To Kill A Mockingbird: Negative Role Models

Throughout Literature dating from the beginning of words till now, characters can be found whose actions impact the story in either positive or negative ways. In novels and plays certain characters stand out as negative role models due to their words and actions. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the characters of the nurse and the Friar Lawrence stand out as negative characters due to their poor choices and the impact they have. In Harper Lee’s How To Kill A Mockingbird, Stephanie Crawford and Bob Ewell both stand out as negative role models due to their actions, words, and how they treat those throughout the town. In this essay these four characters will be examined on their quality of character.

In the novel How To Kill A Mockingbird, Stephanie Crawford is an unsatisfactory role model for the young characters of the book such as Scout and Jem. Stephanie is portrayed as the neighbourhood gossip, shown when the author writes “Miss Stephanie Crawford said some of the town council had told Mr.Radley that if he didn’t take boo back, he would die of mold from the damp.” (Lee. 14) This example shows how Stephanie spreads

Friar Lawrence assists Juliet in fooling her friends and family which in the end just causes a problem so big it ends both Romeo and Juliet’s lives. This is shown when Friar Lawrence says “Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone; Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber. Take thou this vial, being then in bed, and this distilled liquor drink off;” (Romeo and Juliet. 4.1. 91-94) This plan to trick those close to Juliet into thinking she is dead is an immature and dangerous way of handling things that ultimately causes more problems than it solves. Being as he is a man of the church, someone valued in that time, he should not be encouraging others to fool people and run away from their problems making the friar an unsatisfactory role