Good and Evil can co-exist – EMPATHY

The moral voice of To Kill a Mockingbird is embodied by Atticus Finch, who has experienced and understood evil without losing his faith in the human capacity for goodness. NOT SIMPLY CREATURES OF GOOD OR EVIL, MOST PEOPLE HAVE BOTH GOOD AND BAD QUALITIES. APPRECIATE THE GOOD QUALITIES AND UNDERSTAND THE BAD QUALITIES BY TREATING OTHERS WITH EMPATHY AND TRYING TO SEE LIFE FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

- Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shows a minute

Throughout the novel, Atticus rejects dualism and humanises Bob Ewell, highlighting his human nature and promoting empathy despite the Ewell’s demonised and evil portrayal.

- You never understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it

Metaphor: Crucial piece of moral advice that governs Scout’s development for the rest of the novel. The simple wisdom of Atticus’s words reflects the uncomplicated manner in which he guides himself by this sole principle of empathy

- I sometimes felt a twinge of remose…at ever having taken part in what must have been sheer torment to Arthur Radley

Scout understands/appreciates his quiet dignity; not the scary figure Maycomb community had conjured/concocted

reality vs appearance

Hitler persecuting Jews: “that ain’t no cause to persecute ‘em. They’re white, ain’t they?”

Hypocrisy/Ironic juxtaposition – as justification for a hope of ending persecution is based on prejudice – child – demonstrates the entrenched nature of bias in society

‘Mrs Merriweather’s large brown eyes always filled with tears when she considered the oppressed’ ‘Those poor Mrunas’ VS ‘sulky darky’ (Sophie her servant) – Mrs Merriweather gossip in the missionary circle tea

PREJUDICE

Racial

- I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it… without catching Maycomb’s usual disease

Metaphor refers to the widespread susceptibility to racial prejudice in society. Atticus shooting the dog Tim Johnson is an extended metaphor of the moral values he is fighting for – overcome the oppression of blacks

- A black dog suffered on a summer’s day

Dehumanising black community

- Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan

Judgments and expectations

Class

- White people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs… Negroes wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she was white

Mesodiplosis pertaining to phrase “wouldn’t have anything” emphasises rigid class hierarchical structure in Maycomb

- He’s (just) a Cunningham

Scout constantly refers back to class differences and gets reprimanded

JUSTICE

Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts, Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Eweell opened her mouth and screamed

Atticus, to the best of his abilities and available avenues, cannot stop the inexorable conviction of a black man. [prejudice, rigidity of society, conformity, structured and unable to break from traditional judgments]

When it’s a black man’s word against a white man’s word, the white man always wins

unmitigated temerity to 'feel sorry' for a white woman has had to put his word against two white people

- "I don't know [how they could convict TR], but they did it. They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do it—seems that only children weep.”

Clouded adult perceptions: racism, intolerance, ignorance, prejudice

MOCKINGBIRD

- IT’S A SIN TO KILL A MOCKINGIBIRD

Metaphor to draw out innocence and helplessness of Tom Robinson and Radley

• Reflects the wrongdoing, widespread “sin” (refer to ‘disease’) in the town where prejudice influences them to condemn a man based on race

• Sacrificed, subjected, abused by prejudice

- Mr Underwood likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds

TR is victimised by society (link to justice “black man’s word against white man’s”). ALLITERATION EMPHASISES IRRATIONALITY AND CRUELTY

- (mashing the bug) Jem: ‘because they don’t bother you’

Jem has matured and recognises the vulnerability in the oppressed

COURAGE

The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience

Truly courageous people will fight against conformity and societal pressure

“Good evening, Mrs Dubose! You look like a picture this evening.”…it was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.

I wanted you to see something about her – I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a fun in his hand.

Atticus’ life lesson

HOPE FOR CHANGE/ MATURING

“I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.” – Scout’s realisation after life lessons of empathy, injustice in society, nuances/layers in situations. Colloquial “folks” = child

'Atticus Finch won't win, he can't win… but…we're making a step. It's just a baby step, but it's a step.'Through Miss Maudie's comment, it is illustrated that although racism is still a prevalent part of the Maycomb county, there is a glimmer of hope that people were starting to question their intrinsic moral beliefs and values and pave the way to change. It is clear that Atticus’ main aim, his only hope of having an impact. Was to sway the thoughts of the audiences so that there may be a seed of doubt planted into society, which might manifest and grown into a new and improved era of social acceptance across all races and socio-economic boundaries.

'A Walter Cunningham, who led the lynch mob, was the one who kept the jury out for so long.'

RETROSPECTIVE POV/PERSPECTIVE/REFLECTION OF A CHILD

- Transformation from child naivety to maturity and insight- Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom boo would feel more

comfortable in the dark

USEFUL PHRASES TO KNOW:

- Lee’s novel is a didactic allegory which is intended to impact on the readers’ perceptions and understandings of the nuances of society; her primary objective was to target withstanding racial prejudices and reveal the true face of racial discrimination and injustice through writing/text.

- Prevalent impact of injustice/prejudice - Engrained into society’s functioning - Utilise effect literary techniques/ stylistic features - In contrast, moreover, in conjunction, ultimately - A gateway to express - Entrenched within society - Stigma, expectation- FRAMEWORK of racial segregation, suppression, discrimination, oppression - Mar and deface the foundations of discriminatory perspectives and

injustice - Persuaded to experience guilt and perhaps hope towards better

circumstances in the future- Shame white societal prejudice, instil a sense of guilt, uncertainty, change - TR’s conviction at the time was inevitable, forgone conclusion, inexorable