In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the story follows the adolescent years of Scout Fincher in her small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Scout and her brother, Jem, learn of the affairs and intrigue that go on in their hometown as they become older. Simultaneously, they realize their town is not as innocuous as they grown up to believe. The story follows the children’s transition from a naïve and unworldly view of their environment, to a more realistic and candid view. They see many cruel and callous ways the townspeople treat others and it causes Jem and Scout to reflect on how they treat others as well. The overall theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is Jem and Scout’s exploration of the moral nature of humans. One factor in the book that contributes
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During Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem and Scout view the court case and witness Tom’s wrongful conviction of rape. Tom is not a violent person and it is obvious he did not commit perverted acts on Mayella Ewell, the plaintiff in the case. In actuality, it is Bob Ewell, her father, who actually beats up Mayella because she tried to seduce Tom and this made Bob angry because his daughter is being with a black man. Since Mayella fears her hate filled and prejudicial father, she tries to blame Tom and frame him for the crime. Since the Ewells are white, their accusations override any evidence or rebuttals that could support Tom’s innocence, no matter how conclusive it may be. The jury believes the Ewell’s fabricated story and sentences Tom to capital punishment for a crime he does not commit. Another character example is Boo Radley; on the night Jem and Scout are walking back from school, they are attacked by Bob Ewell, who is angry over Atticus Finch embarrassing Bob with evidence that supports he beat Mayella, and takes it out on his kids by attacking them with a knife. During Bob’s attack, Boo, who is rumored to be violent and threatening but in actuality is shy and sensitive, has to kill Bob Ewell to protect Jem and Scout. For both Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, they are kindhearted and benign individuals who are brought down by the evil in Bob Ewell and he causes them to suffer. Boo and Tom
During Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem and Scout view the court case and witness Tom’s wrongful conviction of rape. Tom is not a violent person and it is obvious he did not commit perverted acts on Mayella Ewell, the plaintiff in the case. In actuality, it is Bob Ewell, her father, who actually beats up Mayella because she tried to seduce Tom and this made Bob angry because his daughter is being with a black man. Since Mayella fears her hate filled and prejudicial father, she tries to blame Tom and frame him for the crime. Since the Ewells are white, their accusations override any evidence or rebuttals that could support Tom’s innocence, no matter how conclusive it may be. The jury believes the Ewell’s fabricated story and sentences Tom to capital punishment for a crime he does not commit. Another character example is Boo Radley; on the night Jem and Scout are walking back from school, they are attacked by Bob Ewell, who is angry over Atticus Finch embarrassing Bob with evidence that supports he beat Mayella, and takes it out on his kids by attacking them with a knife. During Bob’s attack, Boo, who is rumored to be violent and threatening but in actuality is shy and sensitive, has to kill Bob Ewell to protect Jem and Scout. For both Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, they are kindhearted and benign individuals who are brought down by the evil in Bob Ewell and he causes them to suffer. Boo and Tom