In today 's society, to become a good person, understanding the difference between right and wrong, just and unjust is an important skill. Two characters from the movie “A Time To Kill” by Joel Schumacher and “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee have a very thorough understanding of justice. These two characters are Atticus Finch and Jake Brigance. Both of these people have comparable characteristics. They both have high intelligence, making them able to adapt to their surroundings and win cases by using the town 's knowledge against themselves.…
Atticus Finch believed that every man should be treated fairly. He let people know his views by defending a black man, Tom Robinson, much to the dismay of the townspeople. He also taught his children to not have prejudices against black people. He tells them “As you grow older, you 'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don 't you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash (224). " The moral lessons Atticus teaches Scout contrasts with the culture of Maycomb where the white people continue to treat black people as less than themselves.…
Many authors draw on past events and people in their lives to serve as inspiration for future works, with Harper Lee, winner of the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and many other accolades for her debut novel To Kill a Mockingbird, being no different. Harper Lee’s childhood and personal background had a great effect on her writing in that what she had experienced and witnessed over her lifetime inspired many of the most distinct aspects of To Kill a Mockingbird, such as the setting, one of the major characters in the novel, as well as one of the major events that takes place in the story. Firstly, Harper Lee was born and raised in Monroeville, Alabama, which provided the inspiration for the setting of the story, the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama.…
In today's world racism is not as common as it was in the 1900's. Racism has been a problem in the United States of America for a long time, and going back on time the African Americans were treated horribly. Elizabeth Eckford was an African-American girl who attended a High School with white people only. She was cursed and hit by many people but she didn’t stop fighting for her rights.…
Ambrose Redmoon once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear.” This quote is expressing that courage is not the lack of fear; it is the triumph over it. A courageous person is not one who has no fear or worries. It is one who has fear but preserves through any situation instead of backing down. To Kill A mockingbird expresses that courage is an emotion that makes people push to go beyond their normal actions and strive for what they believe is right.…
Atticus was a whole different person before “‘. . . Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time’” (Lee 112). When Miss Maudie tells Scout and Jem that Atticus used to be the best shot, neither of them could believe it. Their father, probably the most level headed and humble person they ever met had hidden part of his past “Nevertheless, he refuses to use his background as an excuse to hold himself above others and instead is a model of tolerance and understanding” (“To Kill a Mockingbird”).…
A person loses twenty dollars on the street, and another person picks it up for them. This may be seen as a simple act of kindness, but that twenty dollars could have been all the money that person had. In a way, the person who found the money is a hero for the person who lost the money, so their kind act becomes a heroic one. That person's kindness could be thought of as compassion because the sympathy they felt for the person who lost that dollar allowed them to pick up that dollar and return it. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses characterization to demonstrate heroism through the compassion of the characters, Jem, Miss Maudie, Mr. Link Deas, and Tom Robinson.…
Atticus knows he must try to defend Tom Robinson because he wouldn't feel right if he didn’t. Mrs. Dubose knows she must keep her promise she made to herself about her drugs and listen to her own morality. Atticus thinks Jem has committed the murder of Bob Ewell and does not want to connive this from society, Atticus would rather follow his morals than try to get out of his situation by lying. Teddy Roosevelt’s quote about justice is what Atticus and Mrs. Dubose strive to achieve, as they would rather die doing what they want to than live doing the wrong…
Elizabeth Janeway says “Growing up human is uniquely a matter of social relations rather than biology. What we learn from connections within the family takes the place of instincts that program the behaviour of animals”. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee that tells about civil rights and racism in the 1930s. The story takes place in a small town in the south of Alabama. The main characters are Jem and Scout, who are two siblings living in that town.…
To Kill A Mockingbird The people who are quiet and observant are the people who change the world. This statement is true because when people take the time to actually listen to others, they find a way to do something that will contribute to mankind. Quiet people have really loud minds and they wait to express themselves when the time is right. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the author shows examples of how the quietest people are often the most powerful. Atticus Finch is an example of a person who made a big difference by being quiet and observant.…
Lee shows that integrity is the strength of a person to do the right thing even when everyone around them turns a blind eye. When the state requests that Atticus be the defence attorney for Tom Robinson, he accepts. This is a dangerous decision for Atticus. Link Deas later approaches Atticus, after he accepts the job, and warns him about making this decision: “’You’ve got everything to lose from this, Atticus. I mean everything’” (195).…
Hidden Power Some of the most influential literature written in the history of mankind often addresses controversial issues with powerful themes. These books often change the perspectives of society by revealing the darkness under the facade of complacency. Timeless themes often connect with people on the deepest of human levels due to their relatability. Truly great literature can capture and control these emotions through the use of themes that will never disappear.…
Dill is a mockingbird as, despite only ever wanting a caring family, he is made to feel abandoned. He expresses the impact of this feeling in his decision to run away from, what he describes as, a neglectful home. Stating that he left because he feels as if his parents “[don’t] want" or need "[him]” as they never spend time with him. In making him feel so “[unwanted]”, his parents, the very people meant to protect him, lead him to question his self-worth. That is, they make him question whether it is his fault that "they sta[y] gone”, or away from him, all the time".…
Destroying Innocence To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel about prejudice towards people of different races, female orientation, and lower class. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee reveals that even selfless people can face prejudice from others as seen through the characters of Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley. Firstly, Atticus Finch is a kind soul who only wants to help others, but faces prejudice for going against what his community thinks is right.…
Atticus represents a protective shield between society and those that are defenseless because he abides by this belief by standing up for what is right, even though he is alone, and he gives the Negro citizens hope for equality. His accepting and fair attitude also contributes to his confidence and perseverance to continue to defend Tom Robinson. When Scout tells Atticus she doesn’t want to go to school because of Miss Caroline’s behavior, he tells Scout that to truly understand a person, you have to step in their shoes and put yourself in their position. (30) This virtue of acceptance and working to understand others allows Atticus to be patient and calm when dealing with people and guides him to do the right thing when taking action to deal with the social injustices. Atticus follows this principle to understand people, such as Boo Radley and Mrs. Dubose, and avoid being prejudiced towards them like most Maycomb citizens; he…