themes Flashcards
PREJUDICE - classes in maycomb
- clearly divided into groups
- black community is at the bottom - below the lower whites
- black are even below the Ewells - ‘White trash’
- Ewellsfelt threatened by the black community bc there was no longer (after the abolition of slavery) a clear divide between the lower whites and the blacks
PREJUDICE - women in maycomb
- unequal
- not permitted to sit on the jury
- scout learns that women were expected to act and dress in a certain way
PREJUDICE - quote about women said by atticus
“‘in favor of southern womanhood as much as anybody but not preserving polite fiction at the expense of human life”
- this means that he will respect the traditions of the time but will not prioritise them over real life issues
- shows how entrenched the view of women was
PREJUDICE - examples of racial
- Tom Robinson being accused straight away because he is black - even when evidence of him being innocent
- when Dolphus Raymond marries a black women the community thinks its because he is drunk and neglects his children - but rly he is pretending so they don’t question his choices
- trial separates whites and blacks
- when aunt Alexandra arrives at the finch house to help take care of jame and scout whilst atticus is busy with the trial - she tells Calpernia to take her suitcase upstairs - treating her differently
PREJUDICE - quote and explanation of standing in someone elses shoes
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
- putting yourself in someone else situation leads to tolerance over prejudice
- at the trial he tells the white jury to stand in tom’s shoes
- scout and jem then sympathise with Mayella Ewell’s loneliness at the trial - growth and learning
PREJUDICE - quotes from atticus and scout about boo
- scout says ‘real nice’ and Atticus replies ‘most people are scout, when you finally see them’
- once you knock down the prejudice barries - everyone is equal
COURAGE - examples of physical courage Little Chuck Little
- burris mean rude boy who insults Miss Caroline and refuses to leave the class and little Chuck little calmly confronts him.
- physical courage - much smaller, defends his teacher, intimidating, standing up for whats right
COURAGE - physical courage - jem getting his trousers
- sneaks into radley place at night to get his trousers despite initial fear of boo radley and the fact he could get into loads of trouble
- determination and bravery against darkness and uncertainty - bravery from young - responsibility
COURAGE - physical courage - house burning down
- miss maudie house burns down but she focuses in the positives
- she doesn’t dwell on the problem but reassures jem and scout that its not the end of the world and maintains a positive and optimistic outlook - find strength in difficult times
- bravery and resilience - powerful example for jem and scout - strength
COURAGE - moral courage Atticus teaching jem and scout
“It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
- atticus defines ‘real courage’ to jem and scout - not just abt physical strength or fighting but abt continuing what you are doing right even if you know you will loose
- he uses Mrs. Dubose as an example - despite her struggles with addiction she fights to break free of her morphine addiction. before she dies because she knows this is morally right - even though she knows she will die she continues to over come it
- atticus calls her the bravest person he has ever met - teaches them that real courage isnt always heroic but can be quiet and every day
- ironic because she is a women and at the time they didnt think women were brave at all
SYMBOLISM - quote about blue jays - METAPHOR
Atticus is telling kids how to use shot guns - METAPHOR
“shoot all the bluejays you want if you can hit ‘em, but remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird”
- blue jays represent people who can cause harm and therfore its okay to go against them if its to defend yourself
- however mockingbirds represent innocent people who dont harm but just bring joy to people through sons
- therfore atticus is saying its wrong to harm and innocent and defenceless person who hasnt done anything to deserve it
- metaphor to show you should protect those who are vulnerable
SYMBOLISM - 2 main examples throughout novel
- waiting for jurys verdict - tom is innocent - taking advantage of his vulnerability and lack of power
- acticle about toms death - lost his life due to racial prejudice - white ppl ‘killed the mockingbird’ - social injustice and inequality
SEXISM - scout quotes
- Jem told me I was being a girl, that girls always imagined things, that’s why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could just go off and find some to play with.”
- I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants.”
