Essay on Expectations - to Kill a Mockingbird - 1247 Words

The following essay is based on the theme of â€Å"Expectations† in the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. The novel set during the 1930’s depression in Maycomb south Alabama is based upon the ignorance and prejudice present in society. The theme of ‘expectations’ is an imperative motif which affects the events that occur throughout the novel. Social expectations were rigidly upheld in Southern Alabama in the 1930’s. These expectations determined what behaviours were acceptable for men and women, Caucasians and Negros and different economic classes in society. The social setting in Maycomb County has a profound effect on the expectations in the novel. Initially, all individuals of Maycomb know about each other’s background and upbringing for†¦show more content†¦During Tom Robinson’s trial, the strong prejudice of Maycomb County and the negative effects of its social stratification were clearly demonstrated. Whilst Tom Robinson is innocent of the crime of rape, he gave the Caucasians more reason to convict him on the basis of daring to feel sorry for a Caucasian - it is not expected that a negro (considered as being a part of the lowest class of society, event lower than the ‘white trash’) could feel sorry for a Caucasian and the Caucasians could not accept such a presumption. [†¦] ‘You’re a might good fellow, it seems - did all this for not one penny?’ ‘Yes suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em -’ ‘You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?’ ‘Mr Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling. The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson’s answer. Mr Gilmer paused for a long time to let it sink in.’ (Chapter 19, page 218) Although there were doubts regarding Bob Ewell’s testimony and Atticus pleads the jury to give Tom equal standing under the eyes of the law, the jury still convicts Tom as being guilty to rape of Mayella Ewell. This lead to Jem’s mistrust in the legal system as Jem was old enough to understand the events that were occurring, but he wasn’t old enough to understand the reasoning behind Tom’s conviction as nothing has yetShow MoreRelatedGreat Expectations by Charles Dickens and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee710 Words   |  3 Pages The two novels â€Å"Great Expectations† and â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† relate us about discrimination during two different periods in history, even though their characters have similar characteristics. The society represented in these books is unequal, because powerful people tended to be more dominant over the poor ones. Certainly, it reflects the disadvantages of not having an education, and remarks that w ithout it, people have no principles. Of course, these characters seek success like Pip, who wasRead MorePip in Charles Dickens Great Expectations and Jem and Scout in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird1381 Words   |  6 PagesBoth Pip in Charles Dickens Great Expectations and Jem and Scout in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird have deep fears in early childhood. How do the authors create these fears and vulnerabilities? Charles Dickens Great Expectations and Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird are two very different books. Great Expectations tells the story of a young boy growing up in Kent at the beginning of the 19th century, and To Kill a Mocking Bird centres around two children growing up in AmericaRead MoreEssay about Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird991 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"‘You want to grow up to be a lady, don’t you?’ I said not particularly† (Lee). Jean Louise Finch is a tomboy growing up in a world where a girl is expected to become a lady. Submissive housewives and proper ladies were the expectations set for women in the time To Kill A Mockingbird took place. Scout Finch lived in a household that had a strong male influence; aside from Calpurnia, she had no real present example of what she was supposed to become. Because of this, Scout refused to conform to the waysRead MoreThe Characters Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pagesare plenty of important characters in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The story chronicles life through the eyes of young children, but also shows first hand accounts of racist adults in the small town of Holcomb. This book is so unique because symbolism is avidly used. The main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird are symbolized as mockingbirds. There are many different situations where a character can be categorized as a mockingbird. A mockingbird can be a meek man accused of a crime, or a youngRead 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 MoreGender Equality In Alice Walkers The Color Purple704 Words   |  3 PagesBy the release of The Color Purple, women had already begun to eliminate gender discrimination in education, voting, sports, and in the workforce. During To Kill a Mockingbird’s time, only â€Å"30 percent of wives worked outside the home in 1960† (â€Å"Modern America†). This would eventually grow into â€Å"50 percent by 1980† (â€Å"Modern America†), which alludes to gender bias becoming less of an issue when The Color Purple came to be. By 1980, still two years before the publication of Alice Walker’s novel, â€Å"moreRead MoreA Time to Kill and to Kill a Mockingbird1314 Words   |  6 PagesThe movie based on John Grishams A Time to Kill is a Hollywoodized, modern-day version of To Kill a Mockingbird. Both movies employ many of the same themes and plot elements; but the former movie is one-dimensional and predictable while the latter is innovative and purposeful. The movie version of Harper Lees novel To Kill a Mockingbird is considered a classic film, whereas John Grishams adapted novel is merely another example of the money m aking efforts of Hollywood. Some of the movies moreRead MoreRacism, Justice, Social Expectations And Corruption1014 Words   |  5 Pagescontroversy.† This statement perfectly portrays the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. These characters are: Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, Arthur (Boo) Radley, and Scout Finch. The themes in this novel are racism, justice, social expectations and corruption, these themes can be seen through the racist attitudes towards Tom Robinson, the unjust decision to charge Tom Robinson as guilty because of his race, the expectation of scout to be feminine and wear dresses and how they corrupt theRead MoreEssay on How Harper Lee Was Influenced by The Times 1473 Words   |  6 Pageswrite about. Great authors write about what they know. They write about what they see. They write about what they hear. They write about personal experiences and incorporate details from their lives into their literature. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a classical work that reflects the Civil Rights and Women’s Movement of the 1950’s-1960’s through her depiction of the relationship between blacks and whites and her portrayal of female characters. The 1950’s and the 1960’s was a time ofRead More Comparing the Movies A Time to Kill, by John Grisham and To Kill a Mockingbird1285 Words   |  6 Pages The movie based on John Grishams A Time to Kill is a Hollywoodized, modern-day version of To Kill a Mockingbird. Both movies employ many of the same themes and plot elements; but the former movie is one-dimensional and predictable while the latter is innovative and purposeful. The movie version of Harper Lees novel To Kill a Mockingbird is considered a classic film, whereas John Grisham?s adapted novel is merely another example of the money making efforts of Hollywood. Some of the movies