Abstract This paper examines how Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" depicts life in a small, southern town and the struggles one man and his family encounter trying to preserve justice. That man is Atticus Finch, a middle-aged lawyer and the father of Jem and Scout who is appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a young black man accused of raping a white girl. It shows how Atticus is a man of very admirable characterwho is even-tempered, wise, and courageous.
From the Paper "Atticus is an even-tempered man and remains calm under any circumstances, despite provocation. Concisely, he keeps his cool like no other. At one such time, Atticus tells Jem that Mrs. Dubose was a lady. Jem replies, "After all those things she said about you, a lady?" "She was," answers Atticus. (112) Mrs. Dubose, an elderly neighbor of the Finch's continually talks down about Atticus, and once even goes as far as to say that he is no better than the (Negro)'s and trash he works for. (117) In spite of this, Atticus always remains a gentleman to her and never mentions a word about it. Shortly after the trial, Mr. Bob Ewell stops Atticus on the post office corner and spits in his face, and tells him he will get him if it takes the rest of his life."
Abstract This paper discusses the plot, character development and theme in Ron Hansen's novel "Atticus". The paper describes both the strengths of the novel and its weaknesses, explaining that while the plot is intriguing and well-developed, Hansen's attempt to create quality literature out of a story that is simply good escapist reading ultimately weakens the quality of the novel.
From the Paper "The story of the prodigal son is one of the oldest themes in literature. A son asks for his part of his future inheritance from his father, then proceeds to squander it, only to return home in shame. Upon the son's returning home, however, the father is so overjoyed to see him that he unquestionably accepts him back into the fold. The most famous occurrence of this story is to be found in the Bible. So much of Western literature is based on the Bible, and so it is no surprise that writers have adapted the story of the prodigal son to their places and times. One of these writers is Ron Hansen. In his novel Atticus, Hansen tells the story of a prodigal son, among other things. One of these other things is a mystery involving an unlikely suicide. Although Atticus at times is suspenseful reading, it is ultimately a murder mystery that is unfortunately burdened and flawed by Hansen's attempts to add symbolic and literary value to the story."
Abstract The paper illustrates how both the character of Atticus, from Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird", and Martin Luther King were moral, strong-willed and courageous men who were well-educated and held high positions in their communities. The paper describes how both the real-life civil rights activist, Martin Luther King, and the fictional lawyer Atticus, worked for the betterment of mankind and spoke out against racism and social injustice while displaying non-violent resistance. The paper concludes that while Atticus may not have changed the world as Martin Luther King did, he did make a significant difference in the lives of the people of Maycomb and his two children.
From the Paper "Harper Lee's 1960 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, follows the moral and intellectual development of Jem and Scout Finch as they encounter racism and social division in the depression-era south. The main theme throughout Lee's book is racism and how horrible it is. Jem and Scout come to realize this during the trial and wrongful conviction of Tom Robinson, an Alabama black man accused of raping a white woman. A side theme throughout the book is Boo Radley and how he always stays inside his house. The reason Boo stays inside the house is not revealed until towards the end of the book, when Jem realizes that Boo wants to stay away from the hatred and complications of the outside world."
Tags: racism, Tom, Robinson, resistance, morals, integrity, courage
Abstract This paper examines how in the novel "To Kill A Mocking Bird", an extraordinary tale of courage and morality, Atticus Finch epitomizes stability, humility, high moral and ethical values and exceptional parenting skills. As a single parent in 1930s, life wasn't easy for ordinary people, but Atticus is not an ordinary widower. It looks at how he is an exceptional lawyer who understands the worth and value of human life. He doesn't look at his children as little people who can be overpowered, but views them as individuals with their set of needs and acknowledges their quest to gain knowledge.
