When Aunt Alexandra moved in with the finches, "[She] fitted into… Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never into the world of Jem and [Scout]" (Lee 216 Chpt. 13). Alexandra is the epitome of the south. She has hatred towards African-Americans, and she believes that girls should learn to cook and clean and never run around and play with her friends. As for Jem and Scout, they believe that girls can have fun and roughhouse, and think that African-Americans are equal to white people such as themselves. Because Scout believes that her Aunt has the opposite ideas from what Atticus believes, Scout is prejudice against her own family member. This quote helps define the thematic subject of prejudice or understanding people who are different. Scout…
Based on perspective, Atticus Finch considers that Maycomb is a racist, yet an atrocious town; due to its racialist/intolerant behaviors that the citizens practice towards different skin complexions. For instance, an example of this bigotry can be demonstrated by Tom Robinson’s case; as this was clearly shown/said throughout the arguments during the court trial. As a single parent and a lawyer, Atticus Finch receives a lot of negative attention in Maycomb for representing Tom Robinson's case; which also, happens to have a negative impact on his children. They are talked about, made fun of, and their lives are even threatened at some points.…
One quickly realizes when reading To Kill a Mockingbird that Scout is who she is because of the way Atticus has raised her. He has nurtured her mind, conscience, and individuality without bogging her down in fussy social dealing which she is obviously mature enough to deal with but is far too young to worry with. While most girls in Scout's position would be wearing dresses and learning manners, Scout, thanks to Atticus's hands-off parenting…
It is not talked about much in the book, but Atticus does not always seems to be as confident as he is in the courtroom. One of Atticus’ only weaknesses is his confidence in himself. He seems to doubt himself in his parenting the most. Which I believe is because he lost his wife years ago and is unsure if he is raising his children right. Especially in the feminity in Scout. It is uncommon for girls to wear overalls and play rough at this time in the south. Scout is often criticized for how she dress and how she does not act…
Some people could argue that Atticus is stern because he reprimands his kids too harshly. The opposition tries to prove this point by using this thought by Scout, “His curtness stung me… For no reason I felt myself beginning to cry, but I could not stop. This was not my father.”(Lee 178) However, Atticus is virtuous because without reprimanding his kids, they would not know what is right behavior and what is wrong behavior. In the days after Tom Robinson’s conviction, Atticus has a conversation with Jem. Jem doesn’t understand how even though Tom Robinson was innocent, he was still convicted. Jem says he wasn’t guilty and the decision of the jury wasn’t right. Atticus brings up when he was at the jail and the crew of men showed up to beat…
In the novel to kill a mockingbird they present Atticus Finch a character who seems Christ like centered. However Maycomb the small town where to kill a mockingbird takes place is racist we will see how Atticus acts upon this. Atticus is a Christ like centered character because he has many similar characteristics to Jesus. This essay talks about three traits; loving, compassionate, caring.…
Atticus believes in treating people fairly. For instance on page 100 Atticus says the reason he defends tom robinson is “I couldn’t hold my head up in town, I couldn’t represent this town’s legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or jem not to do something again”. This is an example of how Atticus treats Tom Robinson equally no matter the color of his skin by defending him like how he would defend a white man when the rest of the town will despise Atticus because of it. Also on page 39 Atticus and scout are having a…
One allusion that atticus used effectively was"all men are created equal"Lee, Harper. To kill a mockingbird: Harper Lee. New York, Scribner Laidlaw, 1989. Atticus says this Allusion to show the hostile jury that all men should be treated equally. To discourage the juries racism or biasty around the case. "Our courts have their faults as does any human institution, but in this country, our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal"Lee, Harper. To kill a mockingbird: Harper Lee. New York, Scribner Laidlaw, 1989 (Pg. 226-227). He uses another allusion to to help expand on the theme of people being discriminating against black people to show that being racially prejudice is wrong, especially when dealing with the…
Atticus is a white lawyer who lives in this racially prejudice town yet he is willing to stand up for a black man. A prime example of Atticus’ ability to help Scout mature is his advice and teaching Scout to not be judgmental of other people based on their appearance or actions. Atticus tells Scout, “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.” (Lee 30) This quote teaches Scout a life lesson that changes her personality throughout the rest of the novel because Atticus is telling her to not be judgemental differs her from everyone else in Maycomb. Nobody in Maycomb considers a black person’s point of view. Everyone else is willing to judge people solely based on their skin color. On the other hand, Scout does not judge people and is accepting of everyone. Another example of Atticus providing Scout advice that influences her development is his reference to killing mockingbirds. “Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something…” Miss Maudie responds to Scout by saying “Your father’s right….Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy….but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill…
