To kill a mockingbird essay.
To kill a mockingbird essay
To kill a mocking bird, a book written by Harper Lee in the 1960's. It was set in Maycomb a small town in southern USA during the 1930's. In the 1930's segregation existed in the southern states of the USA. Blacks and whites were not considered to be equal and were not allowed to share the same facilities. Blacks were no longer slaves, but were considered "inferior" by white people. They often worked as farmers or servants for white people who treated them badly. (Calpurnia was a servant for Atticus but she was treated with respect and like a white person).
Maycomb is a traditional town because all the residents know each other; they are related in one way or another and they only breed with "Maycomb folk", so they would not marry or have a child, with someone who has not grown up in Maycomb or is not thought to be suitable. Prejudice is a big issue in Maycomb county, many whites do not realise that they are being prejudice to others, e.g. when aunt Alexandra had a tea party with other women of Maycomb she was talking about helping the poor African people in Africa and how they had to work really hard in bad conditions and Calpurnia had made the cakes and tea that they were eating and drinking, they were contradicting themselves. Atticus however is very different to other people in Maycomb, he is not prejudice and treats others with the same respect he would like to be treated with. Atticus agrees to take on the case of Tom Robinson, even though he knows his children will be affected by it and he will go through some hard times before, during and after the case. He asks aunt Alexandra to come and stay with them to help him through this difficult time.
" Atticus don't ever do anything to Jem and me in the house that he don't do in the yard" scout said this about Atticus, she means that Atticus would never do anything to her and Jem in the house, that he wouldn't do in the street for all the neighbours to see. This shows that Atticus wouldn't harm Scout and Jem in any way and that how much respect his children have for him.
In Maycomb County the same families have lived in the area for nearly two hundred years. Aunt Alexandra feels that certain ...
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" Atticus don't ever do anything to Jem and me in the house that he don't do in the yard" scout said this about Atticus, she means that Atticus would never do anything to her and Jem in the house, that he wouldn't do in the street for all the neighbours to see. This shows that Atticus wouldn't harm Scout and Jem in any way and that how much respect his children have for him.
In Maycomb County the same families have lived in the area for nearly two hundred years. Aunt Alexandra feels that certain families have inherited certain characteristics for example a Cunningham is not to be trusted or that a Ewell is a liar and dishonest or that Finches are upper class, Ewells are lower class whites and blacks are the lowest. Atticus does not believe in this kind of classification and thinks you should get to know a person and then judge them, do not judge a book by its cover, Or person! Maycomb "folks" lead a routine existence.
"Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three o' clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and talcum." Scout describes this as something that Maycomb residents do everyday. When Sunday comes it is also the same routine, they go to church and ladies go there to gossip and find out about the latest Maycomb rumours. Atticus does not listen to rumours and makes sure adults don't have an effect on Scout and Jem for example if Scout and Jem listen to what adults say about black people, they might become prejudice as well. Atticus wants his children growing up making their own decisions about others and how to treat them. He does not want bad influences to make them think a certain way. You could say Maycomb is a typical southern old town, with its traditional values, Hierarchy and strong family values.
Maycomb county's residents are not only prejudiced but are also racist. They do not like coloured people and mixed race is considered to be worse. For example Mr. Dolphus Raymond, who married a black woman and had crossbred children acts as if he has a drinking problem and always carries around a bottle, which most people think is filled with alcohol. But as we find out it is actually filled with coke. He would rather have people thinking he is mad, and that is why he married a black woman, rather than people knowing the truth and not accepting him. He told the children because he respects their innocence and that they have not been contaminated by prejudice from other adults. He refers to " the hell white people give coloured folks", he knows that blacks are discriminated, hated and not accepted in Maycomb. He is not prejudice or racist and he is probably scared that if white people knew that he was not mad and married a black woman because he loved her that white people in Maycomb would hate him, not accept him and give him and his family hell on earth.
Atticus is not prejudice in anyway and stands up for what he believes in, this is where he is strong, different and honest he will not back down from a fight no matter how many people are against him, where as Mr Raymond takes the easy way out. Some might say he is a coward. Atticus shows signs of courage when he stands up to the lynch mob who come to beat up Tom Robinson, he stands up to many racist and prejudice people who want to kill Tom Robinson before the trial.
Even though Atticus's life could be in danger as well as Toms he still stands his ground and when his children turn up to help him he orders them to go home, but they stay there and explain to Mr Cunningham the situation, they realise that they were in the wrong and leave.
Mr Cunningham's ideas about blacks and whites are changed after Scout and Jem come to help Atticus, and he is moved by their speech and the courage they show. When many Maycomb residents refer to black people as "Niggers" they are showing that they think of them as outsiders that do not belong or deserve rights, Atticus does not revert to saying this, as he would be as bad as them, he would never sink to their level.
Atticus finds faults with traditional values of Maycomb county, he doesn't believe in a higher or lower class system unlike Aunt Alexandra, he thinks it doesn't matter whether you're rich or poor or black or white, he thinks were all equal. He also does not agree with the background system, (Higher-lower class system, the background you have and being born into a certain family).
He does not want his children to grow up with similar views of class and background. He does not approve of Aunt Alexandra telling his children what to think. He believes that in the court of law all men are equal and that when a man enters the court he should not be equal to everyone else in the court, he will only be judged when the court is in session. He is one of a few people in Maycomb who is a real gentleman, he is Honest e.g. Believes in telling his children the truth about the case.
Atticus is the most interesting character in to kill a mockingbird, he is shows respect and courtesy to all and is not like other Maycomb residents, he is not racist, prejudice or rude, his love for all people shows he is loving, caring, noble and very courageous (for taking on Tom's case). The character Atticus has strong influence on everyone around him e.g. scout, Jem and Mr Cunningham and the reader. While reading the novel I not only was interested in the story and what would happen to Tom, but it made me think about the life of the blacks at the time and how hard they had to fight to survive because of the prejudice at the time. Although Atticus is only a character in a book I think that in today's society we need more people like him.
Words: 1365
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Kamlesh Vadukul Page 1 08/05/2007