Equality: A timeless Struggle Essay

Submitted By charly000222
Words: 700
Pages: 3
Open Document
Charly Smith

Equality: A timeless Struggle

The trial is the most gripping, and in some ways the most important, dramatic sequence in To Kill a Mockingbird. The trial overall covers about five chapters with no breaks. The courtroom scene, where Atticus is picking apart the Ewells in front of the whole town, is the most cinematic portion of the book, as is the main focus of the movie of the book produced in 1962. Though the trial targets Tom Robinson, in another sense it is Maycomb that is on trial, because it reveals the injustice and classifying community that do things such as force blacks to sit in a different areas of the courthouse, and while Atticus eventually loses the court case, he successfully reveals this about Maycomb. That is why I chose Atticus’s final argument of the trial as my passage; his closing statement shows the close-mindedness of Maycomb, and how Atticus fights for what is right even if it degrades him in the minds of his neighbors. Right being that people, no matter their skin color, background, religion, or views have the right to be treated equally in a court of law.

Atticus’s closing argument develops him as a character as well as him as a civilian of Maycomb. The passage develops him as a character in two main ways. First, he simply defends Tom Robinson in the prosecution. Atticus defends Robinson in two different ways, one being that he has Mayella testify, and has everyone learn that she was bruised mostly on the left side of her face. Then later when he puts Mr. Ewell on the stand, he has him simply write his name, which proves that Mr. Ewell is left handed. Then when Tom Robinson is testifying, he states that when he was younger he got his left hand and forearm messed up in a cotton gin, rendering it useless, thus showing that it would be extremely difficult for Tom to hit Mayella on the right side of her face with his right hand. Atticus’s next way of defending Tom Robinson occurred when Tom was on the stand explaining what happened, and Tom claims that when he went inside the Ewell home, all the other children were gone except for Mayella, and then Mayella kissed him. She was then caught by her father, who was outside and saw almost everything that happened. Thus giving a reason for why Mr. Ewell would have beat Mayella. The third and final defending argument Atticus used was that Tom Robinson felt sorry for Mayella, which was not something a black person was not supposed to in that time period, but since Tom felt sorry for her why would he want to try to rape her which would make her life much harder than
Show More

Related Documents: Equality: A timeless Struggle Essay

John Lewis Beliefs

John Lewis was a civil rights activist in the mid 1900s whose, a civil rights activist, quote, “Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble,” encapsulates a timeless truth that resonates both in history and society today. The relevance of this quote is applicable in pivotal moments of the past, from the American Revolution to the Underground Railroad and civil rights movement, as well as present-day challenges…

Words 478 - Pages 2

Fresh Prince Stereotypes

and Family Guy. Among these there came icon and game changing Black Television shows like Martin, A Different World, and The Wayans Bros. One show however stood out amongst them all and that was The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The Fresh Prince is a timeless and was a game changing television show, especially for the Black community and Black television. This show brought a new image and perspective of the black as well as addressing certain societal issues. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is often taken…

Words 783 - Pages 4

Fredrick Douglass

Echoes of Fortitude: Frederick Douglass’ Journey and the Unyielding Struggle for Equity In Fredrick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the author shares his devastating yet heroic journey through slavery and his abolitionist movements towards a more just society for Black people. Douglass’ rhetoric serves as a poignant testament to the power of resilience in the face of oppression. His relentless pursuit of justice and freedom for himself and other Black slaves underscores the…

Words 1297 - Pages 6

The Hours Essay

facilitates the viewers understanding of how women deal with monotony of everyday life. Through the weaving of the narratives, the audience gets a new perspective on Virginia Woolf’s life and struggles within. Woolf, who wrote the classic novel “Mrs. Dalloway”, reconstructs her own process of grieving, translating a timeless account of how women cope. The screenplay written by David Hare alludes to The Hours by Michael Cunningham, a novel written in correspondence to Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” and what is known…

Words 1328 - Pages 6

Racial Tensions In America

We live in a very ignorant society. Today, many Americans believe that racism has been completely eliminated from our society, which is quite far from the truth. In the American society, people see our country as virtuous and pure, believing that racism is an issue of the past. Because interracial marriage is legal, our former president was African-American, and we have the American dream, we are an example to the world. While American society has progressed in some areas, racism still runs wild…

Words 1165 - Pages 5

Social Work Mission Statement Analysis

man”, according to former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Grant & Gibson, 2013). It was back in 1932 Roosevelt spoke these words and recognized the need for all Americans to pursue social justice, or the manifestation of universal rights and equalities (Grant & Gibson, 2013). Wanting all Americans to participate in the pursuit of social justice in some way is still needed today, however this is the full-time pursuit of every professional social worker and a passion for me. The University of…

Words 2106 - Pages 9

Why Is Fashion Important In The 1920s

Fashion is one of the most influential enterprises in modern society. It has been, and still is, an integral pillar of each person’s daily life. The fashion industry reaches every class, culture, and corner of the globe, knowing no limits. Even during the most trying of times, fashion prevails as a lifeline for individuality and hopeful spirit. During political, social, and economic growth, fashion played a vital role. New designs and influential supermodels set the stage for a new era of women.…

Words 1699 - Pages 7

Symbols Of Race In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

in the newly freedmen that Reconstruction would prove to bring forth social progress for African-Americans that the nation had never seen. They hoped to be truly free and even equal to those that had once oppressed them. Though freedom came, the equality they hoped for was never achieved. The former slavemasters and many Caucasians at this time wanted to remind the freedmen what their role was. To ensure this social caste…

Words 2004 - Pages 9

Notes on King Richard Iii and Looking for Richard Essays

rise and follow me” – sesuras quicken pace, increasing the anxiety and utilising their fear Values- Shakespeare – integrity, honesty, loyalty and moderation Pacino – integrity, honesty, loyalty, empathy, equality and perseverance - The values of the texts parallel as they portray the timeless concept of human emotions and destruction within one’s self. Other - - Documentary – flexible medium, modern day analogies, enactments of key scenes - Shakespeare – language, style, character development…

Words 1352 - Pages 6

The Crucible: Arthur Miller's View on Conflicts Essay

true fears, desires and jealousies for one another's powers, pride riches and social status have undoubtedly risen in times of conflict where underlying real truths have emerged from long hatreds for each other. Such fears and disputes of social equality and differences become the fuel and more so, the catalys,t for the social issues introduced and presented in the play, the Crucible. Arthur Miller's subtle illustration of the then current social parallels of McCarthyism with Puritanism largely drew…

Words 1633 - Pages 7