Skip to main content

How are Atticus's teachings on racism significant to the story in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus’s teachings to his children support the theme that everyone deserves equal treatment, regardless of race.


Atticus’s view of race is quite different from the rest of Maycomb.  He treats Calpurnia with respect, even though she is his employee.  He lets her raise his children, and makes sure they are obedient to her.  Race has nothing to do with it. 


When Atticus defends Tom Robinson, he is sending a message to his children.  It is...

Atticus’s teachings to his children support the theme that everyone deserves equal treatment, regardless of race.


Atticus’s view of race is quite different from the rest of Maycomb.  He treats Calpurnia with respect, even though she is his employee.  He lets her raise his children, and makes sure they are obedient to her.  Race has nothing to do with it. 


When Atticus defends Tom Robinson, he is sending a message to his children.  It is the same message Lee is trying to impart to the reader.  Everyone deserves a chance, regardless of race, and it is our responsibility to make change.  Change does not come from society suddenly coming to its senses.  It comes from each person’s decisions. 


To his children, Atticus defends his representation of Tom Robinson, despite the fact that it is unpopular.  He also does not allow his children to use racist language. 



“Do you defend niggers, Atticus?” I asked him that evening.


“Of course I do. Don’t say nigger, Scout. That’s common.”


“‘s what everybody at school says.”


“From now on it’ll be everybody less one—” (Ch. 9)



Atticus describes Tom Robinson as he would any other man.  He explains to Scout that it is every lawyer’s duty to defend a Negro.  He tells her all lawyers do it, although that seems to contradict Maycomb’s opinion.



He’s a member of Calpurnia’s church, and Cal knows his family well. She says they’re clean-living folks. Scout, you aren’t old enough to understand some things yet, but there’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man. (Ch. 9) 



During the trial, Atticus tells the jury that there are good black men and good white men.  A person should be judged on his actions, not his race.  He reminds them that of any institution, the court should be colorblind.  Although he is not successful in getting Tom Robinson acquitted, he stands up for him.  His children see this, and they learn the lesson on race that Atticus intends to teach them.


The thread of racism and race relations runs throughout the entire book, which focuses on Scout, Jem, and Atticus's lives before, during, and after the trial that shook Maycomb.  It is a coming of age experience for Scout and Jem, and a difficult journey for Atticus.  In the end, however, he made decisions to be proud of and left an enduring legacy in Maycomb and for the reader. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more