Atticus has nurtured Scouts mind, conscience and individuality without bogging her down with social hypocrisies and propriety. Atticus's hands off parenting style has lead Scout to be wearing overalls and climbing trees with Jem, her brother and Dill their neighbour. Instead of wearing dresses and learning manners like any other girl in her same position, she has been able to grow up freely and with out much baggage. Despite being very intelligent (she could read before she started school), she does not grasp social niceties, this is shown when Scout goes to school and bluntly tell her teacher Ms Caroline that one of her class mates Walter Cunningham is too poor to pay her back for lunch. "You're shamin' him, Miss Caroline. Walter hasn't got a quarter at home to bring you" pg 24 Scout upset from being told off at school starts to fight Walter Cunningham but Jem intervenes and invites Walter for dinner. During dinner it is revealed to her that Walter's family may be poor but doesn't mean that they are bad people and should be treated with respect. Scout realises not to be judgemental and should treat all people, big or small, poor or rich with…
In Haper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" the characters face adversity that develop the controversial, effective themes. Lee uses both racism and discrimination themes are represented in this novel, especially through the character Atticus's actions and words. Accordingly, Atticus believes that racism is wrong and despite what everyone else thinks, strives to see both races equally. For example, Aunt Alexandra moves in with the Finches because she strongly believes that Jem and Scout need a feminine mentor in their life but excludes Calpurnia, who is of the opposite race. She even attempts to change everything about how Atticus fathers his children and how he treats Calpurnia; including how he speaks to her at home.…
Atticus is the father figure for his kids, Jem and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. The Finch family lives in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The kids spend much of their time playing with their gregarious neighbor, Dill, and spying on their reclusive and mysterious neighbor Boo Radley. When their father, Atticus, who is a widowed man and a respected lawyer, defends a black man named Tom Robinson against fabricated rape charges against a white girl, he is in/at a detriment. The trial, events following and the people they have interactions with, expose Jem and Scout to racism and stereotyping. This completely changes their view of the world. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, uses characterization to portray how a child’s…
Atticus once said “ You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view”. In this passage you can see Atticus talking to Scout about understanding different people's point of view. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many examples of never fully understanding what one has gone through until one has lived in someone else's shoes.…
In the beginning of the book, Scout is a tomboy. She acts, dresses, and walks like a boy because when she was little her mom died, leaving her in a house with two men, Jem and Atticus. Scout has a lot of masculine influence but no feminine influence. Scout also has a raging temper, a manly trait, which she develops by hanging around boys too much. For example, one day at school, she punches Walter Cunningham for embarrassing her in front of the new teacher, and when she gets home, Atticus lectures her and tells her to control her temper and never to punch anyone ever again. Instead of acting like a girl, she goes hunting, swimming, and running around with boys, in boys clothes. Scout does not want to be a woman. Jem tells Scout, "It's time you started bein' a girl and acting right" (115) as opposed to earlier when he told Scout to stop acting like a girl. Scout gets all offended when he says both of these because she had always wanted to be exactly like Jem, which is why she always acts like a boy and never like a girl. Later in the book she says, "Ladies seem to live in faint horror of men . . . But I liked them. There was something about them, no matter how much they cussed and drank and gambled and chew. No matter how delectable they were, there was something about them that I instinctively like" (234). Now she likes men because in her opinion they are better and more fun, as opposed to her liking them just because of Jem. Her views on…
In "To Kill a Mockingbird", the author, Harper Lee, makes it clear that the expectations that Aunt Alexandra had for people were immoral. Aunt Alexandra expected Scout to dress and act like a lady. She wanted her to do things, such as wearing dresses, talking like a lady, and not doing things that boys do. However, Scout was not ready to make that change, because she was used to doing the exact opposite of what Aunt Alexandra asked her. She was doing things that boys would do, like wearing overalls, running around outside, and even fighting with other people. This was a reason that Scout did not like her Aunt very much; on the other hand, Scout had much respect for Atticus because he did not judge her by her appearance, but by her intentions, actions, and mentality. Through Aunt Alexandra, Harper Lee shows us that expectations should be built in accord to a person's character.…