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This would encourage discrimination against individuals.
Maycomb County’s beliefs are provoked by the social structure in which they live. Highlighted throughout the novel is how the blacks are immediately discarded as below the rest of the general public. This is demonstrated when Aunt Alexandra, who has the typical views of a white middle class person, refuses Scout to go to Calpurnia’s house purely because she is black. Later, Alexandra refuses Scout to …show more content…
Through the characterisation of Atticus, we are given an example of what the people of Maycomb County should be like. He represents bravery, dignity and the importance of justice. Although he was very well aware of how prejudice the town was and the extent of the abuse he would receive for representing Tom, he agreed to represent him as he felt he needed to bring Tom the justice he deserved. This demonstrates bravery and how important it was to him that he try and change the discriminating views of the people. Also, when Bob Ewell spat in his face, he did not retaliate and later made the comment, “I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco.” This displays dignity and humour in his character. By not retaliating, Atticus showed his children that there are more important things to get stressed about and made them realise that Bob was not worth the effort. Furthermore, this incident is a great example for the other people in the town to reflect over and hopefully follow the example that Atticus …show more content…
The mockingbird is the most significant symbol and was first mentioned in chapter ten when Atticus makes the statement, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” By this he suggests that mockingbirds are neither harmful nor destructive and only make music for people to enjoy so therefore would be a sin to kill one, as they have not done anything to deserve it. This is linked to Tom Robinson and less obviously to Boo Radley, as they were both innocent of what they were accused of, Boo’s evil persona in which he is associated and Tom of the rape. They were both victims of prejudice. They both demonstrated kindness, Boo to the children and Tom to Mayella. Also they were both imprisoned and potentially vulnerable, Boo was confined in his house as a separate world to protect him from people’s prejudice and Tom was imprisoned and killed as a result of people’s prejudice. The Atticus’s family name “Finch” is perhaps deliberate because mockingbirds are a type of finch and this promotes the idea that Atticus sees the mockingbird of the novel (Tom Robinson) as part of the family to be protected. An example of further symbolism used in the novel is when Scout and Jem build a snowman made up of mostly mud rather than snow. He continued to add more snow and mud to it thus making the snowman change colour. This represents how irrelevant the skin colour of a person
Maycomb County’s beliefs are provoked by the social structure in which they live. Highlighted throughout the novel is how the blacks are immediately discarded as below the rest of the general public. This is demonstrated when Aunt Alexandra, who has the typical views of a white middle class person, refuses Scout to go to Calpurnia’s house purely because she is black. Later, Alexandra refuses Scout to …show more content…
Through the characterisation of Atticus, we are given an example of what the people of Maycomb County should be like. He represents bravery, dignity and the importance of justice. Although he was very well aware of how prejudice the town was and the extent of the abuse he would receive for representing Tom, he agreed to represent him as he felt he needed to bring Tom the justice he deserved. This demonstrates bravery and how important it was to him that he try and change the discriminating views of the people. Also, when Bob Ewell spat in his face, he did not retaliate and later made the comment, “I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco.” This displays dignity and humour in his character. By not retaliating, Atticus showed his children that there are more important things to get stressed about and made them realise that Bob was not worth the effort. Furthermore, this incident is a great example for the other people in the town to reflect over and hopefully follow the example that Atticus …show more content…
The mockingbird is the most significant symbol and was first mentioned in chapter ten when Atticus makes the statement, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” By this he suggests that mockingbirds are neither harmful nor destructive and only make music for people to enjoy so therefore would be a sin to kill one, as they have not done anything to deserve it. This is linked to Tom Robinson and less obviously to Boo Radley, as they were both innocent of what they were accused of, Boo’s evil persona in which he is associated and Tom of the rape. They were both victims of prejudice. They both demonstrated kindness, Boo to the children and Tom to Mayella. Also they were both imprisoned and potentially vulnerable, Boo was confined in his house as a separate world to protect him from people’s prejudice and Tom was imprisoned and killed as a result of people’s prejudice. The Atticus’s family name “Finch” is perhaps deliberate because mockingbirds are a type of finch and this promotes the idea that Atticus sees the mockingbird of the novel (Tom Robinson) as part of the family to be protected. An example of further symbolism used in the novel is when Scout and Jem build a snowman made up of mostly mud rather than snow. He continued to add more snow and mud to it thus making the snowman change colour. This represents how irrelevant the skin colour of a person