ipl-logo

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

Show More
Related

To Kill A Mockingbird, By Harper Lee

1404 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Judgment Quotes

771 Words | 4 Pages

Even if Scout said hi, Mrs Dubose reply back, “Dont u say hey to me, you ugly girl! You say good afternoon, Mrs. Dubose!”(99). This led Jem and Scout to believe that she was just a old mean lady that did nothing but interrogated them and banter about. Moreover Mrs. Dubose statement about his father being, “no better than the niggers and trash he works for” (102) hit Jems nerve or patience. Yet after he came every afternoon after school and saturdays to read to her out loud for two hours” (105), who he realized was just really sick.

Read More

Plessy Vs. Ferguson And The Separate But Equal Laws

1402 Words | 6 Pages

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).

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Prejudice Quotes

1119 Words | 5 Pages

“Grandma says it’s bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again. He’s ruinin’ the family, that’s what he’s doin’” (94), even Atticus’ family does not support his decision on taking the case. Atticus’ family shames him because they believe his case will cripple the family’s reputation and taint the family name. This reveals how racist people get when it involves black people, that if a white person has anything to do with a black person, they receive the nickname “nigger-lover”. Atticus and his family struggles with the racism as everyone talks about how personally involved Atticus is.

Read More

Eliezer Wiesel Survival

491 Words | 2 Pages

6 million human beings. Out of those 6 million people Elizer Wiesel survived the attempted extermination of his people. Elizer suffered through severe hunger, countless beatings, and being taken away from his family. If I had to credit 3 reasons for Elizer being alive after all he endured it would be his father staying by his side, never losing hope, and his ability to understand the reality of situations.

Read More

How Does Lee Show Morality In To Kill A Mockingbird

994 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More

Tom Robinson Trial To Kill A Mockingbird

1086 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More

Atticus Persecution Quotes

879 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Theme Essay

1473 Words | 6 Pages

She questions her preconceived nations and develops empathy and understanding towards others and that was the result of her experiences and interactions. The provided quote supports the idea of Scout’s changing attitudes towards Boo Radley and racial inequality and shows her growth as a character

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Racism Quotes

923 Words | 4 Pages

In an act of desperation, Tom Robinson tried to escape prison. Climbing over a fence he got “seventeen bullet holes in him” (Lee 315). Tom Robinson was shot by prison guards not once, but seventeen times. The guards did not care if one shot would stop him from escaping the prison, but they wanted to kill him. Their action illustrates the extremely racist attitude towards African Americans at the time.

Read More

Essay On Scout's Coming Of Age In To Kill A Mockingbird

578 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

Examples Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

699 Words | 3 Pages

Tom is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of Bob Ewell. Before the trial, people were certain that the Ewell’s would win the case but as Atticus brings up many valid points such as Tom does not have a left hand and the slap print is on the left side of the face. The jury question if Tom is guilty or not. When Tom was defending himself he told Atticus, “‘Mr. Finch, if you was a nigger like me, you’d be scared, too.’” This quote shows that society looked down on African American people because Tom could have said if you were me you would be scared but he didn’t.

Read More

Examples Of Rudeness In To Kill A Mockingbird

583 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More

How Does Atticus Fight For Justice

1061 Words | 5 Pages

He treated her how he would treat anybody else. He acted not upon race. Atticus thought that all people should be treated the same no matter who they come

Read More

The Importance Of Education In To Kill A Mockingbird?

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

More about To Kill A Mockingbird, By Harper Lee

Open Document