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Jem and Scout reside in the quiet and small county of Maycomb, Mississippi. Like any other child, the two siblings enjoy playing outdoors. Over the course of time life experiences have big influences on the maturation of Jem and Scout mentally, emotionally as well as physically too. Jem changes from a young boy to a young man. Scout enters the story as an innocent young girl only to re-emerge as a young woman.…
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When there was a mad dog in town someone had to solve the problem by shooting it. Everyone knew Atticus could shoot the best in the town except Jem and Scout. When the children found out that their dad had the best shot in Maycomb, they were amazed, yet shocked. Jem is so impressed and surprised that he said to Scout, “’d you see him, Scout? ’d you see him just standin’ there?...’n’ all of a sudden that gun was a part of him…” (129). Atticus believes that it is best for him to keep this part of him to himself in order to maintain the way Jem and Scout viewed him. Atticus did not want his kids to see him as reckless and crazy, but rather as wise and gentle. Atticus Finch clearly forms a public identity because of everything he tried to do for Tom Robinson in the trial. Atticus wants to show people that it is important to value equality and justice in the world. Many people in town do not quite understand why Atticus is defending Tom but he explains to Scout, “if I didn’t I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (100). Atticus believes that if he does not do this that people will not respect him as much as they did and he will not be able to respect himself. No matter what, Atticus will always do his best to set a good example for his…
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It must be acknowledged that there were several negative outcomes of Atticus’ decision to take on the case of Tom Robinson. For instance, when it is first discovered by the people of Maycomb that Mr. Finch has assumed the black man’s case, even their children lash out against Scout and Jem, nearly causing a fight in the schoolyard as a result (Lee 77). However, Atticus uses this as a teaching moment for his children, which is then imparted along to the vast number of readers who have studied the pages of To Kill A Mockingbird, learning the same invaluable lesson that Scout does, to “hold [one’s] head high and keep [one’s] fists down” and continue to stand and fight for what is right and just (Lee 78). Furthermore, some could question the wisdom…
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However, he believes that real courage is not manifested in "a man with a gun in his hand". Although he once has been the best shooter in the town, his children have never seen him using a gun before the dog incident. Moreover, Atticus is too courageous and righteous to abide by the norms of the pride white people in his town. He defends a black man, Tom Robinson accused of raping a white young girl, against his white opponent. Atticus believes from the very beginning that he is to lose his case. However, he withstands people's insults to himself and his children for the sake of the color-blind law he aims to achieve. Also, Atticus' courage makes him ready to present his own son to be punished when he thought he killed Bob Ewelld whereas Sheriff Tate tries to defend Jem. Atticus' frequent courageous defense of his principles has had an impact on his children's conception of courage. Scout says “I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived". Atticus does not abide by the norms of the white community pride. Not only does he defend Tom Robinson, but he also chooses to go himself to his wife to tell her about his death. The agony and pity of the late prisoner’s wife and not her color is what mattered to him. Atticus has chosen to defend his morals and his belief of justice regardless to the ethnic associations of Tom Robinson’s case. Unlike other characters in the novel, Atticus perceives the…
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Miss Maudie told Jem and Scout about when Atticus was younger, he was on of the best shots in the county. Atticus tells his children about his idea of the shooting,"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” (149). He doesn't think what he did was courageous, but when looking into it, he had not shot a gun in years. He chose to help, because he knew he could put the dog down quickly. If he had not shot the dog, worse things could have…
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Everyone in the town respects him because he’s is a wise and fair man. He teaches his children to treat everyone with respect, what true bravery is, and to be humble. When talking about Mrs. Dubose's death, Atticus says, “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 anyways”(Lee 149). Although Mrs. Dubose was an awful old lady, Atticus always respected and admired her for her fighting until the end. Atticus was also a very firm believer in equality. Miss Maudie says after Atticus shoots the rabid dog, “I think maybe he out his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things” (Lee 130). Atticus is very humble to the point where he lowers himself to be equal to everyone else. Jem and Scout mirror their father by learning qualities that are shown by…
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Instead, as Miss Maudie states, he believes that taking advantage of his ability is dishonorable, and he is not proud of it. Later, Atticus tells Jem and Scout that he didn’t want them to think that courage was a man with a gun. Along with teaching his children to be noble, Atticus proves himself to be heroic as well. The people of Maycomb start reacting to Atticus’ willingness to defend Tom Robinson, a black man. Atticus reasons, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Lee 101).…
