To Kill A Mockingbird Quote Analysis

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Picture yourself a lawyer in 1930s Alabama, chosen to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus the father of Jem and Scout is chosen to defend Tom Robinson Accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus wants to set a good example for his children and the prejudice town that he lives in. He also lives his life by the golden rule which is why it makes sense for him to defend Robinson. Atticus wants to set an example for his children by defending Tom. In chapter nine Scout asks Atticus, “If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, then why are you doin’ it?” to which Atticus replies “if I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town. I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even …show more content…

In chapter three Scout is telling Atticus about her day at school and how Miss Caroline doesn’t understand the students and Atticus says “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” (pg. 39) Atticus is trying to get scout to see things from Miss Caroline’s perspective. Atticus is talking to Uncle Jack about Jem and Scout handling the case. “I hope and pray that I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease. Why otherwise reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving Negro comes up, is something I don’t pretend to understand” (pg. 117) Atticus believes that all people should be treated the same regardless of race and Maycomb needs to realize that. Scout tell Atticus that’s Mrs. Dubose calls him a negro-lover and asks Atticus if he is one and Atticus says “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody” (pg. 144). Atticus tries to treat everyone the same no matter who they are or what they say to him. This is why it makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom