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To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes Analysis

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Recommended: Racial views in to kill a mockingbird

Responses to Racism Many stories or novels have a conflict inside pages of the book; it’s necessary part of a book’s story to give the characters something to voice their opinion and their personality on. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee also has conflicts. The main conflict is between the children and society's norms on racism, especially toward Tom Robinson, a african- american who is suspected of the rape of Mayella Ewell. Dill opposes against the town’s racism openly while in Tom’s trial. Dill, unlike the people of Maycomb in the courthouse, realizes the cruelty and unfair treatment toward Tom Robinson. Dill says “I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right, somehow it ain’t right to do ‘em that way. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that—it just makes me sick.” (Pg 226). Dill in this quote says how he hates the way people treat Tom. Dill sees Tom as another human being instead of a unequal black man, like society in Maycomb, sees him. The beginning of the quote is also very …show more content…

Jem also opposes the town’s racism. He instead sees the incorrectness of the town in a logical standpoint. During the trial of Tom Robinson, Atticus brings up solid evidence that the attack was not from Tom, but her father Bob Ewell. Jem believes that there is no way that Tom would be declared guilty, he still believes that the town is not racist and thinks that the jury people will think logically about the case. “I peeked at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them.” (Pg 282). Jem in this quote has heard the guilty verdict of Tom Robinson and can’t believe what he has heard. Jem can not understand why Tom is guilty, he taken aback by the realization of the town’s racism. This jerking of the balcony rail can be also be symbolism of Jem’s innocence being ripped from

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I can tell To Kill A Mockingbird takes place during the 1930’s because of the allusions made in it. In the book, they also use words that we do not normally use in our average daily vocabulary; Some examples would be on page 36 when they use words such as “fer”, “reckon”, and “ain’t”. Back in the twentieth century, they used multiple words that we do not use as much nowadays. Furthermore, I can tell the book takes place during the 1930’s is because of an allusion made on page 46 when Jem refers to Indian-heads. Indian-heads were pennies before the Lincoln penny came about.

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Jem’s adamant interest in Atticus’s affairs implies that he is beginning to replace his innocence with an understanding of the racial stereotypes surrounding Tom Robinson, and how his Atticus’s decision to defend Robinson in court puts himself in a position of political and physical danger, as social norms prohibit such.

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912 Words | 4 Pages

To kill a mockingbird was a political statement, yet it was not meant for the public to so widely see. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the award winning novel by Harper Lee, many important topics are touched upon with themes such as family and justice, however, the most prevalent theme is racism and Harper Lee manages to touch upon it many times. Race in Maycomb County helps to determine social class and power, it also creates an unspoken set of rules regarding code of conduct and how many people interact in their relationships, both interracial and not. In Maycomb County race is a major determining factor in a person’s positioning in the social hierarchy.

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563 Words | 3 Pages

Although the court deemed Tom Robinson guilty Atticus uses rhetoric very well to try and convince the all-white jury that Tom Robinson, a black man is innocent. Atticus Finch is a lawyer in a small town in Alabama. He believes that every man should be treated equal and fair in a court of law. But the all-white jury does not agree with Atticus. In this time, the 1930’s many people believed that whites were superior to black.

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935 Words | 4 Pages

Almost everyone throughout Maycomb thought Tom was guilty just because of the color of his skin. But, the real question was, did Tom Robinson really abuse and take advantage of Mayella Ewell? Throughout the argument Mr.Gilmer used both Pathos and Ethos extensively

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620 Words | 3 Pages

Theme oo"He ain't company, Cal, he's just a Cunningham-" "Hush your mouth! Don't matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house's yo' comp'ny, and don't you let me catch you remarkin' on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo' folks might be better'n the Cunninghams but it don't count for nothin' the way you're disgracin"em"" (32). Symbolism "Dill said striking a match under a turtle was hateful" (18).

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811 Words | 4 Pages

After Atticus loses his trial, Jem notices that the Maycomb County justice system is broken and it needs help, “Then it all goes back to the jury, then. We oughta do away with juries. ”(294) This shows that Jem now understands that people are racist in everything and racism needs to be fought. On top of realizing that the justice system is in shambles, Jem realized that Tom Robinson’s case was very good at showing that.

