The black community are innocent, law abiding, helpful towards the white community and make the best of what they have, and yet they are still treated unjustly. The Black community is considered as a flock of mockingbirds, who are only trying to make their way in a world that is often hostile. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy…. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Said Atticus. Together they all silently fight the discrimination with each other’s support and the understanding of people like Atticus.
His responsibility was all based on the color of his skin, not his true moral character. Opposite of the Deep South's beliefs of colored men at this time, Harper Lee portrays Tom as a friendly and humble man, who took time out of his day to help people - people who were neglected (even though white) like Mayella. Lee's portrayal of this outstanding character and his outstanding human character epitomize his representation as a mockingbird. Miss Maudie explains to young Scout Finch that, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.
The other men would not allow him to use his feet due to Crooks’ back but thought it perfectly fine to be fighting him. When Crooks comes into the novel he is described as a “lean negro head, lined with pain,” this is important because it’s the introduction of the many pains which Crooks has. Crooks is both in emotional and physical pain. The emotional pain which Crooks carries with him is due to his loneliness; his isolation from man is causing him to go mad, “guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”. In isolation from the other men Crooks begins to doubt what he sees.
Atticus tries to persuade the jury in changing their ways and look past race and stereotype: "They were confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption- the evil assumption- that all Negro's lie, and that all Negros are basically immoral beings. I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty". Tom Robinson was convicted despite Atticus’s efforts, the more plausible explanation was more due to the fact that he was a black man and his word wasn’t considered truthful or as important as a white man’s word. Also in the book ‘To Kill a Mocking bird there is racism shown towards Atticus and his family.
He worked in an office as a lawyer, an occupation that didn’t raise interest or admiration of others. All he did was sit in an office all day. On top of all that, he wore glasses and was practically blind in his left eye. When Scout asked Miss Maudie what Atticus could do, Miss Maudie told her that he was the best checker player in town and that he could play the Jews harp, which didn’t impress Scout. Although, when Atticus shot Tim Johnson, the mad dog, Jem and Scout were beaming with pride and after learning that he used to be the best shot in Maycomb and of his nickname “Ol’ One Shot”, they admired Atticus more than ever.
12 Angry Men Essay Eric Juror #3 was the antagonist throughout the story, he argued with everyone and stuck to his belief throughout the story. Juror #3 was also biased and very angry with all the other jurors, and that impacted what others thought about him, but towards the end of the movie juror #3 has a emotional breakdown and showed everyone why he was being biased and angry. Juror #3 was very opinionated, rude, and has hidden sensitive side. Juror #3 was very opinionated he crossed over the line into insensitivity and rudeness about the defendant being guilty. His opinions stayed strong threw the whole story until the end when he revealed is true feelings about his teenaged son who causes him to be hateful and opinionated about everything.
To kill a mockingbirds’ theme was whether people are essentially good or evil. Describing Scout and Jems’ transition from a childhood innocence, in which they think that people are good because they have never seen “evil”, to a more mature perspective, in which they have witnessed “evil” and wrongdoing and must incorporate it into their understanding of the life. They experienced hatred, prejudice, and ignorance. They are both introduced to prejudice at the beginning of the book and throughout. The main example of prejudice in this book is at the trial, when the towns people wrongly convict Tom Robinson, he is convicted purely because he is a black man and his accuser is white.
The lack of knowledge in Maycomb about the outside world and their opinions about black people ingrains ‘Maycomb’s usual disease’ into their minds as they have no other opinions about black people. This is shown by the crowd’s outrage as they gather to lynch Tom, not knowing that he was innocent, but blinded by ... ... middle of paper ... ...sirable traits to have as they can motivate you through the toughest tasks and drive you to do what should be done instead of abandon your duties. In conclusion, Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird highlights the horrible prejudice and ignorance towards black people in the southern town of Maycomb, but also shows wisdom and compassion as not only desirable but necessary traits to have to withstand the bombardment of pre-conceived ideas from the people surrounding you, and also portrays these qualities as a shield to people around
One major symbol in this story is the mockingbird. It is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Miss Maudie said “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
Thomas Rice was a white man who painted his face with black paint and represented a poor black man. “It was not very long until “Jim Crow” became a definitive example of racial segregation”, which would help support the inequality of the blacks (Maratous). The Jim Crow laws were also known as the “Black Codes”. They were written and passed to make sure that segregation in a worldwide aspect was enforced (Marotous). The laws were enforced from 1950 to 1960 (American Radio Works).