To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Free Essays

Many people don’t realize it, but our world matures with age, and the people along with it. Society’s attitudes towards things, its moral education, and its general opinion on the world have all changed to adapt to the problems of today. In Harper’s Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee shows how the world was before our moral development, and the evilness that the world once lived in. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mockingbird Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now To Kill A Mockingbird shows the causes and effects of injustice through oppression of the innocent, racism, and existence of social inequality. Throughout the novel, a symbol of â€Å"mockingbird† appears. The title â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† has a true meaning to it, and that is: the oppression of the innocent. Miss Maudie explains in the novel that, â€Å"’Mockingbirds don’t do one thing, but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. ‘† In the novel, the mockingbirds are innocent people who are harmed by injustice, and in unnecessary ways. Several times in the novel, the oppression of the innocent is displayed. Jem for one, is a mockingbird. He is innocent, but assaulted by Bob Ewell, purely on vengeance, only because Atticus defended Tom Robinson, and he wanted to get pay back. Boo Radley is also a mockingbird. He is emotionally damaged by his cruel father as a child, but everyone leads to believe that he is a creepy maniac. Scout mentions near the end of the book, â€Å"’Well it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it? ‘† (page 370) This refers to Boo Radley and how Scout feels if they were to hurt Boo Radley anymore; he has suffered enough from their injustice community. Another mockingbird is Tom Robinson. He was charged guilty of raping May Ewell, even though he was likely to be not guilty. There was not enough evidence against him, but he was still convicted. After his death, Mr. Underwood compares his murder to â€Å"the senseless slaughter of songbirds†. This is once again, referring to mockingbirds, and the oppression of the innocent. In the town of Maycomb, the existence of social inequality is very, very vibrant. Everyone is Maycomb is on a social standing pyramid. Depending where you are on the pyramid determines how much respect you’ll receive from the towns folk. For example, in the novel, Aunt Alexandra forbids Scout to invite Walter Cunningham over for dinner. The following quote from Aunt Alexandra describes why: â€Å"’Jean Lousie, there is no doubt in my mind that they’re good folks. But they’re not our kind of folks. ‘† (page 299) This represents that Aunt Alexandra and the Finches are higher up on the social standings, therefore making the Cunningham’s lower, and not in he same social class. The Finches are on pretty much the top of the social standings, with the towns people below them. The farmers, like the Cunningham’s are lower than the towns people. Below them are the Ewells, disrespectful and inferior. And even farther below them are the Negroes or coloured folk. During the day of the trial, people sat in the square to eat lunch. Only the people in the same social class would sit together. This quote from Scout represents just that: â€Å"In a far corner of the square, the Negroes sat quietly in the sun. † (page 214) This shows that the Negroes sat together because they are in the same social class, which is indeed the lowest in Maycomb. With that in mind, people like Bob Ewell, can take advantage of that. He picks on those who are below him because he wants to make himself feel more powerful, like bullies do. This shows the effects of inequality of social classes in Maycomb. Racism is also a factor of social inequality, and is a huge element in To Kill A Mockingbird. It is displayed by almost every character in the book with racial slurs, and derogatory terms, many of which refer to Tom Robinson. For example, this quote from Cecil Jacobs verbally harasses Tom Robinson: â€Å"’My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an’ that nigger oughta hang from the water tank. ‘† (page 102) Although it may seem like only the white people are being racist to the coloured folk, it’s also the other way around as well. Jem and Scout experience this first hand. When they go to the First Purchase Church with Calpurnia, the people there did not accept them because of their different skin colour. So just like the expression, â€Å"what’s go around comes around. † Although, this does not happen often between the two skin colours because there is a huge segregation between them. They live in completely different areas of Maycomb because the coloured folk are isolated from the white people, unless you work for a white person. That brings us to how coloured folk are not aloud to be employed to anything they want. They’re basically slaves to the white people, and do not have the choice to do what they heart desires. Although we have matured from this stage, there is still quite a bit of racism in today’s world. To Kill A Mocking has taught many of the past generation and even the new generation many lessons about injustice. This novel shows the causes and effects of injustice through oppression of the innocent, racism, and existence of social inequality. Harper Lee’s, To Kill A Mockingbird, made many people realize how unjust the world was and still is in some countries. With one step at a time, there will soon be a day without any injustice or crime in the world thanks to moral messages like this novel. How to cite To Kill a Mockingbird Essay, Essays To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Free Essays Over the course of three years, a seemingly quiet town faced the unexpected. A fruitless trial was held, innocence was lost, blood was shed, and an unlikely friend emerged. Written by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the city of Macomb during the sass. