I envision the kids not wanting to meet Boo because they are terrified of him. Stories about Boo include the stabbing of his family member, and him being in a gang. I imagine the children not wanting to talk to him because of his house and the instances surrounding the house. One instance of the house is the poisonous pecans on the side of his lawn. When playing ball, if the ball is hit in the Radley yard it is…
In the story, To Kill A Mockingbird, there is a town called Maycomb, that experiences racial prejudice, I know this because of what some of the characters say or experience.…
The children were fascinated with Boo Radley because everyone knew about Boo’s past, there were many rumors about him, and no one has seen him…
Stereotypes are generalized traits that people assume about a group of people. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird stereotypes are used frequently with how different families act, and also how different races appear to others. In the book stereotypes are important when Harper Lee makes the Ewells portray the stereotype for “white trash”. During the trial for the raping of Mayella Ewell this becomes very clear when she writes, “ No truant officers could keep their numerous offspring in school; no public health officer could free them from congenital defects, various worms, and the diseases indigenous to filthy surroundings.”(Lee 227). Lee made this family the stereotypical “white trash” family because it shows the true…
The children believe all of the rumors they have heard about Boo Radley. They even start to make…
The first kind of ignorance portrayed in the book is the ignorance of children. When To Kill a Mockingbird starts out, the main character, Scout, is just five years old, so she doesn’t know how the world works yet and is easily influenced by others. For example, when Walter Cunningham, a boy from a poorer background, came to the Finch household for a meal, Scout said that “‘he's just a Cunningham’” (33). This…
Justice vs. Injustice is a very prevalent theme in the text To Kill a Mockingbird, the song “You’re Crashing, But You’re No Wave” and the article The Nation: The Central Park Jogger; An Old Case in a Different New York. In To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM), Atticus Finch is called on to defend a black man accused of rape. Before the case is turned over to the jury, Atticus presents the jury with his final argument. He believes that the case requires “no minute sifting of complicated facts,” and should be easily decided. Atticus asks the jury not to get caught by the Prosecutor's case, as they gave very few adequate points and are relying on the assumption that “all negroes lie, that all negroes are basically immoral beings.” Sadly, Tom Robinson…
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, characters resist the status quo many of their family and friends believe in to take a stand against racial injustice. For example, Atticus takes the case to defend Tom against his family’s wishes, because if he didn't, “.... [he] couldn't hold [his] head up in town, [he] couldn't represent this county in the legislature..” (100). Scout was asking Atticus why he would defend Negroes if he wasn't supposed to, and Atticus told Scout he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't accept the case.…
Prejudice towards different people is a huge part of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird novel. Nearly every little mishap in the book has been somehow linked or caused by prejudice. Naturally, the town of Maycomb is affected by it, and the effect isn’t for the best. Prejudice is a destructive force in Maycomb, bringing nothing to the town. The cause of Maycomb being destroyed is prejudice spreading hatred throughout the town, separating the people, and excluding and enabling members of the town to fully get what they need.…
A lesson taught by Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird is that you should never kill a mockingbird because they only create music and harm nothing. What Atticus meant by this is that you should never hurt an innocent person no matter the situation. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird the mockingbird symbolizes all that is innocent and all that is harmless in society. Harper Lee uses two characters to show the innocence in people and to show how this innocence is often killed: Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. The theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, that often the innocent are harmed by the wicked unjustly and intentionally, only to be saved by the brave and intelligent, who try hard to show society who these people really are is clearly articulated throughout the novel by the use of the symbolism of the mockingbird infused in the…
When searching for a new book to read, people are often drawn to one that has an intriguing cover, not even bothering to learn what the book is actually about. Although the old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” may seem foolish, people often use this tendency. Similar to judging a book by its cover, people commonly judge others based on rumors and reputations. Harper Lee depicts this theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, demonstrating that one must dig beyond the surface to find the truth. Although Miss Stephanie’s outrageous claims about Boo Radley have the potential to sway Jem and Scout, the children boldly choose to look beyond the erratic rumors Miss Stephanie feeds them and instead believe in Atticus’ core philosophy of climbing in another person’s skin and walking around in it. Since doing so enables the children to better understand Boo’s situation and establish an unconventional friendship with him, this one simple decision ultimately results in Boo saving their lives, which most likely would not have happened if Jem and Scout had believed Miss Stephanie’s false gossip. The unknown nature of Arthur “Boo” Radley gives the children a blank canvas of his personality that is painted by the prejudiced views of Miss Stephanie to create a distorted image of him. The neighborhood relationship the children have with Miss Stephanie is based largely on the phony information she tells them. This is conveyed from the moment that the reader is first acquainted with Miss Stephanie. She is introduced as the neighborhood source of gossip on the Radley family. Interestingly, Jem and Scout turned to Miss Stephanie, of all people, in hopes of learning more about their mysterious neighbor. This shows that Miss Stephanie is infamous for sticking her nose into other people’s business, which is not something to be proud of. At the same time, her fabricated stories give the children a false image of Boo. Being young and gullible, Jem and Scout…
As a child progresses in their life, they learn proper behavior; most of which is learned through mistakes. For example, if a child participates in an immoral act, such as swearing, a parent could yell at that child and punish them for cursing. By punishing a child for doing something wrong, the child realizes they made a mistake, and will be less likely to make the same mistake in the future. However, if the parent had not yelled at the child, the child would not know any better and most likely continue cursing. The method of a child learning by mistakes is very effective in any situation, and instead of fearing mistakes, children can learn to embrace errors and move forward with maturity, success and wisdom. In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Jem and Scout Finch…
Social inequity is an arising issue has been affecting billions of people around the world for centuries, and it needs more attention! Even innocent teenagers have been exposed to these types of prejudices. Of course, the effects of it are not good. Different kinds of literature are useful tools for shining a light on social injustice, and writers are taking advantage of this fact and writing many novels about social inequities. Authors have been writing articles and stories about racial, social, financial and gender inequities which reflect to today’s society to try and galvanize readers into action.…
Social inequality was a major factor of society during The Great Depression. People frowned upon other races.Some welcomed them to their community but many others did not. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, There's a huge difference between two races. The novel explores human morality and shows many indications of it throughout the book.…
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, someone says a phrase that will not be repeated again in the book but continues on in it as an underlying theme. It is a sin to kill a mockingbird, Atticus states this and when he does he is not just talking about birds. He is also talking about people and objects. He uses a mockingbird as a metaphor of innocence. This innocence represents Scout, Tom Robinson, and even “Boo” Radley. Atticus may not have directed this quote towards these people but they are included in it. Scout is seen as a mockingbird to the reader during the Tom Robinson trial, Tom Robinson is also seen as a mockingbird during his trial, and finally “Boo” Radley is seen as a mockingbird throughout…