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1005 Words | 5 Pages

Racism is only one of the harsh and cruel injustices of Maycomb that Dill is exposed to during his stay there. The Tom Robinson trial is his epiphany of how cruel and wicked people can be because of one’s skin color. After he witnesses Mr. Gilmer’s obvious mockery and disrespect of Tom Robinson, Dill states “ ‘It was the way he said it made me sick, plain sick... It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do 'em that way.’" (227) Dill’s innocence to racism quickly fades away after witnessing Mr. Gilmer’s cross examination.

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1986 Words | 8 Pages

Atticus says this so that some people may form a new opinion if Tom is guilty or not guilty. After Atticus’s closing argument prior to the verdict, Jem was very confident based upon the evidence presented that Tom would be not guilty, after the trial Jem was very upset and crying about the harsh reality of the case case, while he is talking to Atticus about this he says, “It ain’t right, Atticus”(Lee 242). Jem is finally maturing and realizing the harsh reality of Maycomb and the racism and prejudice in people's minds throughout their society. Jem learns that just because of the way you were born you are not given the same opportunities that others have just because of one factor, the color of your skin, not the way you act, or your reputation, but the color of your skin, something so little, but has such a massive impact on everyday life.

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865 Words | 4 Pages

They had no idea just how unfair it was. “'It ain't right, Atticus.... How could they do it, how could they?” (134). Dill doesn’t understand why this happened, blindsided by the racism that was going on. When the people of Maycomb that did support Tom Robinson was mourning, or were angry, the children were loss.

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1155 Words | 5 Pages

The White townspeople do not appreciate him because he has biracial children. In the story, he speaks to Scout and Dill about racism in Maycomb. He says, "Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people, too”(205). Dolphus Raymond attempts to get Scout and Dill to understand why they are more likely to not be upset by these injustices in the world. This quote also proves that prejudiced opinions are taught by the experiences someone has since children are not born with malicious thoughts.

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559 Words | 3 Pages

This quote is a perfect example of Tom Robinson, a black man who the people of Maycomb inappropriately label as a criminal and therefore act prejudiced against. Tom can be likened to a mockingbird in the sense that he too is innocent. Furthermore, it is a criminal offense to kill a mockingbird because everyone knows they are harmless creatures that do no wrong. Unfortunately for Tom, this precedent does not apply to black men in Maycomb even once they are proven innocent. This is seen during Tom Robinson’s trial just before Judge Taylor announces if he is guilty of asssuluting and raping Mayella Ewell.

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1048 Words | 5 Pages

Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry.” (269) He stated that as Dill Harris was crying over Tom Robinson being treated unequally. As Dolphus Raymond states, the entire town of Maycomb consists of racist adults and children that haven’t yet realized they’ll grow up to be just like them. They won’t cry or have a pit in their stomach, it’ll be normal.

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335 Words | 2 Pages

During the Tom Robinson trial, Jem shows tremendous bravery in his willingness to admit his views on the situation. Doing so meant defying the social rules of the time and subjecting himself to the ridicule that came with siding against the popular opinion. The story’s subplot, the Radley conflict, illustrates the growth it took to bring Jem to this moral standpoint. At the beginning of the novel, Jem frequently mentions the rumors regarding the Radley place and its inhabitants, believing them though there is little evidence to support the claims. Even though Jem daringly ventured past the fence, he still holds the same beliefs as the other schoolchildren; the Radleys and their home are dangerous and should be feared.

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1251 Words | 6 Pages

(Lee 226). Dill, at the young age of about eight understands racism, and it makes him sick. This presence of racism in his life and in his town also scares him because he sees people he formerly thought to be good people acting cruelly out of racism. This makes him both more mature and a better person than many of the people, even adults, in his small town of Maycomb, Alabama. This shows that he is pure of heart, unlike his cruel and racist neighbors and the people that live in the same town as him.

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