Atticus Inhumane In To Kill A Mockingbird
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch’s choice to represent Tom Robinson and completely fulfill his duties in a rape case has many severe consequences. Three of them are, Scout and Jem being ridiculed by their peers, Tom Robinson’s death, and Scout and Jem being attacked by Bob Ewell.
As a result of Atticus’ decisions, Scout and Jem were mocked by their peers. An example of this was during Scout’s fight with Cecil Jacobs. Scout shares her experience with her brother, Jem, saying, “He had announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers. I denied it, but told Jem.” (Lee 74). Not only the fact that Cecil Jacobs responded negatively to Atticus’ resolve, but also that the rest of the school’s …show more content…
reaction to the fact that Scout felt she had to deny it. Also, their cousin, Francis, the grandson of Aunt Alexandra and Uncle Jimmy, scorns Scout for being the daughter of a “nigger lover”. Francis says to Scout, “‘... it’s bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He’s ruinin’ the family, that’s what he’s doin’.’” (Lee 83). This is the result of Atticus’ resolution because if he hadn’t fought for Tom, then Aunt Alexandra most likely would not have spoken about his lack of discriminatory characteristics around her grandson.
In response to Atticus’ choice to truly fight against Tom’s imminent jail sentence, he was shot seventeen times and killed by a prison guard. The news is broken to the Finch family during a Missionary Society meeting, and the whole family is distraught. Atticus describes how Mr. Robinson’s life came to an end, saying, “‘They shot him,’” said Atticus. “‘He was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over. Right in front of them--’” (Lee 235). This is the consequence of Atticus’ decision because if it were not for Atticus, he would have been killed long before the trial that took place, and his right to a fair hearing ignored. In addition, he prolonged Helen’s loss of her partner, Tom Robinson. Dill recounts the situation, telling Scout, “‘... she just fell down in the dirt. Just fell down in the dirt, like a giant with a big foot just came along and stepped on her. Just ump--’ Dill’s fat foot hit the ground. ‘Like you’d step on an ant.’” (Lee 240) Helen had to lose her husband at an unnecessarily young age, but, she is reassured by the race of those who took a selfish and abusive man more seriously than the hard working man her husband was that Tom’s life mattered.
Due to Atticus’ strong and controversial defense against Mayella Ewell’s case Bob Ewell attacked Atticus’ two children.
During the Finch children’s return from the Maycomb pageant, where Scout performed as a ham, Bob snuck behind Scout and Jem and attacked the two children. Scout illustrates their fear, saying, “...I fell to the ground and rolled as far as I could, floundering to escape my wire prison. From somewhere near by came scuffling, kicking sounds, sounds of shoes and flesh scraping dirt and roots… More scuffling, and there came a dull crunching sound and Jem screamed.” (Lee 262). This is a repercussion of Atticus’ drive to represent his client to the fullest extent because Bob Ewell’s idea of stealing back the pride Atticus took from him is to take what Atticus cares for most-- his children. Lastly, the aggressive acts set in motion by Mr. Ewell who was provoked by Mr. Finch’s fight for Mr. Robinson resulted in Bob Ewell’s death. Bob is injured badly by the scuffle he began, and dies because of a stab wound. This is, indirectly, Atticus’ fault because if he hadn’t put his effort into the case he was given, then Bob wouldn’t have attacked the children, and if Bob hadn’t attacked the children, Arthur wouldn’t have helped the children and murdered Mr. Ewell.
All in all, the entirety of To Kill a Mockingbird is one gigantic consequence of Atticus Finch’s determination to let the law hold true for all, no matter their skin color or the prejudice others have against
them.
As a result of Atticus’ decisions, Scout and Jem were mocked by their peers. An example of this was during Scout’s fight with Cecil Jacobs. Scout shares her experience with her brother, Jem, saying, “He had announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers. I denied it, but told Jem.” (Lee 74). Not only the fact that Cecil Jacobs responded negatively to Atticus’ resolve, but also that the rest of the school’s …show more content…
reaction to the fact that Scout felt she had to deny it. Also, their cousin, Francis, the grandson of Aunt Alexandra and Uncle Jimmy, scorns Scout for being the daughter of a “nigger lover”. Francis says to Scout, “‘... it’s bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He’s ruinin’ the family, that’s what he’s doin’.’” (Lee 83). This is the result of Atticus’ resolution because if he hadn’t fought for Tom, then Aunt Alexandra most likely would not have spoken about his lack of discriminatory characteristics around her grandson.
In response to Atticus’ choice to truly fight against Tom’s imminent jail sentence, he was shot seventeen times and killed by a prison guard. The news is broken to the Finch family during a Missionary Society meeting, and the whole family is distraught. Atticus describes how Mr. Robinson’s life came to an end, saying, “‘They shot him,’” said Atticus. “‘He was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over. Right in front of them--’” (Lee 235). This is the consequence of Atticus’ decision because if it were not for Atticus, he would have been killed long before the trial that took place, and his right to a fair hearing ignored. In addition, he prolonged Helen’s loss of her partner, Tom Robinson. Dill recounts the situation, telling Scout, “‘... she just fell down in the dirt. Just fell down in the dirt, like a giant with a big foot just came along and stepped on her. Just ump--’ Dill’s fat foot hit the ground. ‘Like you’d step on an ant.’” (Lee 240) Helen had to lose her husband at an unnecessarily young age, but, she is reassured by the race of those who took a selfish and abusive man more seriously than the hard working man her husband was that Tom’s life mattered.
Due to Atticus’ strong and controversial defense against Mayella Ewell’s case Bob Ewell attacked Atticus’ two children.
During the Finch children’s return from the Maycomb pageant, where Scout performed as a ham, Bob snuck behind Scout and Jem and attacked the two children. Scout illustrates their fear, saying, “...I fell to the ground and rolled as far as I could, floundering to escape my wire prison. From somewhere near by came scuffling, kicking sounds, sounds of shoes and flesh scraping dirt and roots… More scuffling, and there came a dull crunching sound and Jem screamed.” (Lee 262). This is a repercussion of Atticus’ drive to represent his client to the fullest extent because Bob Ewell’s idea of stealing back the pride Atticus took from him is to take what Atticus cares for most-- his children. Lastly, the aggressive acts set in motion by Mr. Ewell who was provoked by Mr. Finch’s fight for Mr. Robinson resulted in Bob Ewell’s death. Bob is injured badly by the scuffle he began, and dies because of a stab wound. This is, indirectly, Atticus’ fault because if he hadn’t put his effort into the case he was given, then Bob wouldn’t have attacked the children, and if Bob hadn’t attacked the children, Arthur wouldn’t have helped the children and murdered Mr. Ewell.
All in all, the entirety of To Kill a Mockingbird is one gigantic consequence of Atticus Finch’s determination to let the law hold true for all, no matter their skin color or the prejudice others have against
them.