From the Paper "Scout is an aggressive child and finds it difficult to get along with others at school- Atticus tells her a golden rule which he believes can help solve her problem: "If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you see things from his point of view--- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it"." (Lee 30). This was indeed a sign of Atticus' humility and wisdom that he also wanted to instill in his children. He understood that the best way to deal with people was to view their problems, their issues, and their reaction from their position and that it when everything becomes clearer. "
Abstract This paper discusses the main points on the character Atticus Finch, and why he is the most important character in the Novel "To Kill A Mockingbird".
From the Paper "During the first half of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee constructs a sweet and affectionate portrait of rowing up in the world of small town Alabama. Harper Lee, however, continues on to dig underneath the portrayal of small town courtesy in the second half of the book. None of the characters in the book are perfect. This begins to show through in the second half of the book when the facade is removed to reveal the ugliness of Maycomb and the people living there. Through these tough times though, one character manages to keep his cool. Atticus Finch, through all the struggles and pressure, stands strong as a very positive father figure, making sure to instil in his children three very specific values: education, bravery, and acceptance."
Abstract This paper examines how Harper Lee's compelling story about Atticus Finch and his efforts to see justice served at any cost provided Americans with much food for thought and helped fuel the civil rights movement that followed. It provides a summary of the book, "To Kill a Mockingbird", followed by an analysis of the fallacies of the racial issues in America during this period of history. A summary of the research is also provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "The story is set in a small town full of "slow-moving people" in Alabama in the 1930s, and tells the story of a lawyer, Atticus Finch, who is Scout's father. Atticus is compelled to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been falsely accused of raping a white woman during a period in American history when such an accusation was tantamount to a conviction. According to Alan Lenhoff, Scout is naturally curious, and although she has never seen her reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley, she desperately wants to. "Like most children, she is self-centered. Her world revolves around games and fights with Jem; fear of nasty old Mrs. Dubose; problems at school; a dramatic fire; the time a rabid dog threatens the neighborhood" (Lenhoff 2001:20). In her childhood innocence, though, Scout does not understand what all of the fuss is about when her father takes Robinson's case."
Tags:atticus, jem, robinson, scopes, scout, tom, trial
Abstract This paper analyzes the critical elements of racism that arise as they pertain to Robert Mulligan's film "To Kill a Mockingbird". It looks at how in many scenes within the film, Mulligan effectively captures the spirit of Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) and his desire to defend a black man from being wrongfully charged with raping a white woman. The paper also discusses how, by acknowledging the problems of racism in the South in the 1930s, Mulligan provides cultural and community based examples of racism that are realistic and poignant.
From the Paper "The major issue in Mulligan's civil rights era film To Kill a Mockingbird is how racism is prevalent between families within the town. The Radley's are the racist faction that seeks to have the black boy hung for supposedly raping a white girl, and it is the Finch's that help to bring about justice to seek a legal means to try the case. Mulligan brings this conflict into focus, which is a major reason why the film depicts racism effectively as a cultural issue that divided communities in the 1930s. In Mulligan's characterization of the families, Nathan (Richard Hale) is very similar to Boo's dad, as he is racist and does not care for outsiders to interfere with the events that occur inside the Radley home."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts "To Kill a Mockingbird" with "Waiting for Lefty". They were both set in the 1930's in the United States, but they are addressed from very different points of view - one through the eyes of adults in New York and the other told by children in the deep South. This paper analyzes these different perspectives.
From the paper:
While both Waiting for Lefty and To Kill a Mockingbird are set in the United States during one of the poorest times in American history - the 1930s - both the locations in which the play and the novel are set, as well as the perspectives from which the stories are told are vastly different. The physical setting of Waiting for Lefty, a relatively short but intense play written by Clifford Odets, is New York. His play is told through the eyes of several adults. The setting of Harper Lee's equally intense To Kill a Mockingbird is a rural, deep-south county in Alabama. Her story is told through the very credible eyes of several children. Although one might presume that the adults would fare better during this trying time of the ?have-nots,? it is, instead, the children who seem better able to cope with circumstances. Both play and novel contrast and compare the manner in which the time of the Great Depression affected the lives of not only the poor, but those of all backgrounds. ?Atticus said professional people were poor because the farmers were poor?."
