Have you ever had any emotional or physical struggles in your life that sometimes made you feel as if though you were caged and unable to achieve your goal? To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a historical fiction novel told in the eyes of a young girl named Scout as her father, Atticus Finch , a lawyer in the 1950’s in Alabama, is burdened with the task of defending a black man, Tom Robinson, of harming a white girl, Mayella Ewell. “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou is a poem that compares and contrasts a free bird to a caged bird. “Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a poem that explores a caged bird that was once free, and how it is struggling to be free but hasn’t given up his hopes. Harper Lee’s characters Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch,
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In To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Finch is a white lawyer who is burdened with the task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man, who is charged of harming a white girl named Mayella Ewell. For instance, according to chapter 9 it’s written “Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess. 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.” This displays how Atticus is personally affected by this case because Atticus is explicitly stating that he is being affected by this case. He has to go through an experience of being insulted and looked down upon by many of his friends just because he is defending an innocent black man. In chapter 9 it’s also stated “It’s different this time,” he said. “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.” Emotionally, Atticus is overwhelmed by the fact that all of his friends are going against him and he knows that he will lose this case which doesn’t really help with the lack of self confidence. Also, the fact that Tom later dies trying to escape from jail after being voted guilty, Atticus is left to feel guilty for not being able to defend him. In the poem
In To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Finch is a white lawyer who is burdened with the task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man, who is charged of harming a white girl named Mayella Ewell. For instance, according to chapter 9 it’s written “Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess. 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.” This displays how Atticus is personally affected by this case because Atticus is explicitly stating that he is being affected by this case. He has to go through an experience of being insulted and looked down upon by many of his friends just because he is defending an innocent black man. In chapter 9 it’s also stated “It’s different this time,” he said. “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.” Emotionally, Atticus is overwhelmed by the fact that all of his friends are going against him and he knows that he will lose this case which doesn’t really help with the lack of self confidence. Also, the fact that Tom later dies trying to escape from jail after being voted guilty, Atticus is left to feel guilty for not being able to defend him. In the poem