In the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird the author Harper Lee starts off describing a quiet rural town during the early to mid 1900’s. But, later she expresses the unseen side filled with social lies, prejudice, and ignorance. In this novel no one is completely good or evil. Every character is human with human flaws and weaknesses. Even Atticus, who is viewed as the strongest and morally accurate character throughout the novel, is seen to be weak because he is an old widowed man not young and available. Atticus has a strong impact on many themes and other characters; he is the central character where all things occurring in the novel relate back to him. He influences his children greatly expressing the importance of many things not focused on by the average person during this time era.
Early in the novel it is evident that one thing Atticus valued for himself and his children was education. One example of this is when Jem and Dill first meet, “Scout’s yonder’s been readin’ ever since she was born, and she ain’t even started to school yet.”(Page 7) Scout finds out on her first day of school that she is highly more literate compared to other students and becomes frustrated with her teacher whose task is to teach her students acc
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Towards the end of the novel Atticus’s appreciation for education becomes clearer during his closing arguments when he plainly acknowledges the ignorance blinding people’s minds and hearts: “ the witnesses for the state…have presented themselves to you gentlemen…in the cynical confidence that their testimony would no be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the…evil assumption…that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men as not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with the minds of their caliber. You know he didn’t have one down at the jail that night. ”(Page 83) Atticus’s bravery is also shown when he states his disapproval of guns to Jem, expressing that they do not make men brave and that his fascination with them is uncommon. This was noticed by Jem after the trial showing this had made an impression on him such an impression that he pointed it out to Scout, “You know he wouldn’t carry a gun. If you attempt to walk around in another person’s skin you are able to see there point of view and becoming more understand and tolerant. A mockingbird is an innocent creature always up to something but misinterpreted by others as something evil. ”(Pages 224-225)
Although Aunt Alexandra didn’t agree with Atticus’s opinions when used correctly they were used in the novel to find solutions to prejudice. He told me havin’ a gun around’s an invitation to somebody to shoot you.
Atticus is a good example for his children because he is a very brave and determined person. Aunt Alexandra’s feelings are the exact opposite of Atticus’s. But, Atticus could also be a mockingbird; he has sung Tom’s song of truth to the people of Maycomb but has been ignored. ”(Page 217)
The fact that Atticus recognizes that he has no chance to win the case defending Tom because he is black offers the obvious indicator of racism. ”” That’s you father all over again,” said Aunt Alexandra.
Approximate Word count =
1128
Approximate Pages =
5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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