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Tags: poverty, Great, Depression, war, professional, farmers, city, reality, misery, racism
Abstract The following paper discusses Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird', one of the most popular books of all time. This paper briefly describes the story of Scout, a young girl who is growing up in a small Alabama town, but it also comments on the story of racial prejudice, and one man's fight against it. The paper looks at the story of Scout's father, Atticus, who is a well-respected lawyer in the community, that is, until he decides to defend a Black man accused of rape, Tom Robinson. The writer of this paper asserts that this novel is more than just a story about racial prejudice, rather it is a story about being an outsider, no matter what color you are, and it also is a story of good and evil, where good triumphs in the end.
From the Paper "The mockingbirds are gentle, and the opposite of the bluejays. All they do is sing lovely songs, and try to get along in the bird world. They symbolize the Blacks in this small Alabama town, because all they try to do is get along, and they would not hurt anyone. Even the last name of the Finch family is symbolic of the bird symbolism used in this book. Finches are small, gentle birds, which live in large communal groups. Atticus is a gentle man, who does not believe in prejudice at any level, and fiercely defends Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, because he knows they are innocent, and they are really on trial because of their color, or because they are different and do not fit in to the society of the small town. Atticus is a gentle man, the hero of the story, but he is not afraid to stand up for what he thinks is right."
From the Paper "This study will examine the characters in Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird in order to define the nature of courage. Atticus Finch, a clearly heroic figure in the novel, who lives according to high principle, offers a definition of courage as "when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" (112). This definition seems to have more to do with stubbornness or determination rather than courage. Atticus' definition would seem to hold that a career criminal is courageous, for such a criminal knows that he will be caught and punished sooner or later. Was Hitler courageous when he set out to conquer the world and establish a one-thousand-year German reign, when he must have known on some level that it was impossible, yet he began? Simple stubbornness, determination, sticktoitiveness, or plain..."
Abstract This paper examines the masterpiece, "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee, about racial injustices and gender discrimination observed through the eyes of a young six-year old girl, as well as the movie version of the book produced by Robert Mulligan, and presents a comparison of the two. It shows how the movie was made black and white, in such a technologically revolutionary period, in order to capture the gloominess and the dullness of the Depression era and how the book paints a far more effective picture of that time period probably because it gave room to the author to get her personal experience into the play for she was a resident of the Southern town. The book symbolizes the theme of innocence and pureness through the use of mockingbird. However in the film version, the most fundamental theme of the novel has deviated slightly in terms of the plot by emphasizing more on the theme of racial prejudice than the theme of innocence. Both the movie and the book have been recipients of awards.
From the Paper "The representation of the world where racial injustices and gender discrimination prevail are observed through the eyes of a young six-year old girl whose widowed father is not only a man of words but is also a man of deeds. Gregory Peck plays Atticus Finch, the tomboy's father and a principled attorney (Marja: B06) who fights for the rights of a local black man wrongly charged with the rape of a white woman in their segregated town (Marja: B06). Gregory Peck has managed to do justice to his role and Robert Mulligan deserves equal credit for an aptly portrayal of the novel. However, since Lee wrote the novel keeping in mind her horrifying personal experiences as a child that gave birth to the protagonist of her novel, Stout, the novel turned out to be far more effective in its representation of the Depression-era Alabama than the movie version of it (Marja: B06)."
Abstract Themes are very important in classic literature, and those themes are usually universal; they are stories to which we all can relate. Classic literature also possesses the ability to communicate across cultures. Based on that understanding, this paper examines the qualities that make "Ethan Frome", by Edith Wharton, and "To Kill A Mockingbird", by Harper Lee, examples of classic literature.
