Susannah O’Connell
Ms. Kobilarcik
Honors English- Per.3
17 January 2023
Protecting a Rose-Tinted World Wishing upon a star, imaginary friends, constant laughter. All of these correlates to childlike innocence, that rose-tinted world everyone saw when they were younger. Innocence is a pivotal theme in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch, the father of 6-year-old Scout, and 12-year-old Jem, is a good honest man. Atticus believes that everyone should be given fair and equal opportunities in life, shown by his choice of employment, a lawyer. Atticus has a very good moral compass, he uses it to help others when they need him the most. Time and time again he is shown to try to make his children better people, and to get a well-rounded moral compass, one of his most influential lessons was when he states, “ Shoot
…show more content…
These two birds mentioned have polar opposite characteristics, the bluejay is known to be very aggressive and hostile to other birds, while the mockingbird is known for their sweet sing-song chirp. Bluejays are like the adults in Atticus’ hometown, they are rude, judgemental, and cruel. Scout and Jem are like the Mockingjay, they still have that sweet child view of the world. As their father, Atticus, wants his children to remain children for as long as possible, he wants them to keep their bright imaginations and spirit. Author, Harper Lee, named her book after this quote, trying to emphasize its meaning. Mockingbirds are pure, harmless creatures that embody innocence. Miss. Maudie, the neighborhood gossip explains, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up
Miss Maudie herself explains to the reader what a mockingbird is when she tells Scout, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one
Max Young Dempsey-Brookhart English 8C 20 March 2017 Chapters 1-3 Guided Reading Questions 1. Atticus Finch is a widowed father of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch and Jem Finch. He is a very wise and very smart man who gives good advice, and is sure to be honest with his children. Scout is the main character in To Kill a Mockingbird. She is a young girl with a wild imagination, and is adjusting to a new life as she enters her first year of school.
They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us (Lee page 90).” This quote reveals that mockingbirds are innocent, and that it would be unfair to target them, because they do not do one thing that would give a person reason too. Later in the story when the trial is going on, during Toms testimony he states,” she reached up and kissed me on the side of my face (Lee page 194).”
In Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch acts calm, patient, and exculpatory, hereby displaying his Christ-like character. Atticus Finch has two children, Jem and Scout, whom he raises almost completely on his own. Of course, as the children grow up, many circumstances arise in which Jem and Scout are disobedient. For example, one day, unjust circumstances arise, making anger boil deep in Scout’s head and heart. Because of this, Scout starts kicking the adults around her.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a young girl by the name of Jean Finch and her brother Jeremy Finch go through events that teach them multiple different life lessons like changing their perspectives to other peoples before judging them. This ties in the meaning of the mockingbird which represents innocence because it causes no harm to anyone; to judge or to harm it proves that one does not understand its perspective. In the novel, Harper Lee brings up many times where the representation of a mockingbird appears. There is one direct time when their father, Atticus, asks the kids not to shoot any mockingbirds and Ms. Maudie tells Scout “Your father’s right. Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, a highly respected lawyer, plays a pivotal role in instilling his children with a profound understanding of morals and values. Atticus accomplishes this by engaging in heartfelt conversations with his children, providing them with insight into his motivations and actions. Throughout the book, Atticus's teachings emerge as crucial lessons, illuminating the significance of empathy, courage, and the pursuit of fairness and justice. Firstly, Atticus exemplifies the importance of empathy by displaying compassion towards the people of Maycomb, even when faced with their animosity.
Personal values and morals are instilled into children by their parents . Jem and Scout Finch, characters from Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, are open minded, educated, young children that have a father named Atticus Finch who tries to teach his children to have sound morals and personal values . The children have not been sheltered from life's hardships due to their father Atticus's views on parenting instead they have learned right from wrong. Atticus Finch believes that not sheltering his kids from the world allows them to form strong morals and values. Atticus Finch does what he believes will help make his children into strong citizens with outstanding values and morals.
Mockingbirds are beings who embody innocence. Jem and Scout were often told by their father not to kill mockingbirds. To kill a mockingbird means to destroy innocence, either by physically killing the aforementioned mockingbird, or corrupting them with cruelty. Dill Harris,
Atticus tells us in the novel “it is a sin to kill a mocking bird”, after this Miss Maudie explains “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up peoples gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee many characters are victims of the harsh conditions of Maycomb County. Often those who are seen to be metaphorical mockingbirds are punished the most. A mockingbird is one who only wants and attempts to do good. Characters such as Boo Radley, Jem Finch and Tom Robinson are exemplars of mockingbirds in Maycomb. In the novel it is explained by Atticus that killing a mockingbird is a sin because they do not do anything to harm to us like nesting in corncribs, or eating up the gardens, they only sing for us.
(Lee, 351) This quote captures the moment of harm and danger that Scout experienced, symbolizing the loss of innocence and the cruel realities of the world around her. It represents the harm inflicted upon Scout's innocence and vulnerability. Through Scout Finch's character, Harper Lee underscores the vulnerability of innocence in the face of prejudice and injustice. Scout's journey from naivety to understanding highlights her role as a human mockingbird and the loss of innocence experienced throughout the
Father, lawyer, and friend, the gentlemanly Atticus Finch hopes to shape the character of his children. The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is the story of the childhood of a young girl named Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Throughout the book, Scout’s father, Atticus, tries his best to raise her and her brother, Jem, the right way as a single parent. To Kill a Mockingbird exemplifies the way the character of Atticus Finch either uses ritual or abandons it in order to develop certain character qualities within his children. He specifically focuses on the development of honesty, courage, and humility.
In this book, Atticus Finch is a loving father who is raising two children, Jem and Scout. He is often a misunderstood individual and is frowned upon by many in his town. By looking at the examples of Atticus Finch’s parenting style, it can be seen how he is a good, loving father to his children who teaches them the proper way in which they should go. An important aspect to consider when deciding if Atticus Finch is a smart and loving father to his children is to examine some examples from the book To Kill a Mockingbird.
Mockingbirds are an important symbol because they represent goodness and innocence. In this book, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are two innocent men, similar to mockingbirds, who get taken advantage of due to their innocence. Atticus and Miss Maudie teach Scout and Jem that it’s a sin to harm anything innocent by using the example of mockingbirds. Mockingbirds are innocent because they only positively affect people through their singing.
Many people forget the simplistic and common values that their child selves once held; values such as innocence and bliss, which children have always had since humans have walked the Earth. Their inability to see the harsher side of life has inspired many tales and exciting adventures from their point of view, which always adds an interesting way of thinking about the world. People so often lose this innocence that they fail to see and admire some of the things only kids can see. This much and more is most certainly true of Jean Louise Finch, the narrator and main character of Harper Lee’s famous book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Jean Louise, also known as Scout in the story, has many admirable qualities as a kid because she has the ability to think beyond herself and shows courage to the people around her.