To Kill A Mockingbird Essays: Figurative Blindness

In many classic stories, many characters can be referred to as being metaphorically blind and reap in the consequences . For example, we have Gloucester and King Lear in the tragedy King Lear; both these characters may be able to physically see, but they cannot see the whole truth about family members unless they experience the reality themselves; the Dramatis personae within To Kill A Mockingbird are no exception.) (Throughout the entire novel, many characters display the characteristics of being perfect examples of figurative blindness; along with receiving the consequences of being unable to truly see.) (Characters such as Scout, the narrator of the story; Alexandra Finch, the aunt of Scout; and, finally, Ms. Gates, the teacher that teaches

Nobody in Maycomb had nerve enough to tell Mr Radley that his boy was in with the wrong crowd. One night, in a excessive spurt of high spirits, the boys backed around the corner in a borrowed flivver, resisted arrest by Maycomb’s ancient beadle, Mr. Conner, and locked him in the courthouse outhouse. If the judge released Arthur, Mr Radley would see to it that Arthur gave no further trouble. The doors of the Radley house were closed on weekdays as well as sundays, and Mr. Radley’s boy was not seen again.[. .

At the time that Alexandra first appears in the story, on the day of Christmas Eve, both Scout and Francis have a disagreement. Francis, then puts the blame on Scout claiming that “‘she called me a whore-lady and jumped on me!’” (Lee 112). Including Aunt Alexandra, all the adults do not bother asking Scout for her side of the story, therefore Scout who is unladylike, receives a punishment. Aunt Alexandra is incredibly proud of the family history and status around town, talking down on other families that did not have as much history. For this reason, Alexandra forces Atticus to lecture Jem and Scout about the family name. Atticus suddenly appears to become very serious and says to