From the Paper "Harper Lee expounds on a theme that encourages understanding of self and others in To Kill A Mockingbird. Through issues of prejudice and good versus evil, the children can come to understand why some people behave the way that they do. Atticus stresses the importance of education, as well as a sense of morality in his children. Perhaps the greatest lesson to be learned from To Kill a Mockingbird is that of sympathy and understanding. We learn these lessons with the children through the characters of Boo and Tom. Boo and Tom represent what happens when people are prejudice. In addition, we also witness the consequences of prejudice through Tom's life and death. Lee even adds more appeal to the story by telling from the perspective of a child. This technique is very effective because it allows us to understand the problems in their simplest forms. For example, Scout learns from Atticus not to be so quick to judge others."
Abstract This paper examines how Harper Lee's novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird", explores many issues that are still relevant in today's world. Through her narration of the character, Scout, she is able to make us understand what life in a small Southern town was like. It discusses what different critics have expressed in regard to the story's themes, characterizations, and point of view, and looks at how the novel represents an unforgettable transition from adolescence to adulthood through painful and dramatic lessons. It shows how critics agree that by focusing on themes that are relevant, creating strong characters, and presenting the story from a child's point of view, Harper Lee has created a timeless novel with a universal message.
From the Paper "Harper Lee presents us with a view of racism from a southern town in Alabama. Everything takes place in this town and Lee describes the town and the townspeople with clarity that bring significance to the story. Clearly, there were racial lines that divided the town. Fred Erisman examines how Harper Lee's a positive view of the South. He points out that Harper presents us with the notion that the South can indeed move beyond the archaic social norms "toward the more reasonable, pragmatic, and native romanticism of Ralph Waldo Emerson. If the movement can come maturity, she implies, the South will have made a major step in becoming truly regional in its vision" (Erisman 2062)."
Abstract This essay analyzes Harper Lee's famous novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird", and its message about racism. The paper analyzes the main characters in the play, explaining that they symbolize aspects of racism, innocence and equality.
From the Paper "It is said that a seed needs only to be planted, before it inevitable grows. If the soil is more fertile, as was the heart of young Scout Finch, conscience is more easily instilled, as her father Atticus, would ultimately come to realize. With soil that is dry and barren, much like the town of Maycomb and its' racial convictions, it is impossible to predict whether any seed planted will take root. With regard to Maycomb, it wasn't lack of conscience that proved so tragic, it was the double-consciousness. This refers to the townspeople looking at themselves through the eyes of others. Image is everything, and as others saw you, so it was that you were. A "sheep mentality," with people thinking and acting in similar fashion, most notably when it came to interracial perception and interaction."
Tags:atticus, tom, robinson, injustice, treated, differently, aunt, alexandria, calpurnia
Abstract The writer explains that this race-related novel became a success due to being published at the height of the civil rights movement and because behind its apparent simplicity and down-to-earth style it touched the heart of people from all walks of life. The paper summarizes the story and explains that its main theme is a coming of age. The paper describes Lee's education and her decision to become an author. It states that "To Kill a Mockingbird" which won a Pulitzer prize for fiction, and two other awards, was Lee's only novel. In conclusion, the writer posits that the novel's style and simplicity, seen through the eyes of a six year old child, carry thought-provoking moments as the events unfold.
From the Paper "The years of 1960 and 1961, when To Kill A Mockingbird was published, signaled a time of great change. The civil rights movement was in full swing and the country was experiencing social and economic structuring. Traditional thinking was being transformed into ideas and thoughts that had never been considered before, and old traditions were pitted against new ones. Looking into the Deep South, in a little town named Maycomb, tradition for most people meant prejudice, separation, and racism. Atticus Finch chooses to fight against this "old tradition" with traditions of his own. Because of his highly ethical character, Atticus is able to admirably defend Tom Robinson and promote a "new tradition" for himself and his children. Respect, dignity, and equality form the backbone of Atticus' belief system, a belief system containing qualities that are often overlooked in the traditional South. In the absence of outside support, Atticus fights his battle the only way he knows how -- with patience, perseverance, and honesty."