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mockingbird Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now The book tells the story through the childish views of Jean Louse Finch (Scout), as she and her brother Gem face Instances of human evil. Alongside the two is their father Tactics, who gradually teaches the two to fight against their own well-being and do what they feel is right. In the story, Lee demonstrates Scout’s personality growth through her newfound morals, ability to look past misconceptions morals, and rejection of gender stereotypes. Scout gradually acquires moral values by learning how to reduce her urge to resort to unnecessary violence. Concerned, Tactics lectures Scout about her tendency of fighting with classmates: â€Å"†¦ You Just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t let ‘me get your goat† (Lee 76). Tactics disapproves of Scout’s quick decisions of resorting to violence and asks her to earn to control her temper. Due to Scout being young, Tactics is worried about the consequences that come with getting into fights frequently and because he worries that Scout will follow a wrong path. After the talk, Scout does in fact obey his advice about controlling her temper and walks away from a fight: â€Å"l drew bead on him, remembered what Tactics had said, then dropped my fists and walked away, ‘Scout’s a coward! ‘ ringing in my ears. It was the first time I had ever walked away from a fight. Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Tactics down. Tactics so rarely asked Gem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him† (Lee 76). Scout, for the first time In her inure life, walked away from a fight all because of what Tactics had said earlier. She showed that she is growing up by being able to keep herself under control of her emotions. Finch’s thought of personal honor is shifted from flitting being a solution to being able to not cause an uproar for no reason. Though It seems to be the right decision at the time, unnecessary violence only makes matters worse. As the story progresses, Scout realizes that the stereotypical image of a lady isn’t what being a woman is about. Thinking over gender stereotypes, Scout talks to herself about not being handle the huge shift: â€Å"l felt the starched walls of a pink cotton penitentiary closing in on me, and for the second time in my life I thought of running away† (Lee 136). Scout takes Aunt Alexandra actions against her pants as being against her freedom. For Scout, being a lady-in-training means giving up all the things she Likes to do and replacing them with what others expect her to do, and he’ll have none of it. When Aunt Alexandra returns to her tea party with a serious look after hearing about Tom’s death, Scout sets her as a new example: â€Å"After all, if Aunt could be a lady at a time like this, so could l† (Lee 237). Looking at Aunt Alexandra, Scout took pride In following her lead. Though she still Isn’t comfortable with the guidelines that ladies must follow, Scout does pick up on the examples of the strong women in her life. Scout doesn’t ever abandon her tomboyish ways, but 1 OFF also acquires the ability to look past misconceptions. Speaking to herself, Scout thinks about how terrifying Arthur Raddled (Boo) must be: â€Å"Every night-sound I heard from my cot on the back porch was magnified three-fold; every scratch of feet on gravel was Boo Raddled seeking revenge, every passing Negro laughing in the night was Boo Raddled loose and after us; insects splashing against the screen were Boo Reader’s insane fingers picking the wire to pieces; the chicanery trees were malignant, hovering, alive† (Lee 55). Though Scout has never seen Boo before, she is quick to hint that he must be a frightening, violent person. Scout unknowingly connects something that she doesn’t know as ominous, and in Scout’s mind the whole world becomes dangerous-?every sound signaling a threat. After she met Boo, Scout looks back on how she previously treated Boo and regrets her actions: â€Å"Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad† (Lee 278). Once Scout realizes all of the things that Boo has done for her, she regrets not giving anything in return. As Scout begins to grow up, she is able to look at things in a new light. A part of maturing is learning to not Judge people at first glance, because the brightest of people could be found in the dark. Through To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louise Finch learned to avoid trouble, Just by following Attic’s orders on not causing n uproar with her fists. Through To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louise Finch learned that being a lady isn’t all about tea parties and frolicking in dresses, but it’s also about standing up for your own opinions. Above all, Jean Louise Finch learned that the unknown may not end up being such a scary thing after all. Maturity has a variety of definitions, but Scout learned hers as many others have-?through experience. She has matured immensely compared to how she was in the beginning of the story, but she is still only a mockingbird that has Just begun to sing. How to cite To Kill a Mockingbird Essay, Essays To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Free Essays Reading How To Kill A Mockingbird Anywhere you go in life you should always follow the moral of having to see things from others perspectives. This is a topic in a scene from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout, the main character, talks to her father Atticus about her teacher, Miss Caroline, telling her about how Scout needs to stop reading at home. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mockingbird Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Harper Lee uses this scene to have Scout learn an important lesson which has to look at other people’s points of views in order to understand them. