Good, Evil, and Human Dignity in the Novel To Kill a Mockingbird
Human Dignity is defined as the personal quality of being worthy of honor. It is an individual or group's sense of self-respect and self-worth, physical and psychological integrity, and empowerment. All people have the need, even if it is very small, to have dignity. It doesn’t matter if they are good or evil people, they all feel the need. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, she demonstrates how Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Bob Ewell show Good, Evil, and Human Dignity.
Tom Robinson is a black male that was put on trial for accused rape of Mayella Ewell, the daughter of Bob Ewell. During the time that the book was set, Tom was already guilty before he could …show more content…
Atticus tries to see the good in all people even if they do not deserve it. In chapter 5 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem and Dill get Scout to help them try to slip a note through a window of the Radley's house with a fishing rod. Atticus catches them and tells them to stop bothering Boo Radley just because he seems peculiar. Atticus warns the children not to mistreat people because they're different. Instead, he implies, respect them. As said before, Atticus is nice to all people. For example, in chapter 27 Aunt Alexandra thinks Ewell has a grudge against everyone involved in the trial. But Atticus says Ewell will calm down when the weather cools. For Halloween that year, there's a pageant at Scout's school. Scout is to be a giant ham—her costume is made of wire and cloth. Atticus and Aunt Alexandra are too tired to attend the pageant, though, so Jem takes her. Atticus doesn't realize it and continues believe that Bob will act sensible. This is the one time in the novel that Atticus is wrong. He doesn’t treat anyone rude or mean even when it is called …show more content…
He let his dignity control him and get the best of him. In the novel, during chapter 18, Mayella Ewell is called to the stand. She testifies that she asked Tom Robinson to chop up a dresser in return for a quarter, and that when she turned around Tom attacked and raped her. In cross-examination, Atticus shows that Mayella is terribly lonely. When Atticus asks Mayella to identify Tom, and Tom stands up, it becomes clear that Tom's left arm is useless: it was destroyed in an accident. If Tom can't use his left arm, then how could he have beaten and raped Mayella? Atticus asks Mayella wasn't Bob Ewell the person who beat her? Mayella refuses to answer. This proves that Bob Ewell is an evil person that beats his own kids. Bob beat his daughter after seeing her trying to kiss Tom Robinson. Bob also accuses a black man of abusing his daughter, after he had done it
Human Dignity is defined as the personal quality of being worthy of honor. It is an individual or group's sense of self-respect and self-worth, physical and psychological integrity, and empowerment. All people have the need, even if it is very small, to have dignity. It doesn’t matter if they are good or evil people, they all feel the need. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, she demonstrates how Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Bob Ewell show Good, Evil, and Human Dignity.
Tom Robinson is a black male that was put on trial for accused rape of Mayella Ewell, the daughter of Bob Ewell. During the time that the book was set, Tom was already guilty before he could …show more content…
Atticus tries to see the good in all people even if they do not deserve it. In chapter 5 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem and Dill get Scout to help them try to slip a note through a window of the Radley's house with a fishing rod. Atticus catches them and tells them to stop bothering Boo Radley just because he seems peculiar. Atticus warns the children not to mistreat people because they're different. Instead, he implies, respect them. As said before, Atticus is nice to all people. For example, in chapter 27 Aunt Alexandra thinks Ewell has a grudge against everyone involved in the trial. But Atticus says Ewell will calm down when the weather cools. For Halloween that year, there's a pageant at Scout's school. Scout is to be a giant ham—her costume is made of wire and cloth. Atticus and Aunt Alexandra are too tired to attend the pageant, though, so Jem takes her. Atticus doesn't realize it and continues believe that Bob will act sensible. This is the one time in the novel that Atticus is wrong. He doesn’t treat anyone rude or mean even when it is called …show more content…
He let his dignity control him and get the best of him. In the novel, during chapter 18, Mayella Ewell is called to the stand. She testifies that she asked Tom Robinson to chop up a dresser in return for a quarter, and that when she turned around Tom attacked and raped her. In cross-examination, Atticus shows that Mayella is terribly lonely. When Atticus asks Mayella to identify Tom, and Tom stands up, it becomes clear that Tom's left arm is useless: it was destroyed in an accident. If Tom can't use his left arm, then how could he have beaten and raped Mayella? Atticus asks Mayella wasn't Bob Ewell the person who beat her? Mayella refuses to answer. This proves that Bob Ewell is an evil person that beats his own kids. Bob beat his daughter after seeing her trying to kiss Tom Robinson. Bob also accuses a black man of abusing his daughter, after he had done it