Perspective In To Kill A Mockingbird
The perspective many people have to society's ways, has a great impact on the way people think, believe, and hold, when faced with the issue of their ethical principles. Harper Lee, tackles this predicament and explains it through the ideas in her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by showing how perspective affects the beliefs people attain to. Through Atticus Finch the heroine of the novel, and the father of the protagonist Jean-Louise (Scout) and her brother, Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem), Lee displays the wisdom of Atticus in the events surrounding the air-rifles, Scouts fighting habits, and Mrs. Dubose’s addiction, and the way that Atticus’ perspective has shaped these beliefs.
“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember …show more content…
it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Lee pg. 119). In this quote Atticus explains to Scout the danger and corruption of abusing the power of authority, in which both the direct and abstract meaning of this aphorism demonstrate the same qualities and morals. Miss Maudie states that ‘Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy’. Pertaining to Tom Robinson this lesson represents the hard work, efforts, and loyalty black people have to their role in society around the timeline of the story (1933), as slaves. Atticus’ profession as a lawyer, and his association with Calpurnia, the negro maid and cook of the Finch house, affects his beliefs towards the black population, as he knows first hand all the racist and false presumptions. How Atticus respects and acts around colored folks not only displays his beliefs, but also affects them through the mutual respect he receives in turn, and shows the truth as it really is. If the people of color do nothing but the hard and tedious work to benefit the caucasian race, it is a sin to abuse and think poorly upon them, to any measure.
To walk a mile in another person’s shoes is another way to say this, “-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee pg. 39), yet rings with the same veracity. The metaphor used portrays the ability of one’s mind to depict themselves in the other person’s point of view and understand why they made the decisions they did. Being a lawyer, this is one of the most essential parts of becoming emotionally connected to the case, and Atticus does, in the mindset of his job at work or not. Following the dispute between Jean-Louise, and Walter Cunningham after school, the dinner at which Walter covered his meal with molasses, and Miss Caroline Fisher’s teaching methods, Atticus discusses these issues with Scout. His lesson shows Scout that sometimes you have to see it from the other person’s viewpoint, and apply it to yourself to see what would have made it the right thing to do. Atticus shows this many times in his valiant parenting, by listening to both sides of the story for both Scout and Jem Finch, and making the right decision by using this teaching in his daily life. As Lee quotes Thomas Jefferson that ‘everyone is equal under the law’ through Atticus, having this standpoint would definitely alter the beliefs of individuals, on different communal statuses in society.
Nearing the end of chapter sixteen in the novel, Atticus begins his trial defending Tom Robinson in the rape case filed against him.
Long before that Atticus teaches Jem a lesson, completely exemplifying the case, to deal with Mrs. Dubose. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” (Lee pg. 149). Mrs. Dubose, a morphine addict, was told she would only have a couple weeks more to live, and she spent those last days and hours, ridding herself of the drug to die a free woman. With the help of Jem and Scout reading to her periodically, she struggled through the gate to god, and as the quote states, showed real courage. Atticus braves this subject again by accepting the Tom Robinson case and begins, already positive of the outcome. In the process of growing up, and experiencing the attitude toward the colored division, Atticus’ witnesses the beliefs of others and how their perspective fueled these. His job as a lawyer has him defending someone and forcing him to believe someone’s side of the story. His perspective has the truth of both parties and he demonstrates true courage by seeing through on the case defending Tom Robinson no matter what, even though he knows he can not
win.
In conclusion, the three lessons, a sin to kill a mockingbird, climbing into another person’s skin, and real courage, best show the experience held by Atticus in To Kill A Mockingbird, and how his perspective in life drives these beliefs. Lee shows the power of unity among people through Atticus in his ability to see the best for his kids, and his peers. He made a ripple in the fictional community in the sleepy town of Maycomb, to change their ways and open their hearts; all because he led them to see a glimpse from his perspective.
“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember …show more content…
it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Lee pg. 119). In this quote Atticus explains to Scout the danger and corruption of abusing the power of authority, in which both the direct and abstract meaning of this aphorism demonstrate the same qualities and morals. Miss Maudie states that ‘Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy’. Pertaining to Tom Robinson this lesson represents the hard work, efforts, and loyalty black people have to their role in society around the timeline of the story (1933), as slaves. Atticus’ profession as a lawyer, and his association with Calpurnia, the negro maid and cook of the Finch house, affects his beliefs towards the black population, as he knows first hand all the racist and false presumptions. How Atticus respects and acts around colored folks not only displays his beliefs, but also affects them through the mutual respect he receives in turn, and shows the truth as it really is. If the people of color do nothing but the hard and tedious work to benefit the caucasian race, it is a sin to abuse and think poorly upon them, to any measure.
To walk a mile in another person’s shoes is another way to say this, “-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee pg. 39), yet rings with the same veracity. The metaphor used portrays the ability of one’s mind to depict themselves in the other person’s point of view and understand why they made the decisions they did. Being a lawyer, this is one of the most essential parts of becoming emotionally connected to the case, and Atticus does, in the mindset of his job at work or not. Following the dispute between Jean-Louise, and Walter Cunningham after school, the dinner at which Walter covered his meal with molasses, and Miss Caroline Fisher’s teaching methods, Atticus discusses these issues with Scout. His lesson shows Scout that sometimes you have to see it from the other person’s viewpoint, and apply it to yourself to see what would have made it the right thing to do. Atticus shows this many times in his valiant parenting, by listening to both sides of the story for both Scout and Jem Finch, and making the right decision by using this teaching in his daily life. As Lee quotes Thomas Jefferson that ‘everyone is equal under the law’ through Atticus, having this standpoint would definitely alter the beliefs of individuals, on different communal statuses in society.
Nearing the end of chapter sixteen in the novel, Atticus begins his trial defending Tom Robinson in the rape case filed against him.
Long before that Atticus teaches Jem a lesson, completely exemplifying the case, to deal with Mrs. Dubose. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” (Lee pg. 149). Mrs. Dubose, a morphine addict, was told she would only have a couple weeks more to live, and she spent those last days and hours, ridding herself of the drug to die a free woman. With the help of Jem and Scout reading to her periodically, she struggled through the gate to god, and as the quote states, showed real courage. Atticus braves this subject again by accepting the Tom Robinson case and begins, already positive of the outcome. In the process of growing up, and experiencing the attitude toward the colored division, Atticus’ witnesses the beliefs of others and how their perspective fueled these. His job as a lawyer has him defending someone and forcing him to believe someone’s side of the story. His perspective has the truth of both parties and he demonstrates true courage by seeing through on the case defending Tom Robinson no matter what, even though he knows he can not
win.
In conclusion, the three lessons, a sin to kill a mockingbird, climbing into another person’s skin, and real courage, best show the experience held by Atticus in To Kill A Mockingbird, and how his perspective in life drives these beliefs. Lee shows the power of unity among people through Atticus in his ability to see the best for his kids, and his peers. He made a ripple in the fictional community in the sleepy town of Maycomb, to change their ways and open their hearts; all because he led them to see a glimpse from his perspective.