Skip to main content

Based on the events in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, is it worth taking a stand for oneself? For others?

According to Atticus, taking a stand for what is right is always worth doing. Not standing up for what is right only perpetuates problems. Standing up for oneself and for others is a major theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, and there are many examples of characters doing just that. One character who stands up for herself is Mrs. Dubose. She's a mouthy old lady who doesn't filter her opinion around Jem and Scout, but Atticus tells the children that she is one of the bravest people he ever knew because of what she stood up to—her morphine addiction. Atticus believes Mrs. Dubose stood up for what was right for herself and showed courage at the same time. He describes what she did as follows:


"It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do" (112).



This quote also seems to pertain to Atticus when he takes the Tom Robinson case. Atticus knows he will lose the case, but he takes it anyway because Tom can't defend himself. Atticus tells his daughter Scout how important it is for him to stand up for Tom Robinson when he states,



"This case, Tom Robinson's case, is something that goes to the essence of a man's conscience... I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't try to help that man" (104).



For Atticus, defending Tom isn't just the right thing to do, but it serves an even higher purpose. Scout reminds her father that the whole town thinks he is wrong for standing up for Tom, but Atticus counters by saying that he has to live with himself first before he has to live with others; majority rule won't override his conscience.


One final example of someone sticking up for another is when Link Deas gives Helen Robinson a job after Tom dies. This helps Helen feed her three children. When Bob Ewell harrasses Helen as she goes to and from work, Mr. Deas threatens Ewell that he will have Ewell thrown in jail if he continues harrassing Helen. Ewell stops immediately. Without neighborly support like that, Helen may have been attacked by Bob Ewell at some point in time, which would also cause more problems for the community. As a result, the community also benefits from when Mr. Deas stands up for another person. 


Standing up to prejudice and discrimination is always the right choice, even if it leaves the prejudice-fighting person standing alone. The benefits are worth the sacrifice because that person shows others a good example about what is right. 

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

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

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more