In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the author explores the issue of justice using the symbol of the mockingbird. Placed in, the 1930s, a time of great depression and inequality, the book presents injustice acts to the most kind yet blamed citizens of the town Maycomb. The symbolism of the mockingbird and the characters are essential for the message of Harper Lees novel because the kind, but African-American Tom Robinson is unfairly put on trial for the “rape” of Mayella Ewell. Also, Arthur “Boo” Radley is victimized by the rumors the towns people have created about him, forcing him to live alone inside his house with his brother, Nathan Radley. Lastly Atticus Finch, is known by the town for being a good human being and sticking …show more content…
Tom's lack of faith for himself after the jury found him guilty got himself killed. Boo Radley never harmed anyone, but was judged by the rumors spreading across the community. Although he was not actually introduced until the end of the novel, Boo Radley is set up to be the last discovered symbolic character for the image of the mockingbird. During the last chapter of the novel, Scout comes to the realization that blaming Boo for Bob Ewell's death would be "sort of like shooting' a mockingbird." (chapter 30). Getting Boo sent to jail or killed would be like killing a mockingbird. Boo is truly a good person. He left gifts for Jem and Scout in the trunk of a tree, he wrapped a blanket around them when Miss Maudie's house caught on fire, and he saved them from Bob Ewell when he tried to murder them. Boo Radley is a victim of Maycomb's social prejudice and a perfect representation of Harper Lee's description of the mockingbird. Atticus Finch always treated people with respect and was a role model to not only his children but the whole town, yet was talked about for taking on the case of Tom Robinson because of Tom's colour of skin. The community of Maycomb believed it was wrong that a white man should try and defend a negro. Many of the towns people began judging and backbite about Atticus, even in front of his own children, and even some classmates at school
However, all the neighborhood legends about Boo were contradictory to what Boo’s true nature was. He rescued Scout and Jem from being murdered by Mr. Ewell, and in the brief time he was physically present in the book, he showed no signs of malice. He was almost brought into the spotlight because he was the one who stabbed Mr. Ewell in order to rescue the children, but that would hurt Boo because of his content life of solitude. “ To my way of thinkin’, Mr. Finch, taking the one man who’s done you and this town a great service an’ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight-to me, that’s a sin.” (Lee 369-370). Scout also observes on the same page when Atticus tells the cover story to save Boo, “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?”. Scout was right to say so because it is true that Boo would have suffered a great deal when he was the one who saved the lives of Jem and Scout. Boo Radley
To Kill a Mockingbird, a classic novel by Harper Lee, is a quintessential example of a novel that brings to light the social injustice that occurred throughout history. This social injustice is not only experienced by people of color, but also people that aren’t perceived as high class in society. Some people that face social injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird are the following: Tom Robinson, the Cunninghams, and Arthur Radley.
Mr. Underwood, editor of The Maycomb Tribune, likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children. Tom Robinson does not harm anyone like mockingbirds. In Chapter 19, Link Deas, Tom’s employer, rises from the audience and announces that Tom has been worked for him for eight years, and Tom never causes him any trouble. Tom is always glad to help if someone is needed like mockingbirds are always singing their heart out for everyone. During the trial, Tom states that “Seemed like every time I passed by yonder she’d have some little somethin’ for me to do----choppin’kindlin’, totin’ water for her.” (Lee 218) When Atticus asks Tom if he is paid for his services, Tom says “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time. I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help her non, and neither did the chillum.” (Lee 218) Ironically, Mayella is the person who receives Tom’s services, but she is also the one who “kills” him. Accroding to Mr. Underwood, “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” (Lee 276) Prison guards shoot Tom down with seventeen bullets on his body, and it is a sin to do
Throughout the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee, express the general idea of growing up by illustrating a story of three children living in a time of oppression, racism, and survival in the 1930’s of South. Lee tries to teach people throughout her book that all people are equal no matter their skin color, financial state, or gender. Like Atticus Finch, the father of Jem, and Scout, and the defence lawyer for Tom Robinson said "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, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (chapter 3) This statement is often used throughout the
Justice. “the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness. [dictionary.com]” Justice is implyed when something in the right thing to do, whether or not the decision is in favoe of the reciever. Fairness. “the state, condition, or quality of being fair, or free from bias or injustice; evenhandedness. [dictionary.com]” Fairness is implyed when In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the concepts of justice and fairness are two conflicting topics. They don’t seem like they are two concepts that would have conflicts, though in this story, they are clearly displayed as conflicting topics. One thing is the fair thing to do, but it is not just. Many characters are prime examples of this idea, like Tom Robinson’s
Do unto others as you would have them do to you. This proverb means to treat others the way one wants to be treated. For example, I treat my close friends with loyalty, respect and kindness because this is how I want them to treat me. As a case in point, when my friends need help with biology homework on cell division, I help them when they need it because I know more about cell division and when I need help on history homework on the Revolutionary War because I am not so good at history, I would expect them to help me. In fact, I would be there by their side when they need help. Truly, I expect them to have my back the same way. This maxim connects to social justice because the concept of the maxim
In To Kill A Mockingbird injustice is exhibited at intense depths; sometimes it takes extreme measures for justice to be displayed even though it might be wrong in the law’s eyes. The most prevalent of these is the injustice the because this leads to the stage in the book where justice has been revealed.
32. Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children.
Boo Radley was the reclusive man who never setted foot outside his house. He is a powerful symbol of goodness. In the Halloween night when Jem and Scout returned from school, Boo Radley saved them from Bob Ewell who tried to kill them by the knife because of the hatred with Atticus Finch. Then he carried unconscious Jem home to the safety of the Finch house. Boo watched Jem and Scout day by day and gave them soft of gifts in a tree outside the Radley place. There was a lot of imagination with rumors about his appearance but he was scare to appear to save Jem and Scout. "First of all," Atticus said, "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 form his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." Jem and Scout learned some of things from Boo that they could not judge people without knowing them. Boo Radley was one of the novel’s “mockingbirds,” a good person injured by the evil of
A character that displays many aspects of being a mockingbird is Boo Radley. Boo is a man who initially in the story does not come out of his house due to his fear of being persecuted. He is seen as the town mystery and some people do not even believe he exists. On page 44, two of the the main characters who are children named Jem and Scout are walking home from school when they start finding a gifts inside a tree knot hole outside of the Radley place. The children assume the gifts are from Boo and their assumptions are later proven correct. The act of Boo giving the children gifts makes him appear as he cares for the children. In like manner, Boo exhibits the kindness of a mockingbird is on page 95. While watching Miss Maudie’s house fire someone wraps a blanket around Scout, but she does not realise until she gets back home. She guesses Boo Radley was the one who did it and again her guess was proven correct. This act of kindness models his selflessness. Lastly, throughout the story Boo is described as
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” - Martin Luther King Jr. The text To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee, and the documentary “ The Untold Story of Emmett Till” directed by Keith Beauchamp both share the same opinions on justice and injustice in society. Harper Lee and the Untold story of Emmett Till are suggesting that injustice is created upon lies and guilt from others. We need to stop assumptions about other people because of their background and race. All things can come to good terms when people are treated fairly and equally because we are all humans.
Atticus Finch was Tom’s criminal defense lawyer, he was acknowledged as the best lawyer in all of Maycomb and was appointed specifically by the judge. The judge knew that if anyone could change how black people were dealt with in the legal system, it would by Atticus. Atticus, however, could only strongly influence the white jury to do the right thing and follow the evidence instead of the bias but “in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case “ (Lee 323). Atticus could not control how people viewed black people in the South but he could try to give such a compelling statement that it could break through the control prejudice held over people. Normally, in a case of a black person’s word against a white person, the case would be over in few hours if even that much.
In the book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” there are many instances of injustice. Injustice is defined as a lack of fairness and justice. Throughout the story, many people are judged unfairly. People are judged by the color of their skin, their gender, and even by their clothes. Reading other articles about injustice in our world has offered a better understanding of how much injustice can affect all kinds of people.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee argues that justice can be corrupted when people are prejudiced. In the novel the author describes several justice issues that affects people in the book. The main justice issue in the book is racism against black people. Readers can see that the main victim of this injustice is Tom Robinson. Tom and the black community are victims of injustice simply because they are black. There are also black people that discriminates white people which is also not good because people should not judge others because of their race.
People reason that Boo has allegedly stabbed his father in the leg with scissors, and was accused of breaking the law at a young age. As the characters evolve throughout the book, Boo Radley engenders the kids to slowly realize that he is not as evil as what the citizens of Maycomb claimed him to be. Boo Radley symbolizes one of the novel’s “mockingbirds,” a good person who is injured by the evil of mankind. The first time we directly see Boo break from his “evil” appearance is when Atticus tells Scout that “[s]omeday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up” (Lee 72). Scout was so engaged with Ms. Maudie’s house burning down that she did not notice Boo Radley put a blanket around her. This quote substantiates that a seemingly “awful” person, Boo Radley is not the vicious man that he has been portrayed as. Also, the quote shows that Boo is looking after the children’s lives, observing them, and looking out for any troubles they may encounter. The blanket serves as a piece of evidence that Boo is a kindhearted man who wants to be Scout and the children’s friend. This is the first time that the characters in the story consider that Boo Radley could be someone who is friendly, kind, generous, caring, and is a new development in our characters’ understanding of Boo Radley. From the children’s point of view, Boo Radley is evolving from a mysterious and frightening figure into someone who is a “true