Skip to main content

I have a literary analysis paper and my topic is the loss of innocence from the book To Kill A Mockingbird. I need some examples of metaphors that...

In Chapter 22, Jem speaks with Miss Maudie about the outcome of the trial. He is distraught that Tom Robinson was found guilty and convicted. At the beginning of the chapter, he is crying and telling Atticus that it "ain't right." This is shocking for Jem who, prior to the trial, held the assumption that the world (namely the adult world) generally made sense and was fair. With the incorrect decision of the biased jurors,...

In Chapter 22, Jem speaks with Miss Maudie about the outcome of the trial. He is distraught that Tom Robinson was found guilty and convicted. At the beginning of the chapter, he is crying and telling Atticus that it "ain't right." This is shocking for Jem who, prior to the trial, held the assumption that the world (namely the adult world) generally made sense and was fair. With the incorrect decision of the biased jurors, Jem learns that the world is not always fair. Speaking with Miss Maudie, he uses an analogy of a caterpillar to describe how he'd once felt safe and warm in his innocent perspective of things and now he feels exposed to the truth: 



"It’s like bein‘ a caterpillar in a cocoon, that’s what it is,” he said. “Like somethin’ asleep wrapped up in a warm place. I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that’s what they seemed like." 



In Chapter 15, Scout, Jem, and Dill awkwardly but effectively get the mob to leave Atticus alone. Atticus was at the Maycomb jail making sure no harm would come to Tom Robinson. In the next chapter, Jem notes that he is convinced Walter and his mob would have killed Atticus. Scout responds, saying she will beat up Walter Cunningham Jr. the next chance she gets. Atticus makes her promise not to touch him. Here, Scout and Jem are taught to avoid violence after learning that, in the adult world, Walter and his mob had been expected to threaten violence. Atticus says that Walter Sr. has "blind spots." 



"Mr. Cunningham’s basically a good man,” he said, “he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us." 



This is Atticus' metaphorical way of saying that Walter is uneducated and ignorant in some ways. The children learn that these "blind spots" can turn a friend into an enemy. Racism can be a blind spot in this metaphorical sense. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What are some external and internal conflicts that Montag has in Fahrenheit 451?

 Montag, the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451, faces both external and internal conflicts throughout the novel. Some examples of these conflicts are: External Conflicts: Conflict with the society: Montag lives in a society that prohibits books and critical thinking. He faces opposition from the government and the people who enforce this law. Montag struggles to come to terms with the fact that his society is based on censorship and control. Conflict with his wife: Montag's wife, Mildred, is completely absorbed in the shallow and meaningless entertainment provided by the government. Montag's growing dissatisfaction with his marriage adds to his external conflict. Conflict with the fire captain: Montag's superior, Captain Beatty, is the personification of the oppressive regime that Montag is fighting against. Montag's struggle against Beatty represents his external conflict with the government. Internal Conflicts: Conflict with his own beliefs: Montag, at the beginning of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

In A People's History of the United States, why does Howard Zinn feel that Wilson made a flimsy argument for entering World War I?

"War is the health of the state," the radical writer Randolph Bourne said, in the midst of the First World War. Indeed, as the nations of Europe went to war in 1914, the governments flourished, patriotism bloomed, class struggle was stilled, and young men died in frightful numbers on the battlefields-often for a hundred yards of land, a line of trenches. -- Chapter 14, Page 350, A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn outlines his arguments for why World War I was fought in the opening paragraph of Chapter 14 (referenced above). The nationalism that was created by the Great War benefited the elite political and financial leadership of the various countries involved. Socialism, which was gaining momentum in Europe, as was class struggle, took a backseat to mobilizing for war. Zinn believes that World War I was fought for the gain of the industrial capitalists of Europe in a competition for capital and resources. He states that humanity itself was punished by t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Where did Atticus take the light and extension cord in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with... Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with Jim if that’s what it takes to protect him.  Atticus tells the men that he will make sure his client gets his fair shake at the law.  “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till ...
Post a Comment
Read more