Atticus had many good qualities that he tried to pass to the two youngsters, but egalitarian, tolerance, and respect were the ones that were demonstrated through Atticus’s actions. Egalitarian was a characteristic well exhibited during the first part, since the first part was about preparing the reader for the Tom Robinson's trial in which Atticus was the defense lawyer for the young, black man. This equality aspect did not only exhibit through Atticus taking the job as the defense lawyer for Tom Robinson but by the respect, Atticus had for Calpurnia. When Jem invited Walter to eat with them and Scout called on Walter for spilling syrup all over his food, Calpurnia excused Scout and scolded her for embarrassing Walter. Later on, when Jem and …show more content…
This part was the first time that Atticus talked about the trial with Scout. Knowing Scout’s attitude, Atticus warned her about controlling her temper when someone insulted him. He said, “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don't you let 'em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change ... it's a good one, even if it does resist learning” (Lee 101). Atticus was a extremely tolerant man. The reader can clearly see this by how he handled all the insults that were being thrown at him. He also tried to teach his two children, mainly Scout, about tolerance, which is seen many times in the first part, since Atticus is aware of the negativity that the trial will soon bring. Overall, Atticus was a respectful man who believed that everyone was equal to each other; he also was a marvelous father that tried to indoctrinate his children about three golden qualities: tolerance, respect, and
Despite the fact that these men threatened to seriously harm or even kill him, Atticus maintains a constant state of optimism towards others. Atticus knows all people harbor a small amount of kindness in their hearts, so he is always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and forgive those who refuse to forgive others. Even while living in a time and place surrounded by conflict, Atticus shows how a softened heart and a trained mind can benefit the mental health of a community and strengthen broken
Rhetorical Analysis Essay What does the word equality mean? Many can’t answer this question without using the word equal or the classic definition of being fair. However, the true definition of equality is having the same rights, freedom, and privilege as everyone else in the world, with no discrimination or prejudice towards race, gender, or any other physical characteristics that might determine an unfair predicament. Atticus Finch, a white, impartial, and practical man defending a man of no privilege, digs deep down into the roots of this four-syllable word by presenting a speech to the jury, condemning a white daughter and father who attempt to destroy the image of an innocent black man, Tom Robinson, due to their racial privilege.
The term disenfranchisement can be defined as depriving someone of their rights, power and privileges. This notion is heavily explored and demonstrated in Harper Lee’s classical novel - “ To Kill A Mockingbird”, published in 1960. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is set in the fictitious rural town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. The plot of this novel occurs in an era of great social and economic turmoil. Discrimination and racism was at its peak and Lee, the author manages to capture this attitude in her novel.
Equally important, he never frowned upon them, or disgraced their ways. While speaking to his children, Atticus conveys this, “Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man” (Lee 139). As a result, he displays to his children that he is not a coward and will not back away from a challenge, even if it means his reputation may taper as the trial advances. Correspondingly, the African American populous makes known that they are appreciative of Atticus’s intentions to free Tom of his accusation. During the trial, the members of the African American public watched Atticus vividly defend their friend as if color was no
Furthermore, this theme is enhanced when Atticus is talking to Scout and Jem about the trial. He asks them (especially Scout) to not fight anyone no matter what they say about Him. “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you, don’t let ‘em get your goat.” (Lee, 87)
At school, Scout nearly starts a fight with a classmate named Cecil Jacobs after he declares that her “daddy defends niggers” (Lee, 74). Scout being too young to fully understand this statement automatically denies it. Atticus, who has been asked to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman has received many controversial remarks on his take of the case. Although Scout does not initiate the fight with Cecil, her “fists [a]re clenched and [she is] ready to let [them] fly” (Lee, 74). This depicts another one of Scout’s un-ladylike reactions because the ladylike response would be to simply ignore the boy and to remain prim and proper.
In the world right now, there is still inequality for all. People are criticized everyday because of how they look, speak, dress, act, etc. In America, although there is people that are changing, there with always be that small group of people that won’t change their views on what they believe is right and wrong in our society. You can also see this in the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, written by author, Harper Lee. All throughout the novel, you can see how white people are superior to the African Americans that live in the same town.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, undoubtedly there is more than one type of discrimination displayed. Before we get into that, what exactly is discrimination? Well, to discriminate means to treat someone differently based on what they believe, their age, gender, who they love, even their appearance. The forms that I will be talking about are Sexism, (Prejudice actions based on gender) Racism, (Prejudice actions based on race) classism, (Prejudice actions on those of a different social class) and discrimination on those with a disability.
He knows the rest of the town will disapprove, but he believes in the innocence of this man and does not care of his complexion. In this moment, Scout and Jem only see how everyone will downgrade them and see them differently. Atticus shows, it does not matter what others think, all that matters is that you support what you believe in. This shows how Atticus is a strong character who contributes a lot to the overall lesson
Not all the Same Equality is a term that is defined as “the state of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability” (Dictionary.com). In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, equality dictates how several characters are portrayed in the town of Maycomb, Alabama, at a time of racism, hate, and prejudice. Because of these topics being such an everyday obstacle for characters like Walter Cunningham Jr. and Burris Ewell, two students at the school, Boo Radley, a scared neighbor that saves a life, and Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly convicted of a crime, the idea of equality has a different effect on each character’s life.
Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird famously said in his closing arguments: "You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some negro men are not to be trusted around women- black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and no particular race of men." (pg 232) What Atticus is trying to convey is a foreign concept to most people in Maycomb county. Atticus is trying to convey a point of equality and no prejudice in a world of social inequality which, as one can imagine, didn 't go over so well.
How does Harper Lee vividly capture the effects of racism and social inequality on the citizens of Maycomb county in ‘To kill a mockingbird’? In the novel, ‘To kill a mockingbird’, Harper Lee conveys the theme of racism and social inequality by setting up the story in Maycomb, a small community in Alabama, the U.S back in 1930s. Lee presents some of the social issues of 1930s such as segregation and poverty in the novel. These issues are observed and examined through the innocent eyes of a young girl, Scout, the narrator.
On page 101 Atticus said, "But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they 're still our friends and this is still our home." Atticus proves that you have to think of the other people who surround you before you give time to think of what’s best for you. He also is saying at times when we think things are going rough it could always be harder for the people around us; however, we just don’t know it. With that point he shows us the importance of how we treat others around us the same way we would want to be treated. Juror 8 said, “It 's not easy to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first. ”
In the novel, ‘To kill a mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates the small, imaginary town, the Maycomb County, as a place where racism and social inequality happens in the background of 1930s America. Not only the segregation between whites and blacks, but also the poor lived in a harsh state of living. As Scout, the young narrator, tells the story, Lee introduces and highlights the effects of racism and social inequality on the citizens of Maycomb County by using various characters such as Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Mayella Ewell. Firstly, Harper Lee portrays Boo Radley as a victim of social inequality through adjectives and metaphor in the phrase, “There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten;” ‘Long jagged scar that ran across his face’ tells us that Boo Radley has stereotype about his appearance, which forces to imagine Boo as a scary and threatening person. The phrase, ‘yellow and rotten’ make the readers think as if Boo Radley is poor and low in a social hierarchy, as he cannot afford to brush his teeth.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The author Lee demonstrates some major themes such as social inequality, intolerance, education, legal justice and bravery through this character. The title To Kill a Mockingbird symbolises innocence where Lee explores this through the eyes of Jem and Scout who are kids of Atticus Finch. He is one of the most honest, patient, kind, fair, respected and admired men in Maycomb during the Great Depression. Atticus is known for his moral character throughout the book.