But is the man that chose to be the hero really going to do the heroic things oppose to the man chosen on the spot. In Metress 's literary criticism, he suggests that Atticus was not a model of moral courage. The critic 's argument is invalid because Atticus did not need to volunteer because Judge Taylor already knew Atticus 's standpoint and work ethic.
I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em-’.” (Lee pg.197). From this quote one can understand that Tom Robinson meant no harm and only did what he thought was right. Although he didn’t do any harm to Mayella Ewell, Tom is arrested and charged for raping and assaulting her. At his trial Tom Robinson is found guilty, even though by evidence and the defense of Atticus (Tom Robinson’s lawyer), the jury should have found Tom not guilty.
Another quote shows how wrong Mr. Ewell acts:”I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” Mr. Ewell (Lee, 92) In the novel he accuses an innocent man of raping and hitting his child Mayella however that is not the true story he because is lying, he hit her. While Atticus chooses the right moral dilemma and he also has humanity: "Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white.
“Remember it 's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” this is a quote from Harper Lee’s book, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. This book shows that how white people treated black people unfairly in that day, but Atticus still teaches his children the right way, and do the right thing. Atticus, as a justice lawyer, choose to help the poor black young man to prove the truth, even though he knew that this will not work, but he still choose the right thing. As a father and a parent, he chooses to teach his child the right thing, and treat his children as an adult.
The justice system has always been the heart of America. But like this country, it has many faults. Prejudice has played a major role in the shaping of this system. In the 1930’s the way a courtroom was set up was completely different from how it looks to day. In the book To Kill A MockingBird, Harper Lee shows just how different it is.
Tom Robinson is a young African-American who's been accused of raping and abusing Mayella Ewell, a young and closeted white woman. Racial discrimination is hinted throughout Tom’s trial as Atticus Finch explains to Jem that a white man’s word will always win over that of a black man’s - "... In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life" (220). Atticus explains to Jem that in the courts of Maycomb, a black man’s state of innocence or guilt is truly determined by a white man’s testimony.
"If it were not for injustice, man would not know justice. " This was a famous quote of Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher from Turkey, and in some ways it’s still true today. Without having never been dealt with injustice, you may never get the feeling of true justice. This quote is just one example of how injustice and justice are common things. Injustice may be a common occurrence, but in some ways it is essential.
Miranda Fricker dissects and examines the problems of testimonial justice and injustice, in her book, Epistemic Injustice, Power and the Ethics of Knowing. By using the characters of Marge Sherwood in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird, Fricker draws in her audience and succinctly identifies two critical components to testimonial injustices. After examining her work, I feel her view of testimonial justice is able to be defended because people are not born to be discriminatory. Rather a person’s community and social interactions shape their development of testimonial justice, but there are ways to lessen a person’s testimonial injustice. Fricker’s argues that familiarity with people of different social identities
The negative treatment and pain I received as a black girl, and still into my adulthood, it amazes me how I'm still standing tall and strong. It amazes me how people have tried to break me, even my own kind, but I'm still here. Truth is I gotta to have thick skin and protect myself, because I got no choice. If I don't... who will? And that is the everyday life of living as a black woman.
Because the jury did not favor black men, Tom Robinson did not receive a fair trial, although Atticus made a great case. Segregation directly disobeys the fourteenth amendment, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” Maycomb Alabama is where the story, To Kill a Mockingbird takes place. Tom Robinson’s trial out come was not based on factual evidence. Mayella was lying to the jury, while Tom was completely innocent.