ipl-logo

The Importance Of Acceptance In To Kill A Mockingbird

468 Words2 Pages

Acceptance is something everyone craves for at least once in their lives. A search for acceptance often results in many hiding who they are and pretending to be someone they are not. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, acceptance is one of the central themes. Acceptance is something everyone should have from the minute they are born until the day they die. People should not have to work for it regardless of ethnicity, gender or personal preferences,everyone is equal and no one should be casted outside. Harper shows in her novel how everyone must try to accept others who they are and the benefits of doing so while also showing the consequences of not doing so both to the bigots and the unaccepted. A prime example of the benefits of being open minded in this novel is Atticus Finch, who conveys acceptance and tolerance. A white lawyer from a respectable family, the town of Maycomb is stunned when he vows to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white girl. He believes that everyone is worthy of respect as we are all human beings and wants his children to grow up with the same mindset. An example of this when Scout comes back from her first day of school, having gotten off on the wrong foot with her teacher Miss Caroline. He comforts her by saying, “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” (Harper 39). Atticus is trying to tell Scout that she should not have argued with Miss Caroline and taken into consideration that it was Miss Caroline’s first day as well and she had not yet taken to Maycomb’s customs. With this quote, Atticus shows off non-judgemental he truly is and how he deeply he takes into consideration both sides of the …show more content…

For example, Robert E. Lee Ewell, considered white trash, is an abusive, racist man who lives in despair and

Show More
Related
998 Words | 4 Pages

He is a wise man to his community and its people, especially Jem and Scout. Atticus Finch, a lawyer, is put into a case, defending a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Atticus’ insightful, caring, and thoughtful personality

Read More
915 Words | 4 Pages

Like most places, Maycomb County, Alabama was full of hardworking people of integrity, as well as dishonest, indolent citizens. Atticus, a distinguished lawyer, raised his two kids, Scout and Jem, to be disciplined youth, practicing honest morals. Everyone in Maycomb admired Atticus for his respectable character, just as they all abhorred the Ewell family, for their cheating and lying ways. However, Atticus’ prominent role in town was suddenly challenged when he was chosen to defend in court Tom Robinson, a black man whom Mayella Ewell accused him of taking advantage of her. Eyes that once looked up to Atticus with deep admiration, now glared at him in disgust.

Read More
957 Words | 4 Pages

Despite race discrimination around the world, there are still people who overcome and persevere through these challenges - often at great risk to themselves. During the 1930s, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, a small town called Maycomb held a trial against an innocent African American man accused of raping a Caucasian woman. The reader experiences life in Maycomb through the eyes of ten year old girl name Jean-Louise Finch, Scout. In this case, Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, was assigned to be the lawyer for the accused, Tom Robinson. However, Atticus has integrity and tries his best for Tom even if his own life is at risk.

Read More
764 Words | 4 Pages

Creative Title Many people believe integrity is one of the most important traits to have. Nowhere is this concept more prevalent than in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In the town of Maycomb, racism and prejudice are so deeply ingrained in society, they impact every aspect of daily life, including the justice system and one’s right to a fair and equal trial.

Read More
520 Words | 3 Pages

“To Kill a Mockingbird” also highlights the truth towards the whole society can alter the definition of justice. Here, Atticus defends a black man for his words for the right to have a voice within society and not to be misjudged due to racism. Hence, Harper Lee uses the novel to convey the

Read More
526 Words | 3 Pages

The novel To Kill A Mockingbird exposes the reality behind the mask that people wear to protect themselves from ideas and thoughts that they have but don’t want to accept because they are scared to be vulnerable to society and possibly themselves. Throughout Harper Lee’s creation, though the mask is not directly shown or stated, it is implied in many situations. Maycomb county wears a mask that narrows their vision so they are unable to see other people’s side of things. The upper class white families in Maycomb are the most prone to this mask regarding to the fact everyone is below them, especially the black community.

Read More
436 Words | 2 Pages

Atticus could not live with himself if he failed to give his utmost effort in clearing the accused, Tom Robinson’s, name. The lawyer feels that he has to do it. The people of Maycomb are small minded and hypocritical, Atticus Finch is not. Nothing can be done to make the towns people hear the truth. Tom Robinson, would be a free man, living with his family, if it wasn’t for the people of Maycomb.

Read More
501 Words | 3 Pages

In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, one of the main characters, Ralph, is head chief from the beginning. Rebellions against Ralph start to elevate one evening when he is making a long speech about the bad series of incidents that lead to them not being rescued; these rebellions cause him to ponder about stepping down from being chief. However, it was his own fault that the boys turned on him because he was naive at the fact that the group before him was formed of immature little boys and a jealous one.

Read More
888 Words | 4 Pages

Showing them the harsh reality of life with honesty and fearlessness. During this time the Great Depression was hitting the southern town of Maycomb. This novel compares many of its characters to mockingbirds, a symbol of pure innocence. One summer, Atticus, who is a lawyer, finds himself in the middle of a controversial case, involving a African American man, Tom Robinson and a white woman, Mayella. Despite the town throwing hatred towards Atticus and his family, he doesn’t back down because he takes pride in helping the innocent.

Read More
1166 Words | 5 Pages

Despite racial inequalities in the South, Atticus sticks to his own morals and agrees to be the defending lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man being accused of raping a white woman. Although Atticus’ defense in court was thorough and clearly proved Tom’s innocence, the jury was prejudiced towards black folks and convicted Tom as guilty. Nonetheless, Atticus is still a hero despite losing the case. He has the courage to stand up for what he believes in, fights with reason rather than guns, and has utmost determination, making him a hero despite being just an average human being. Ultimately, his thoughts and actions set the stage for major changes in the meaning of equality throughout Maycomb County, changing lives of numerous people.

Read More
1065 Words | 5 Pages

Atticus Finch- Modern Day Hero In general, the first thing that comes to people’s minds when they hear “hero” is superheroes. Batman, Superman, the works. And fiction can be thanked for this.

Read More
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
1163 Words | 5 Pages

“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 30). These are the words of Atticus Finch, the wisest character in the famous novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. He is a fictional man that embodies human traits that all people should strive to emulate. In the novel; narrated by Atticus’ daughter Jean Louise Finch, more often referred to as Scout; Atticus defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white female, Mayella Ewell. The main message of the text is the prominence of racial injustice, specifically in the 1930’s, the era the novel takes place in.

Read More
1244 Words | 5 Pages

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee teaches us about the town of Maycomb County during the late 1930s, where the characters live in isolation and victimization. Through the perspective of a young Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, readers will witness the prejudice that Maycomb produces during times where people face judgement through age, gender, skin colour, and class, their whole lives. Different types of prejudice are present throughout the story and each contribute to how events play out in the small town of Maycomb. Consequently, socially disabling the people who fall victim from living their life comfortably in peace. Boo Radley and his isolation from Maycomb County, the racial aspects of Tom Robinson, and the decision Atticus Finch makes as a lawyer, to defend a black man has all made them fall in the hands of Maycomb’s prejudice ways.

Read More
535 Words | 3 Pages

This novel is mostly centered on Tom Robinson’s case and the final judgment. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella, daughter of Bob Ewell. Atticus, being a symbol of good moral, dug his own grave when he decided to defend Tom. Since Tom Robinson was an African-American, all the odds were against him, so Atticus’s decision to defend Tom was the cause of the enmity between society and his family.

Read More

More about The Importance Of Acceptance In To Kill A Mockingbird

Related Topics

Open Document