“If you walk in the footprints of others, you won’t make any of your own” -Unknown. Since the beginning of mankind, the ideas of individuality and belonging have existed. Whether it is more important to stand as an individual or belong is the dispute that comes with it. People wonder if they should stand alone or stick with the crowd. It’s often easier to just fit in, as it can be harder to stand out. But that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do, or that it’s the right answer. The issue of individuality and belonging can be found as a large theme in Harper Lee’s popular To Kill A Mockingbird as the town of Maycomb deals with a court case associated with racism, and prejudiced town ways. Through these events it is displayed who in the
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In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, a black man, in a court case where he is accused of raping a white woman. At this time in history it was the white man’s word over the black man’s, and almost everyone in town thought he was guilty. But Atticus stood by his side, defended him and believed him. When Atticus’ kids hear that most in the town thought Tom was guilty, they assume their father must be wrong. When brought up to him by Scout, he explains, “They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions, but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide majority rule is a person’s conscience”(Lee 139-140). Atticus explains to Scout that although the majority may think one thing, it doesn’t mean that the others are wrong or that they’re right. When this is said Atticus teaches Scout that even though people can have their opinions, you have to stand by what you think and believe in your ideas and conscience. Through this lesson by Atticus it is learned that you need to be an individual and believe in yourself and ideas, even if your ideas don’t go with the crowd. Another example of when individuality overpowers belonging is in the play Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose. In the play, twelve jurors decide whether a 16 year old boy killed his father. They make their statements on their stances and we begin to see who is an individual and who chooses to belong. As the jurors continue deliberating, they take a vote and it is six to six. They then take another vote on if they are a hung jury, and it is also six to six. Juror Four decides to make this statement after voting they were a hung jury in the
In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, a black man, in a court case where he is accused of raping a white woman. At this time in history it was the white man’s word over the black man’s, and almost everyone in town thought he was guilty. But Atticus stood by his side, defended him and believed him. When Atticus’ kids hear that most in the town thought Tom was guilty, they assume their father must be wrong. When brought up to him by Scout, he explains, “They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions, but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide majority rule is a person’s conscience”(Lee 139-140). Atticus explains to Scout that although the majority may think one thing, it doesn’t mean that the others are wrong or that they’re right. When this is said Atticus teaches Scout that even though people can have their opinions, you have to stand by what you think and believe in your ideas and conscience. Through this lesson by Atticus it is learned that you need to be an individual and believe in yourself and ideas, even if your ideas don’t go with the crowd. Another example of when individuality overpowers belonging is in the play Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose. In the play, twelve jurors decide whether a 16 year old boy killed his father. They make their statements on their stances and we begin to see who is an individual and who chooses to belong. As the jurors continue deliberating, they take a vote and it is six to six. They then take another vote on if they are a hung jury, and it is also six to six. Juror Four decides to make this statement after voting they were a hung jury in the