Family Values In To Kill A Mockingbird - 1149 Words

Children around the world are shaped and impacted by their families from the day they are born. However, countless families have drastically different values and morals when raising the children. Families should teach their children to have strong morals and a defined identity to help them grow to be responsible, respectful adults. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the author depicts two families, the Finch’s and the Ewell’s, which have completely different family values. The Finch family has a strong sense of morality and justice, whereas the Ewell family are portrayed as a poor, trashy family that is looked down on by the community of Maycomb. Firstly, through the Finch family, Atticus teaches both his children that†¦show more content†¦Throughout the book, the Ewells are seen as â€Å"...a disgrace to Maycomb for three generations† because they seemed to be â€Å"liv[ing] like animals†. The family environment is so poor, that p eople in Maycomb say that their home â€Å"looked like the playhouse of an insane child†. Not only this, but they also don’t make their children go to school besides the first and last day of the school year, because according to Scout, it is â€Å"silly† to try to force people like the Ewells into a new environment. This reflects the complete neglect of the basic necessities needed for the Ewell to properly function and more importantly grow. Even the most miniscule of things, such as education, is refused. This will inhibit the growth of this family, and therefore the generational trend will continue to spiral. Subsequently, my family has numerous different values and lessons that I have been taught over the years that have drastically changed myself into the person I am today. Similarly to the Finch’s, my family also believes in strong morals and a steady head when it comes to dealing with others. Myself, being an only child, have had the opportunities to be with my parents almost every waking minute of my life, and during this time I have picked up countless crucial life lessons. For example, my father in particular always tells me â€Å"No matter how small theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of More Than One Way1317 Words   |  6 PagesOleynik Mrs. Coad Honors Sophomore English March 19, 2015 Reevaluating the Mockingbird When one embarks on reading Jennifer Murray’s article, â€Å"More Than One Way to (Mis)Read a Mockingbird†, it becomes known that she is taking her readers through a thorough reanalysis of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Murray proclaims that Harper Lee’s novel is somewhat misunderstood and over appreciated. She claims that â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird, despite its awards and popularity, is a less than great novel†, and insteadRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird vs a Raisin in the Sun1396 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lee and Lorraine Hansberry are two very different authors, who wrote two very different works. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel about how prejudice and discrimination can lead to an innocent man being convicted of a crime he didn’t commit just because of his skin color. A Raisin in the Sun is a play about how the value of a family can overcome racism in a new town and allow a family to prosper, even in the worst conditions. However, both of these works deal with racism and discrimination inRead MoreHarper Lee862 Words   |  4 PagesHeritage 18 February 2013 Essay One Southern Parallels: An Exploration of the Life of Harper Lee and the Lasting Impact of To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee is considered one of America’s most enigmatic and influential writers of the twentieth century. Lee’s popular novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, offers readers deep insight into the dynamics of an unconventional family and Southern lifestyle in the1930s. Harper Lee was born Nelle Harper Lee on April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama (SparknotesRead MoreThe Significance of the Title of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee1065 Words   |  5 PagesThe Significance of the Title of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The title of this novel is To Kill a Mockingbird and throughout the book the word mockingbird appears several times. The mockingbird is the most significant symbol in the novel. The motif of the story is the innocent creature of the mockingbird. What is a mockingbird? A mockingbird is a type of finch. It is a small plain bird and has a beautiful song. It got its name because its beautiful sing mocks Read MoreWhy Not to Ban Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird990 Words   |  4 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been challenged/banned countless times since it’s original publication in 1960. The reasoning people could have behind banning it is that they feel that the racism, language and subject matter in the book is offensive, inappropriate, immoral and that it encourages and condones such things. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, a small town in Alabama, during the depression from 1935-1937, and is told from the perspective of a little girl named ScoutRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Reflection Essay744 Words   |  3 PagesTo Reflect on Mockingbird To Kill A Mockingbird reflected the contentious race relations of the 1930’s-1960’s, and sparked nationwide examination of racism. There are countless court cases that closely resemble the trial that took place in the novel, such as the Scottsboro Trials. The book was published right before the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement. In the years after the book’s publication, the Freedom Riders made their famous trip across the South, and the March on Washington took placeRead MoreHope in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee911 Words   |  4 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is extensively a story of hope. Hope is to wish for something with expectation of its fulfilment and to have confidence; trust. This is shown through the themes, issues and the characters in the novel. Atticus represents hope, he is optimist. He is from the higher class and defends the lower class and still has the anticipation to win. The Finch family has hope as Atticus has taught his children to be accepting and have open-minds. Racism and prejudice, giveRead MoreWhat Makes a Classic?1074 Words   |  5 PagesLee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, is a common example of a literary classic, studied in classrooms all over the world today. Peace Like a River is a newer novel by Leif Enger, one that may very well become a classic in the future. It is an immensely profound novel that presents a new way of looking at the role of miracle in today’s lives. However, how would a novel like Peace Like a River, become a classic similar to To Kill a Mockingbird? While reading To Kill a Mockingbird, thereRead MoreTheme Of Nature In To Kill A Mockingbird1394 Words   |  6 PagesOften times, nature and the organic things of life come together to form a representation or symbolic message to life. As shown in To Kill a Mockingbird, nature and various aspects of humanity are associated in the form of a mockingbird. As it relates to the novel, A mockingbird represents a commonality of an understood sin. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is well known, classic novel originally published in 1960. Though the novel was written in a different time span, its plot vividly detailsRead MoreMaturation Theme In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1609 Words   |  7 PagesMaturation Theme To Kill A Mockingbird â€Å"Maturity is not measured by age. It’s an attitude built by experience.† This quotation says of how you don’t mature by aging and growing older but maturing by understanding situations and events you are found in and how you deal with those challenges or problems. The definition of maturity is to â€Å"have attained a final or desired state.† This means that although some don’t mature ever in life it is of something every human being must do to properly work in