Skip to main content

What are some passages showing that Atticus believes in racial equality in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the best moments in which Atticus shows he believes that all races should be treated equally are when he speaks of Calpurnia, especially when he is defending his treatment of Calpurnia to his sister, Alexandra.One example can be seen in Chapter 14, when Aunt Alexandra expresses her displeasure at Calpurnia having taken the children to her all-black church and at Scout having asked permission to...

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the best moments in which Atticus shows he believes that all races should be treated equally are when he speaks of Calpurnia, especially when he is defending his treatment of Calpurnia to his sister, Alexandra.

One example can be seen in Chapter 14, when Aunt Alexandra expresses her displeasure at Calpurnia having taken the children to her all-black church and at Scout having asked permission to visit Calpurnia in her home. Aunt Alexandra and Atticus get into a quarrel because Alexandra, being racist, feels Calpurnia is a bad influence on the children. She also feels Calpurnia is no longer needed in the household now that she has come to stay herself and begs Atticus to let Calpurnia go. Atticus's response shows he sees Calpurnia as an equal human being, worthy of being respected:



Alexandra, Calpurnia's not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn't have got along without her all these years. She's a faithful member of this family and you'll simply have to accept things the way they are. (Ch. 14)



The fact that Atticus thinks of Calpurnia as part of his family, not just a servant, shows that he sees her as an equal human being.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more