![]() However, before any question of race is introduced, the children must confront their prejudices about Boo Radley, a local recluse who was rumoured to have attacked his parents. Prejudice and Race in To Kill A MockingbirdĪll throughout the novel resonate messages of tolerance over prejudice. We’ll be going through the novel’s major themes, and also looking at it a bit more critically within the historical context of civil rights and racial justice struggles.īefore we dive into To Kill A Mockingbird, I'd highly recommend checking out LSG's Ultimate Guide to VCE Text Response. The first part follows their childhood, and their interactions with characters such as Boo Radley, Walter Cunningham, Miss Caroline and Mrs Dubose, while the second part follows the Tom Robinson trial itself, testing the children on the moral lessons of their childhood and disillusioning them to the overwhelming racism of their community. The novel is narrated in two parts by his younger child, Scout, and along with her brother Jem and their friend Dill, she traces their upbringing as inspired by Atticus’ moral teachings of tolerance, courage and justice. With this, he can teach his children to have the courage to stand up for those who need it.Many lawyers today would cite this 60-year-old story as an inspiration-Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is, at its core, the tale of one attorney’s quest against racial injustice in his Deep South home, and of his children coming of age in the shadow of their father. Not to mention that Atticus doesn’t care what others think and his children listen to him. Scout is a fighter, amongst other things and Jem is picking up his father’s job. It makes sense why this would bring harm to his family, but the Finch’s are well known. ![]() The case wouldn’t harm him because who cares about what others think? Atticus won’t lose his job for helping someone he was assigned to and he won’t damage relationships because he is a very respectable and revered man, known for his lawyership and his marksmanship. Atticus needs to prove to his children that the popular opinion isn’t always the moral one. This is because we have already seen that the kids are being viewed as the children of a “nigger lover.” However, they are misinformed because that is exactly why Atticus needs to do this. Some people may say that Atticus standing up for Tom would cause harm to him and his family, physically and mentally. “…I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town. He is trying to gain their trust so they won’t put it in the wrong people. Atticus is using this same approach to develop a conscience at an early age. You do what you love without realizing that you are helping your body and maintaining it healthy. It is like developing a good habit such as sports. Now you might be asking, “what does that have to do with trust?” Well Atticus is teaching them without them knowing. When Scout is asked how she can read, she responds that “(Atticus) hasn’t taught me anything”(19), but she has testified that she sits in Atticus’ lap whenever he reads. They call him by his first name and sometimes get annoyed by him, even to think to themselves “I wish my father was a demon from hell”(105) but they do learn from him. Throughout the book, it is quickly apparent that Jem and Scout don’t respect him as they do other adults. A fogged mirror.Ītticus’ second reason for defending Tom would be to gain trust in his children. ![]() ![]() It would be like looking at a living embodiment of a mirror. He even states that if he doesn’t defend him how he wouldn’t be able to face his children. So, why does Atticus want his children to know this? Because in their county, racism is encouraged and Atticus is trying to teach Jem and Scout the benefits of respecting and, if needed, helping others, regardless of their skin tone. It tells us that every person has their own problems, so we should help them rather than hurt them. At its basic, the Golden Rule is to treat others how you would want to be treated. To understand why Atticus wants Jem and Scout to know the Golden Rule, you must first understand what the Golden Rule is. ![]()
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