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To Kill A Mockingbird, By Harper Lee

642 Words3 Pages

When did you first start to question the injustice of the world? In the To Kill a Mockingbird passage, author Harper Lee uses Scout's realization of the unfairness in the justice system during Tom Robinson's trial and bravery with Mrs. Dubos' fight against addiction to symbolize the racial inequality at that time and the characterization of understanding others to help develop the theme of racism and prejudice. Harper Lee's novel, Tom Robinson's Trial, displays the racism black people endured during that time. For example: “Tom Robinson was her daily reminder of what she did. What did she do?. She tempted a Negro. She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man”(231). Atticus …show more content…

Even today, racism is a big part of society and colored people get blamed for inaccurate situations, like the George Floyd case. A similar instance of racial hate in the story is when Tom is killed, “They fired a few shots in the air, then killed.Seventeen bullet holes in him. They didn't have to shoot him that much”(268). When Atticus announces this news to Aunt Alexandra, it shows how the title relates to the story. Tom was a “mockingbird” who never attempted to harm anybody and only wanted to do good for others. Yet he was still killed. This passage shows how badly black folks were treated back then. He was shot seventeen times, which is plenty more than needed to stop somebody from escaping. It just proves how much hatred white people have for non-white people. Tom's trial and death was undeniably a big coming-of-age moment for …show more content…

This establishes the character development she [Scout] experiences by witnessing Mrs. Dubose inebriated. That specifically helps Scout understand how others also struggle, even though Scout was clueless during the situation. Having empathy towards others is a good trait to develop and will be used throughout her life. In the passage, it also enunciates: “Don't you say hey to me, you ugly girl! You say Good Afternoon, Mrs. Dubose”(115). The statement Mrs. Dubose makes here contributes to her character by teaching Jem and Scout the best ways to be respectful, especially towards the elderly. Although she comes off as rude, she corrects Scout's greeting, this will help Scout learn the better ways to be respectful and know traditional ways to greet people. Overall, addiction can be a real conflict; substance abuse has been a common issue in society for many years. In conclusion, Harper Lee illustrates growth in Scout by helping her realize how unfair society is towards colored people, and also to not prejudge somebody before you fully know them. Scout matures throughout the book by perceiving other perspectives using

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From Scout’s perspective, she, as well as Jem, view Mrs. Dubose as an irate and racist old woman who frequently calls out insults from her front porch, “Mrs. Dubose would become bored and pick on us: ‘Jeremy Finch, I told you you’d live to regret tearing up my camellias. You regret it now, don’t you?’” (Lee 146). Nonetheless, it is only later in the novel that Mrs. Dubose’s true strength is revealed. The central conflict of the scene occurs through Jem’s punishment, and realization as well as Mrs. Dubose’s inner conflict in her fight against her own morphine addiction.

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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).

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Though people are fond of Atticus himself, his decision to aim for Tom Robinson’s justice causes discomfort, “ ‘Lemme tell you somethin’ now, Billy’ a third said, ‘you know the court appointed him to defend this nigger.’ ‘Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That’s what I don’t like about it” (186). The quote exposes that everyone understand the fact that he is assigned to the case but do not understand as to why he is so intent on proving a black man’s innocence. Since Atticus exceedingly expresses his thought on Tim’s innocence and involves so much of himself in the case with a black person, he obtains negative feedback and gets called a nigger-lover.

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Tom Robinson was a black man that was falsely accused of raping a white woman named, Mayella Ewell. Mayella begins to be questioned by a suspicious Atticus about whether or not Tom Robinson could have hit her in the face and strangled her. Atticus brings up the fact that Tom Robinson’s left arm does not work and Mayella says, “That nigger yonder took advantage of me an‘ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it then you’re all yellow stinkin‘ cowards...” (page 188). Mayella was panicked and her lack of morals bleed through when, with her back against the wall, she still lies to the judge, jury, and entire courtroom and even takes to insulting the jury.

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Jem was confused and frustrated, Atticus was upset and he felt as if he had let Tom Robinson down. Atticus tells Jem that a white man's word always beats a black mans, Jem was upset that Tom did not get a fair trial, but what Atticus had said shows that Maycomb was a town of racism a black man could not get a fair trial because he was up against a white male. After Tom’s trial Toms family had brought Atticus and his family some food for Atticus being his lawyer and trying his best at the trial. Days have passed and Calpurnia told Atticus and his family that Tom made an attempt to escape jail and by doing so he was shot dead. Finding out about Tom's death Atticus felt as if it was the right thing for him to tell Toms wife that he had passed away.

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He’ll arise in front of everyone and confront them even if he knows that the chance of winning is minor. The accusation of Tom Robinson’s rape was incorrect, however, it was a black’s voice against a white’s. Atticus went several times for Tom’s rescue despite the consequences, Atticus states “I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it—seems that only children weep.” Atticus will try everything he can to protect the unfortunate man, Tom Robinson, but the whites are believed to have more privileges in the community.

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Though “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson… in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case.” Despite being a generous man who never hesitated to help those in need – including Mayella Ewell, whose family was seen as unworthy of assistance by many – Tom Robinson was still subjected to racial prejudice and paid the price of his life, akin to killing a mockingbird because it did not serve any good purpose and is therefore an act out of pure spite and cruelty. Tom never had a fighting chance: “[he] was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed”, emphasising his helplessness in the face of danger, relating to mockingbirds as vulnerable prey animals. Tom Robinson’s death was “likened… to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children.” “Hunters and children” represent people who impose unnecessary harm onto “songbirds”, whose defencelessness is emphasised by the fact that even children are capable of killing them; this is truer for Tom Robinson, whose vulnerability stems from society’s discriminatory views, something he has no power over.

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She says that to Jem while discussing the different types of groups in their town and why they don’t get along. We as readers can see the development of the character and how the quote reflects Scout's evolving understanding that people should not be judged based on their skin color, but rather with respect and equality despite their race. The development of Scout is clear in this part of the story, she went from being influenced by societal prejudice to a more inclusive and fair worldview. In conclusion, Scout’s character develops throughout the novel from being an innocent child to a more compassionate and socially aware individual.

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Mrs.Dubose would heckle Scout and Jem as they walked by her house, so they would be upset when they returned home and Atticus would inquire why. He made the excuse that Mrs.Dubose was “ an old lady and [that] she’s ill”, so Mrs.Dubose did not mean what she said (115). Some people may have difficulty controlling their words. Scout must understand this and control how she acts since they can’t. Scout’s confrontations with Mrs.Dubose build an understanding of others with certain disabilities.

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Mrs.Dubose, an ill, elderly woman who lives close to the Finches, demonstrates rudeness and disrespectfulness, which is a problem for society because people can hurt others emotionally and physically and not care about it. Jem has to read to Mrs.Dubose every day after school and on Saturdays for an entire month as a punishment for destroying her camellias but also, a distraction for Mrs.Dubouse to quit her morphine addiction, one afternoon Mrs.Dubouse comments, “Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for a n*****!” (Lee, 117). Not only does she insult Scout over her waiting on tables, but she directs her racism towards Atticus for defending Tom Robinson at the trial, which makes Jem mad. This shows how disrespectful

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Atticus was ignoring the custom of African Americans not being equal, and fighting for equal names. In addition to Atticus not wanting racial slurs anymore, Atticus shows African Americans should be treated the same as whites. After the trial with Tom Robinson he is shot and killed trying to escape from prison. When Atticus hears about this, he says, “ Cal, I want you to go with me out to Helen Robinson’s house, Tom’s dead.” (Lee 314).

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“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.

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