1. To Kill a Mocking Bird Essay example
Through the course of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Jem encounters a series of
events that cause him to grow up. During Tom Robinson's trial, Jem's eyes were opened to the
racism and prejudice of the South: loss of innocence, a major theme in the novel, is a realization of
the cruelty and injustice in the world, and that one must develop a tolerance for it. Jem is young and
carefree in the beginning of the novel. He is just starting to take on the responsibilities of an older
brother: "Jem condescended to take me to school the first day, a job usually done by one's parents,
but Atticus said Jem would be delighted to show me where my room was." (p.20). Atticus is trusting
Jem to safely get Scout to school, and help her...show more content...
In addition, Jem abandons all of his childish morals: "Jem looked the floor. Then he rose and broke
the remaining code of our childhood. He went out of the room and down the hall. 'Atticus,' his voice
was distant, 'can you come here a minute, sir?'" (p.187–188). Dill, Jem and Scout's best friend, ran
away from his home and came to the Finch's house. Jem has broken "the remaining code of our
childhood" by telling Atticus about Dill, rather than keeping it a secret. He has matured past his
childhood years, and realizes that sometimes it is best to involve adults. Jem is exposed to the racism
and prejudice of the South through Tom Robinson's trial, and it makes him question what he never
thought twice about before. [insert lead–in] "'...if the jury's still out, you can wait with us. But I
expect it'll be over before you get back.' 'You think they'll acquit him that fast?' asked Jem. Atticus
opened his mouth to answer, but shut it and then left us." (p.277) Jem sees Tom Robinson's trial
through eyes untainted by prejudice and discrimination. To him, Tom is obviously innocent. Atticus,
on the other hand, is older and more cynical. He knows about racial discrimination, he knows it
strongly influences a person's judgement, and he knows Tom will be found guilty. Jem realizes this
when Tom Robinson is convicted. As a result, he learns that racism can cloud a person's judgement
to the point that they will convict an innocent man. Jem's loss of innocence
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird Mockingbirds are birds that does one thing; Making music for us to enjoy
and nothing else to harm us. In the remarkable novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the
mockingbird is used as symbolism for real people. Including the human mockingbirds, the novel
represents other pieces of the prejudice such as racism and hypocrisy. In the little town of Maycomb
in its 1930ВЎВЇs, the prejudice was an accepted concept for every individual and Atticus even
called it a ВЎВ®diseaseВЎВЇ of the town. This time–honored perception, prejudice, was very
distinctly shown in the novel from its characters and the society. Prejudice does not seem like a
such a big deal in the novel as it actually is now As it was mentioned...show more content...
Mr. Raymond already knows how people will act like for his behavior and does not want to put
up with it so gives them a simple reason. Even if it is a false reason he just wants to live not
bothered by them. Additionally Scout ponders weather to even talk to Mr. Raymond or not
because he has mixed children (170). Scout probably thought about whether to talk to Mr.
Dolphus Raymond or not because he seemed strange and drunk for she did not see any other white
person with relationship with black person and she knows drinking is bad. Even just for Scout she
did not want to know Mr. Dolphus Raymond when she did not know his pretense. This means that a
thing like living with a black woman is not an understandable deed to the town of Maycomb. Maybe
Mr. Dolphus Raymond just got tired by the ВЎВ®MaycombВЎВЇs usual diseaseВЎВЇ and having
nothing to lose, just gave them a reason to make all comfortable. Judging people before you really
know them is prejudice and many people in the novel got pre judged by others who did not know
them. For instance, when Scout thought everyone in the town was all for racism, Miss Maudie
Atkinson points out to her that even Judge Taylor had a reason for appointing Atticus (183). That
was because Judge Taylor knew that Atticus was not a racist and knew his abilities. So when usually
the court appointed cases was for the new inexperienced lawyer, Atticus got appointed. Moreover, the
cruel saying by Aunt Alexandra calling
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
Literary Analysis for To Kill a Mockingbird "There's something in our world that makes men lose
their heads– they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a
black man's word, the white always wins. They're ugly, but these are the facts of life."
************ Along with the main theme of the story, racism, there are multiple other themes that
are represented in the story. These include: the coexistence of good and evil, and importance of
mortal education. The use of the "mockingbird" symbolizes innocence in the main characters, Boo
Radley, Tom Robinson, and Scout because of the social issues within the society in the 1930's.
Racism was one of the biggest topics in To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee and also one of the
biggest issues in the United States during the 1930's. In the novel Atticus Finch is a distinguished and
successful lawyer in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb during this time was home
to many racist citizens, and also home to many struggling families. Even though Maycomb's
community is filled with racist people, Atticus agrees to defend a black man named Tom
Robinson. Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, but claimed he did
not. Once Robinson's trial begins he is put in jail and then soon after a mob gathers at the local
jailhouse to lynch him. Atticus, having exceptional morals stood out from the rest of the residents in
Maycomb. He defended Tom not only as his job but as a
Get more content on HelpWriting.net