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses setting to show one of the major themes of the novel which is one cannot understand another until he looks at things from a different perspective. For example, Atticus tells Scout she will â€Å"get along better with all kinds of folk if she can consider things from his point of view- climb into his skin and walk around in it,† after Scout comes home from school which is where Miss Caroline had spoken to her about not having her read with Atticus. This creates the author’s effect because it helps Scout think about Miss Caroline’s point of view. The author may use this to develop the theme of racism because it shows that you should think about what other people may be thinking. This scene has an importance in characterization because it leads to having Scout learn coming of age. For example, â€Å"She had learned not to hand something to a Cunningham, for one thing, but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part. † We realize Scout is learning about Miss Caroline and why she would want her to stop reading at home. This creates the author’s effect because it shows Scout is growing up and she is thinking of other people’s point of view. The author may use this to develop the theme of coming of age because it shows that Scout had realized that she should think about the other person’s perspective. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses conflict to have Scout realize to understand a person’s choices. For example, â€Å"Bit by bit, I told him the day’s misfortunes,† Scout had said. â€Å"If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. † Atticus had informed Scout. This creates the author’s effect because it shows Scout conflict resulted in her learning about other people’s point of views. The author may use this to develop the theme of coming of age because it shows Scout realizing about Miss Caroline’s point of view. Harper Lee used setting, characterization and conflict to develop one of the major themes of the novel: in order to understand a person, you must look through their eyes. This important theme is shown throughout the whole novel. How to cite To Kill a Mockingbird Essay, Essay examples To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Free Essays To Kill a Mockingbird In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Calpurnia has become the motherly figure in Scout’s life by teaching her lessons, morals and values. Calpurnia taught Scout to write when she was bored on a rainy day â€Å"Calpurnia was to blame for this†¦then copying out a chapter of the bible beneath† (p24). This shows Calpurnia is not just cooking and cleaning; she entertains her and has a special connection with her. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mockingbird Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Another thing Calpurnia is doing for Scout is teaching her manners and mannerisms â€Å"†¦that boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear† (p32). Here Calpurnia shows Scout that she needs to be polite when they have company in their home. Calpurnia is more to Scout than a nanny: she is more like a mother to her. â€Å"Perhaps Calpurnia sensed that my day had been a grim one†¦ she knew I loved crackling bread† (p38). Cal has a motherly instinct with the Finch children and she knows when something is wrong in their lives just like a mother. Throughout the novel Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird it shows that Calpurnia is a major part of both Jem and Scouts life. She has taught them both so much from how to write to how they should be acting as they mature and if things were any different Jem and Scout probably would have turned out different due to the massive influence that Calpurnia has had on them. How to cite To Kill a Mockingbird Essay, Essay examples To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Free Essays Even though he is quite huh amble about his integrity and claims taking Tom’s case was just like taking any other case, it ha d to of taken courage to do such a thing. Tactics broke away from the mainstream by sticks Eng to his gut and did what was right. Following Tactics’ footsteps is Scout, Scout learns very quickly from her faith err the idea of courage and integrity. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mockingbird Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now SCOUt learns these things at a very young age, although h she might not realize that her open mindedness takes a vast amount of courage. To truly u understand and give people a chance while being so young is inspiring. When Scout stands up for Walter Cunningham in class she knows she could get in trouble but does it anyway. This is the exact idea of Tactics’ definition of courage. Another character with plenty of brave examples is Tom Robinson, Tactics’ clip .NET. When Tom spoke in court about pitying the white girl (Male) he knew that it would nag err the others but he spoke his true feelings anyway. At the end of it all Tom gets sent to prison, he tries to escape hill knowing full well that he had a very small chance in succeeding but once e again he does it anyway. Tom knew he was â€Å"licked† but saw it through till the end. The Finch’s neighbor, mysterious Boo Raddled, does several unexpected acts of kindness that took a pretty good amount of courage. Boo doesn’t like going outside and bee Eng around a lot of people, but he makes some decisions that risk being outside and being by MO re people than usual. For example, Boo sees Scout, Jam, and Dill snooping around his proper TTY so he puts some resents in the hole off big tree for the children to have. Boo also saves Soc UT from a scalding fire by giving her a thick blanket, Boo could’ve badly hurt himself but he risks t hat to save an innocent child’s life. Not everyone would risk their own life for another’s, but Boo does just that which shows his amazing amount of courage and integrity. So, what is your definition of courage? Make it your goal to fulfill that define Zion multiple times just like Tactics, Scout, Tom, and Boo have. Harper Lee’s â€Å"To Kill a Mock inning† sis book about courage, and to aspire to be a good person. How to cite To Kill a Mockingbird Essay, Essays