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Universal Truths In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In William Faulkner’s Nobel Prize speech, he addresses the universal truths in literature that include love, pity, honor, pride, compassion, sacrifice, courage, and hope. These truths serve as themes in literature, and are used to convey the idea of the Other in society. The Other is considered to be different from the rest of society, and treated as lesser than most. Pieces of literature that use these truths help society convey the idea of the Other are considered to be better because they give an aspect of Humanity. Some of these pieces include To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee that dive into many issues the United States had during the 1930s. The story follows a little girl named Jean Louise Finch also known as “Scout” by her family. …show more content…

The Radley family is on the Finches' nearby neighbors that don’t contribute to the town and aren’t seen very often, Specifically Arthur Radley which the kids have nicknamed “Boo”. Boo is considered an outcast in the area because no one has seen him recently and there are lots of rumors about him. One night as Jem and Scout are coming home when they are attacked by Bob Ewele, a man who hated Atticus for the trial, Boo appears and deals with Bob. He kills Bob with a knife, and after the incident Sheriff Heck Tate tells Atticus that Bob killed himself by landing on his own knife. Sheriff Tate does this to protect Boo, since Boo didn’t help for recognition. Tate says “I never heard to say that it’s against the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed, which is exactly what he did '' (Lee 276). Boo preventing the crime helped show that he was a normal person and always wanted to do the right thing. He showed courage coming out to save the children from being harmed, and didn’t care about the consequences he could face for killing a man. Also Sheriff Tate showed he cared for Boo by trying to cover up what had happened. He cared for Boo and conveyed the idea of the Other being cared about. Boo’s courageous actions expressed the idea of the Other’s …show more content…

Atticus took the Tom Robinson case, which prosecuted Tom for the raping of a young white female. Atticus knew that the case would be very difficult to prove he is not guilty but took it anyways. Many people questioned his actions and many disapproved of the example he was setting. But when his children asked, Atticus said “ The main one is, if I don’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem to do something again”(Lee 73). Atticus is taking the trial, because he knows that is the right thing to do no matter the consequences. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t, and his actions show that he is bringing out courage. He realizes the Other in this situation and wants to help society perceive the Other in the same light as he does. He wants this trial to serve as a message to society about the Other. Atticus knew his courage would prove that society would view the Other when accepting the

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He looked out for jem and scout when they were going home and when he saw them being attacked he went and defended them, which lead to him killing Bob Ewell with a kitchen knife. “Thank you for my children, Arthur,” [Atticus] this shows that atticus was thanking boo for his bravery to protect over the children that weren’t even his but he looked at them as his children. Boo showed courage from like behind the scene by looking out for Scout and Jem without anybody

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Jem, Scout, and Heck Tate all know that Boo fell on his knife, but they still say that Bob fell on his knife. Heck Tate says about Boo, “‘If it were and other man it would be different But not this man, Mr. Finch’”(Lee 370). This shows Heck Tate is beginning to see what kind of person Boo actually is. They cover for him because they realize they killed him for the safety of the kids, not for a bad reason.

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Atticus also takes on defending an African American. Not many people would do this back then people they were racist and rude. When Atticus took on this case he knew that they didn’t have a shot at winning, but he took it on anyway because he knew it was the right thing to do. The town was rude and disrespectful to Atticus, but Atticus never backed down. Atticus also did his best to defend Tom and overall with all the evidence Tom should not have been guilty.

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Atticus defends Tom Robinson against his own race despite knowing the fact that before the trial even begins, he's going to lose. He knows that many of the whites living in Maycomb want to see Tom Robinson, an African American accused of raping and beating a white woman, killed. He started receiving threats from whites men but that doesn't stop Atticus from doing what he thinks is right. When he acts with integrity, he received more support and love from the African American

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Atticus considers that if someone is being accused of a severe crime it is very important to have other people to verify that the events actually occurred. Atticus explains himself saying, “- I mean, before a man’s sentenced to death for murder say, there should be one or two eye-witnesses. Someone should be able to say, “Yes, I was there and saw him pull the trigger.” (219). He believes this is important because it would prevent innocent people from going to jail and create a more fair and just trial.

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He explains how it is not fair to Tom that just because he is black, he is unjustly accused of something. Atticus understands and tries to point out the fact that if it was a white man in Tom’s position, the jury would have a different opinion on the situation. Atticus displays a prime example of how someone should try to achieve social justice, even when the situation is unfair. Also, while saying his statements, Atticus exclaims how Tom felt sorry for a white woman, Mayella, and that he had been forced to put his own word against two white people. Here, Atticus reinforces the thought of how this jury is unfair to Tom.

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Radley. Throughout the years, Boo was always there to assist, care for, and watch over the children. Yet he lurked in the shadows, keeping his distance, and remaining unseen. Draping a blanket over the freezing kids as they watched the blazing flames engulf Miss Maudie’s house, leaving tiny gifts in the Radley tree, stitching up Jem’s pants, and saving `them from the wrath of Bob Ewell, these were all generous actions Boo carried out for the Finch’s. Scout was beyond grateful, but felt guilty she had not given back to Mr. Radley.

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He hadn’t left his house in years and hadn’t been seen either, but he left his house to save Scout and Jem armed with a only a kitchen knife and killed Bob Ewell. It took a lot of courage for Boo to attack Bob in the woods because he rarely left his house, people hadn’t seen him in years, and he was very shy. He knew that there was a good chance that he wouldn’t be able to stop Bob, and that he would probably have to be seen by many people and talk in front of them at court. He showed courage because he was scared and shy, but he knew that the children weren’t going to be safe unless he killed Bob

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(Lee 139). Throughout the book, Boo Radley is an illusive character, never seen outside his house. However, not only did he come out to watch Jem and Scout, he also fought off Mr. Ewell to save the kids. Boo Radley demonstrates his love for these kids by coming out of the safety of his house to heroically save Jem and Scout. Like Boo Radley protecting Jem and Scout, Heck Tate put his reputation in jeopardy to protect Boo Radley.

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(Lee 352-370) If Boo Radley had not been able to face his fears, he could have still been stuck in his house, with no telling if the children would be safe. Lee shows courage from men you would never have believed willing of these actions. Once again, showing it

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As the book goes on and the characters change, ethical dilemmas about fear, and racism are seen. Additionally, what the book has to say about moral values and how things are done is mentioned in this essay. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee depicts the crude reality of Ethical Dilemmas in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1950s. One of the first Ethical Dilemmas presented in the book is what are the morals of the people in Maycomb. It is clear that Maycomb has differences in how people act, but that is different on what their moral values are.

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This small act of care by Boo, similar to fixing and folding Jem’s pants, are indications of Boo’s love for the kids, and how he will help them, despite his fears. When Mr. Ewell was attacking the kids “He slowly squeezed the breath out of [Scout]… Suddenly he was jerked backwards and flung on the ground” (301). All of the events leading up to this fight demonstrated what he would do to help the kids, but the ultimate event showing courage was him killing Mr. Ewell. Boo went and fought for the kids even though it could end up with him having the same fate as Tom Robinson, but it didn’t matter to him.

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638 Words | 3 Pages

In which Scout says “Well, it’d be sort of shootin a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (317). Boo is an important symbol of the good (innocence) that exists within people. Despite the pain that Boo has suffered from others, his kindness shows with his interaction with the children.

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828 Words | 4 Pages

Atticus 's strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom with vigor and determination, giving it all he 's got with one mission in mind. He wants the people of

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