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In the book To Kill A Mocking Bird there is a constant battle for human morality, and the book is constant in showing the struggle of goodness or evilness in people. Atticus, who is the father of Scout and Jem, who also plays the role of teacher for his children,firmly believs that people all posses the ability to do good in the world, equally so they posses the ability to perform evil acts as well. Although, Atticus is convinced that despite the struggle between good and evil, good will ultimately win. Atticus, who is also a lawyer, works hard to defend Tom Robinson, an innocent black man who is wrongly accused of raping a white woman. In hopes to teach not only his children, but his accusing town, of the great importance to not be so quick to judge. Deep in Americas southern states, in the small racist town of Maycomb, this battle occurred during the Depression era, because of this setting this case was considered a suicide mission, for he was Jesus preeching amongst the pharisees. Ignoring the seemingly impossible challenge of overcoming the town's deep racism, he continued on forcing the town to change their social perspectives, Atticus continues on with this challenge because in his heart he firmly believes that one day, goodness will prevail over the evils of racism and that alas racial equality will exist!…
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In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Lee shows that if you are an individual, you have a responsibility to protect the innocent that are in need. Lee writes the book through the view of a character named Scout. Scout finds out that individuals have a responsibility to protect the innocent from other characters in the book. Scout learns from Mr. Arthur Radley “boo”, Atticus Finch, and Mr. Heck Tate. Arthur was a neighbor to the people of Maycomb who never really came out of his house, that and the fact that his dad kept him locked away in there. Atticus is Jem and Scout’s father who took a case in which he knew he would never win but he still thought it was worth a shot. Finally Mr. Heck Tate, Heck is the sheriff of Maycomb and what he says goes.…
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In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates determination through Atticus Finch’s ability to do what is right at all costs because he wants to set good examples. First of all, Atticus defends those who aren’t able to speak for themselves or for those who aren’t understood. Evidence of this assertion from the book is, “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.”- (pg. 39) Atticus defended Miss Caroline when Scout told him about Burris Ewell; Atticus told Scout to look at things from Miss Caroline’s perspective. Atticus knew that people shouldn’t tease Arthur Radley, so Atticus made sure his children didn’t make fun of Arthur. Atticus defended Mrs. Dubose and explained to Jem how she was the bravest person he ever knew. Second of all, Atticus accepts the trial of Tom Robinson even though the town is against him. Evidence of this second assertion is, “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience-Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.”- (pg. 139) Although Atticus knew that Tom Robinson was going to be guilty, Atticus still wanted to defend him. If Atticus couldn’t hold up his head in town, Atticus couldn’t represent this county in the legislature. He couldn’t even tell Scout or Jem not to do something again because Atticus could never ask them to mind him again. The town was against Atticus for defending a black man, but Atticus didn’t cave into the negative comments they were saying about him. When taking the case of Tom Robinson, Atticus took the responsibilities of protecting Tom. One of the times when Atticus protected Tom was when Atticus sat outside the jail late at night with a gun to protect Tom. Last of all, Atticus makes wise choices in regards to his children. Here are two evidences of this last assertion. “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one…
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Prejudice is a real life problem in the world, and in To Kill Mockingbird’s novel this problem is evident in May comb. Boo Radley, Atticus finch and Tom Robinson are all victims of prejudice.…
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Mockingbirds are placid, blissful, and vulnerable animals. They do not harm anything or anyone. Killing a mockingbird resembles sin to many people throughout the entire novel. In To Kill a Mockingbird many characters can be characterized as being a mockingbird, including: Tom Robinson, Arthur (Boo) Radley, and Charles Baker Harris (Dill). Mockingbirds do not deserve any form of harm or pain in any way, shape, or form. Innocent humans do not deserve to be abused or threatened by anyone or anything.…
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In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout learns valuable lessons on the evil of prejudice present in her Southern town of Maycomb, on the true nature of courage, and on the dangers of judging others before "...climbing into their skin and walking around in it." Set in the mid 1930s, Scout Finch is a young girl living with her older brother, Jem, and her lawyer father. Being a kid, Scout has the simple duties of a minor, to have fun and to stay out of trouble. But along the way, she also learns many important things. Although the majority of her hometown is prejudiced, Scout's innocent mind remains non prejudice and caring of others. To her, all is equal, so therefore, should be treated equal. There is no doubt that Scout's character is one whom is an individual, someone whom will stick to her own perspective no matter how cruel and racist other people can be. In her adult world, Scout learns to treat all people fairly with dignity and respect.…
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Everyone makes judgments about others, there is no way around it, what a person should work on though is not to “snap” judge other people. To Kill a Mockingbird by Haper Lee demonstrates how being quick to judge is wrong. To Kill a Mockingbird is globally known, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and selling over fifteen million copies. To Kill a Mockingbird shows how judging a person before you get to know them generates a hateful, prejudice environment based on false pretenses.…
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In the book To Kill a Mockingbird there are a lot of interesting people with different characters. There are those who are brave and those who are cowards. For example Atticus is the bravest character and his son Jem is also brave. On the other hand there are the disgraceful people like Bob Ewell who is the coward. There are several events that take place in the book that show the characteristics of each of these three characters.…
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