"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." This is a famous quote by Martin Luther King, Junior. This states that people should be treated equally and that one is to judge somebody by their character and not by their skin. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird (referred to as TKMB) by Harper Lee and the film a Time to Kill (referred to as TTK) by John Grisham, racism is made relevant. There are those who want racism and those who are against it and try to exclude racism from their society. In TKMB, Atticus Finch, a lawyer and loving father, has high moral standards and does not hesitate in standing up for what he believes. Atticus does not see colored people as different beings, he sees them as equals. In the novel Atticus accepts the role of defending a black man, Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is wrongly accused of raping a young white woman. In a similar sense, TTK reveals to the viewers a young inexperienced lawyer who also has a family. This character is similar to Atticus Finch; he is a father and defends a colored man. The young lawyer is known as Jake Tyler Brigance. He defends a black man, Carl Lee Hailey for the murder of two rednecks. These rednecks rape Tonya, the daughter of Carl Lee and because of this Carl Lee Hailey does what he thinks is right. Due to Jake's and Atticus' actions of defending a black man, racial prejudice emerges within their community. Racial prejudice can be seen through the hatred racist individuals have towards the family of Atticus Finch and the family and friends of Jake Brigance, the fact that the juries in both TKMB and TTK consists of only white people and therefore it is not a fair trial for both cases, and the discrimination that the communities in both TTK and TKMB have towards black people. .
Since Atticus decides to accept the case and defend Tom Robinson, his family members are now victims of discrimination due to their relation to him.
Atticus Finch is a complicated character in "To Kill A Mockingbird." ... "He doesn't believe in killing just to kill. He says that killing mockingbirds is a "sin"" because they don't hurt anyone in any way. This is the only time Scout hears him talk about sin. ... Atticus's fair-mindedness makes racism something he hates. ...
To Kill a Mockingbird deals with Southern life during the 1930 "s. ... That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."... The mockingbird represents Tom Robinson and black people of that time in general. ... Throughout Harper Lee's, To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus is the voice of reason. ... Atticus kills the dog, like he kills the racism and prejudice, not letting it spread to his children. ...
The world's worst kind of prejudice is racism, and as illustrated in "To Kill a Mockingbird," it ruins the lives of those who suffer from it. During the time this book was written, racism was acceptable, but "To Kill a Mockingbird" shows the world a whole different side of the time. ... The benign force of racism puts a stamp on every part of "To Kill a Mockingbird," but the most apparent victim would be Tom Robinson. ... In "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus says, "But do you think I could face my children otherwise? ... All of this is evident in "To Kill a Mockingbird," during the lives o...
A major theme in To Kill A Mockingbird is racism. ... The setting of To Kill A Mockingbird is a small, southern town in the 1930's. This setting is the most important fictional element that affected the theme of racism in To Kill A Mockingbird. The early 1900's were a hard time for negroes. ... The theme of racism in To Kill A Mockingbird was most affected by the old, small, southern town called Maycomb County. ...
To Kill a Mockingbird - Analytical Essay Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird we are presented with two things, a happy little southern town and the ugly face of racism. ... To Kill a Mockingbird is set in a small, southern town in 1930's America. ... It was during this time period that the townsfolk were going through a time of unrest and upheaval when it came to racism and this brought on many different views on the issue. ... Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird we see through the characters how entrenched the racism present actually is and how it is such a way of life that even...
Essay: To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee expertly incorporates a variety of themes into To Kill a Mockingbird. ... Among the themes presented, racism, education, and bravery stand out as the fundamental themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. Racism is the most prominently significant theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. ... Education is also a key theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. ... The themes of racism, education, and bravery all play an important role in shaping To Kill a Mockingbird into the literary success it has become. ...
Racism in "To Kill A Mockingbird" is very common, and it is an important part in the story. ... Innocence in "To Kill A Mockingbird" is shown throughout the book various times. ... Courage in "To Kill A Mockingbird" is shown by various characters like Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Tom Robinson. ... You brought us some hickory nuts one time, remember?" ... Racism, innocence, and courage; these are the three things that explain "To Kill A Mockingbird's" main idea....
Racism was an influential part of society in the 1930s' as seen in To Kill a Mockingbird. ... The largest demonstration of this in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is Tom Robinson, he was guilty the moment that Bob Ewell reported him to the Sheriff Heck Tate. ... A large step in the fight against racism. The racism in To Kill a Mockingbird was ridiculous, not in the fact that there was so much of it and it was so strong, but in the fact that a community would take the word of a trashy white man over that of a clearly innocent black man; that is what makes it so ridiculous. ... Racism was a...
To Kill a Mockingbird is a book about courage. ... Many of the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird showed courage in their own way. ... In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird there are numerous accounts of racism and prejudice. The novel is set in the 1930's, a time when racism was very prevalent. ... To Kill a Mockingbird is not only a book about courage. ...
"If a book was set in a period of time when racism against blacks was common, then slurs are used by the author to make the reader feel like he/she is actually experiencing the book, rather than reading it" (Wright). ... Through reading To Kill a Mockingbird the reader gains insight into the life styles of southern Alabama. ... To Kill a Mockingbird gives insight into the human experience. ... To Kill a Mockingbird is perhaps greatest book ever written. ... This is why the banning of To Kill A Mockingbird is such an absurdity. ...
