Two characters that show bewilderment throughout the course of the novel is Scout, and Bob Ewell. One character in the novel that shows ignorance throughout the course of the novel is Bob Ewell. "This morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he'd get him if it took the rest of his life. "(271) Bob Ewell was desperate for revenge and the help that Atticus was trying to prove Tom's innocence of something that Bob Ewell caused. This quote is important because it showed that Bob had no respect for Atticus, and his embarrassment in court was his main priority in getting him back.
After working through seven drafts, it was published in 1854, where the first run sold out by 1959 (Schneider 1). Walden is a landmark of Thoreau’s life, as it precisely encapsulates Thoreau’s childhood as well as what he stood for in his life: abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, and transcendentalist. While living alone for these 2 years, Thoreau refused to pay his poll tax and was brought to jail. This lead to his essay “Civil Disobedience,” where Thoreau argues that individuals should not permit governments to overrule them. The purpose of this text was to bring attention to and argue his views on slavery.
At one point in the trial a man stands up to say something in the defense of Tom Robinson, but is immediately quieted by the Judge and is even asked to leave the court room. It seems like everyone just assumed that Tom Robinson already was guilty before he was even tried. When Mr. Ewell takes the stand, which is Mayella Ewell’s father, he couldn’t just call Tom Robinson by his full name and instead would call him a nigger and other bad terms. Once again as stated before African-Americans were not allowed to be apart off a jury at this point in history, instead leaving a very prejudice jury that seems to still think he is guilty even though the evidence clearly shows he is not. When Tom Robinson has to task the stand Mr. Gilmer starts badgering him by asking him very critical questions and not giving him time to answer which is also not allowed in court.
I think that is why many people didn’t see him as a hero until later. Thoreau was always known as an abolitionist who protested against a lot of things, but what made him most famous was his protests against the Mexican-American War. Thoreau went so far with his protest that he spent a night in jail for refusing to pay a poll tax that would support the war. Thoreau also wrote an essay in 1848 called, “Civil Disobedience”, which mainly discusses man’s willingness and unwillingness to accept the conventions of politics. He emphasized the magnitude and significance of individuality vs. conformity.
Believing that the constitution is evil, to say the least, Thoreau states that the only way to win as a whole is to take action accepting all consequences thrown their way. “For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once done well is done forever” (Thoreau 2.8). Bringing up the wealthy in his essay Thoreau feels that with more money comes a loss of virtue. No longer focusing on self-moral’s but more focused on what to spend their wealth on. As a part of his plan to go against the rules set by the government Thoreau refuses to pay a poll-tax given to him by a preacher as a way to show reader’s that it is not the government who protects one’s property it is man himself who protects his own belongings.
First, without civil resisters, the will of the people is weak and simply a stew of thoughts. A civil protest unifies public opinion. When one stands up for himself and violates a policy against authority, others with similar backgrounds and beliefs will undoubtedly question the fairness of the policy. Thoreau asserts, “if ten men only – ay, if one honest man in this State of Massachusetts, ceasing to hold saves, were actually to withdraw from his copartnership and be locked up in the county jail therefor, it would be the abolition of slavery in America” (186). Thoreau implies that as long as one moral person can stand up for himself, others will follow and eventually force change.
For instance, the writer claims that the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin and its common predecessor who attacks the topic of slavery in order for the abolitionists to unite together and fight for the same beliefs, isn’t fair or moral since they were disrupting the peaceful state that the U.S was in and shifting the people apart even more. On the other hand, the other passage written by the Southern literary messenger of Richmond also opposed Mrs. Stowe;s tale but he/she had a very biased opinion towards the South so he/she just argued using his/her untrustworthy opinion and very little knowledge. For example, the messenger didn’t think that the author of the story should have put emphasis on the abolition actions since they didn’t deserve the attention and it was unfair for the South since they their opinions didn’t get noticed. 1) C-1 2) The Pro-Southern Court Speaks (1857) 3) Author: Roger Taney 4) Author’s Position: Against Dred Scott and his wish to become a free African American 5) Bias: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has the authority to speak for what he favors and in this case, his bias leaned toward the South so he supported them by going against Dred Scott. The Court also must cancel the Missouri Compromise since it goes against the constitution so they couldn’t
Some were even offered bonuses. What was interesting to me is that Vermont refused to help the Federal government and President Fillmore threatened to use the army to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act. Nothing came out of this incident. The new law of 1850 left a very bitter taste in a lot of mouths. The author of these pages wanted us to focus our attention on all the hardship that African Americans had to endure whether slave or free.
Civil Disobedience is an essay by American transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau that was first published in 1849. He opens his piece with the saying “That government is best which governs least,” and he speaks in favor of government that does not interfere with men's lives. Thoreau asserts that because governments are typically more harmful than helpful, they therefore cannot be justified. He argues that people should not allow the government to weaken or override their consciences. He was mainly driven by his hatred with slavery and the Mexican-American War.
Antigone knows that by the law of the gods leaving a body uncovered is morally unjust. Martin Luther King addresses this very issue in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Although it was written 2,000 years later, it speaks to a similar topic, which civil disobedience. “An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law” (King 3). Antigone’s actions follow along with King’s four steps towards civil disobedience although there are differences because of the eras. Antigone responds to Creon’s edict with civil disobedience as King