To Kill A Mockingbird Pros And Cons Essay

Not every problem can be easily solved with a simple right or wrong solution, sometimes there are pros and cons to a decision that can affect a person both morally and ethically. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird vividly expresses this concept as Lee embroils characters such as Scout, Atticus, and even Mayella Ewell into these types of situations. Each character is faced with a dilemma that affects their morality; decisions in which there are no win-win resolutions. They must each decide what is best for themselves. However, they must also try not to negatively affect those around them, whether it is simply explaining another’s circumstances, staying true to one’s heritage instead of pleasing society, defending a character that others view as a
despicable monster, or avoiding bringing attention to someone who does not want to be noticed, No matter what they choose, someone will be in opposition to their decision. In the beginning of the novel the narrator, Scout Finch, sees Miss Caroline Fisher struggling to comprehend why Walter would not accept the money she had offered to lend it to him for lunch. Therefore, Scout states that he is a Cunningham and this is why he cannot reimburse her, excluding the explanation of how she has come to this conclusion. However, Scout is quickly reprimanded for generalizing the situation and narrates “ If I could have explained these things to Miss Caroline, I would have saved myself some inconvenience and Miss Caroline subsequent mortification, but it was beyond my ability to explain things as well as Atticus.” If Scout had not explained Walter’s circumstances she would not have gotten in trouble. However Walter would not have been rescued from the shame that had been brought upon him from Miss Caroline’s lack of town knowledge. Atticus is faced with the decision of whether or not he should defend Tom Robinson, an African-American man who has been accused of raping a white woman, even though he knows he will not win the case. If he defends Tom he would be seen as a disgrace to his family and his community for believing a black man’s word over a white woman’s, however, if he does not take the case he would no longer feel worthy of being a lawyer nor a father. When Scout asks him why he is taking a case that he is aware he is bound to lose he says, “ Because I could never ask you to mind me again. Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess.” Atticus decided to take the case and both he and his children were antagonized because he did so however, the case still had positive effects on them all and though seen as a negative outcome, gave them a greater insight on the nature of humanity. Atticus, Scout, and Heck Tate decide not to tell the real truth about the stabbing of Bob Ewell in order to keep Mr.
Arthur, also known as Boo Radley, out of the spotlight instead of drawing attention to him. Since Mr. Arthur had usually stayed in the house for all those years it was obvious that he did not want to be noticed or disturbed. The reader later finds out that this is because he appears to have some type of mental disorder and based on the fact that their is so much gossip going around Maycomb and Mr. Arthur does not want to be noticed Scout concludes, “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” This is a reference both to the title of the work as well as to when Atticus told Jem and Scout that it was a sin to hurt someone or something that has only ever done anything to please you, such as a mockingbird. In this case Arthur Radley could be seen as a mockingbird. If Atticus, Heck Tate, or Scout revealed the truth about what happened the night of the attack they would be hurting Mr. Arthur by making him the town hero and bringing unwanted attention towards him. However, they would not be burdened with the guilt of untruthfulness, but the metaphor of killing a mockingbird was a greater
guilt.