To Kill A Mockingbird, Three Representations of Mockingbirds Essay Example For Students

To Kill A Mockingbird, Three Representations of Mockingbirds Essay A mockingbird is a sort of bird which sings songs that are beautiful and pleasing to the world, but this bird never hurts anyone. It only makes beautiful music for everyone, never doing any harm. In the novel, the mockingbird serves as a symbol for the people who do good deeds and are hurt by people or society in some way or another. There are three characters in this novel that symbolize this peaceful, innocent, beautiful creature; these characters are Atticus, Tom Robinson, and Scout. The peace, tranquility, innocence, and role as a father make Atticus one of the most significant mockingbirds in this novel. We will write a custom essay on To Kill A Mockingbird, Three Representations of Mockingbirds specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Hostility has never been an issue for Atticus; he is always kind and loving to everyone. One example of this is his defense of Tom Robinson in court, even though he knew that he would lose. Atticus Finchs overwhelming kindness is also expressed in his kindness to the Cunninghams; accepting the youngest Cunningham for dinner and accepting crops and food goods as payment to debt owed by Mr. Cunningham. Not all people in this cruel, unjust world will do such a thing as to accept crops as payment for a monetary debt; Atticus Finch is not an ordinary man. He is destroyed internally by the unjust verdict of Tom Robinsons case; all of the evidence and arguments on Atticuss part would have proven him innocent in a just court of law, but the guilty verdict shows racial slander and injustice solely on the colour of Toms skin. This loving, tranquil man is also hurt internally when Tom is shot seventeen times and killed trying to escape the prison; a more just consequence could have been administered rather than shooting him seventeen times. Without Atticus Finch in this novel, the obvious theme of racial prejudice would not be as effective. Tom Robinson, through his actions, peacefulness, and innocence, is without a doubt one of the best representations of a mockingbird in this novel. He is always doing good deeds for everyone, never charging a cent.. Even after he chops up Mayellas chiffarobe, he refuses to even take a nickel; he said his work was for free. Tom is one of the characters in the book with the best morals, yet he is killed unjustly: Your fathers right, she said. Mockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. Thats why its a sin to kill a mockingbird Lee, p.94 ch 10. Tom Robinson quite possibly has the best morals of any other character in the book. And even with those in modern society, when they are juxtaposed with Tom, their morals would seem horrible. He is nice, loving, considerate, and loyal to everyone in the town, no matter what they have done to him before. Even through his horrible and erroneous indictment, he still showed nothing but love and respect for everyone in the town. When Tom was slain, a transgression was committed  by the prison guards. Tom was hurt by first being discriminatorily and unjustly convicted of raping Mayella Ewell, and secondly being shot at prison while trying to escape. Mr. Robinson did not merit this, nor would anyone else of his level of innocence. Scout is conceivably the most innocent of all characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. Her innocence is best described at the beginning of the book: Your father does not know how to teach. You can have a seat now. I mumbled that I was sorry and retired meditating upon my crime Lee p. 5 ch. 1 This demonstrates that although the crime accused of was not a large one at all, she was still remorseful and apologetic. A large portion of her innocence is accounted by her age and upbringing; she is just a small girl, and she is raised by one of the most loving, considerate men in the whole town. Scout Finch is very polite and mindful to her father; she never seems to be much of a problem to him. .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e , .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e .postImageUrl , .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e , .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e:hover , .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e:visited , .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e:active { border:0!important; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e:active , .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u48e4a29a75ccfb9fc514ec762a27170e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Early American Literature EssayShe is also very considerate of other people, as can be seen from her growing interest in the Tom Robinson case and through her devastation from the verdict. Scout Finch is not hurt by any person in particular, but by her own realization of how cruel the world really is and the constant injustice that lingers about, taken in as often as one would breathe. Scout is a mockingbird in its purest form; she never meaningfully hurts anyone, and she is of the utmost importance to the theme and emotional aspects and values of the novel. The mockingbird truly is a very powerful symbol in the form used in this novel. The mockingbird symbol in the novel acquires a profound moral significance. For, unlike the world of tender love and longing of Walt Whitmans Alabama birds, Harper Lees Alabama presents a bleak picture of a narrow world torn by hatred , injustice, violence and cruelty, and we lament to see what man has made of man. Dave, 245 It represents a person who is full of peacefulness, innocence, and tranquility yet is still slowly but steadily torn apart piece by piece by the unrelenting injustice and cruelty of society. Atticus, Scout, Tom Robinson, and many others provide examples of this; they are victims to the cruel world they are forced to live in and cannot escape.

Hamlet and Laertes

Hamlet and Laertes Free Online Research Papers William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet involves a rather crazy family. Hamlet’s father is murdered by his own brother Claudius. Claudius becomes king after marrying Hamlet’s mother right after the death of his brother. One night Hamlet sees an apparition of his father which tells him to kill King Claudius in revenge. Laertes is the son of Polonius, the King’s counselor. Polonius is also murdered and Laertes is out to seek vengeance of his murderer. They both learn that that revenge is a dark way to travel and it costs them their lives. Firstly, Hamlet and Laertes similarities are very obvious. Hamlet and Laertes are both angry and want revenge for the death of their fathers. Hamlet is mad and while talking with his mother about why she remarried so fast after his father’s death, Hamlet discovers an intruder and stabs him. He then says in Act three scene four,†Nay, I know not. Is it the king? A bloody deed- almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king and marry with his brother.† He thinks that it is the King because he was so mad. Really it is only Polonius, Laertes’ father. Once Laertes discovers that his father is dead, he automatically wants to seek revenge. He then says to the King in Act four scene five, â€Å"Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father.† Laertes is so caught up on his father’s death that he is looking for vengeance at any cost. Second of all, the differences of Hamlet and Laertes are widely shown in their personalities. Hamlet is more of a procrastinator. His father’s ghost tells him to get revenge and kill Claudius, but Hamlet comes upon him while he is praying and decides not to kill him. He says to himself in Act three scene three, â€Å"And so he goes to heaven, and so am I revenged†¦A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven.† Hamlet over thinks about what he has to do and it causes him to procrastinate. On the other hand Laertes acts quickly in anger. While talking with Claudius in Act four scene seven Laertes finds out that Hamlet is the murderer of his father. He simply says what he wants to do to Hamlet is â€Å"to cut his throat i’ th’ church.† He is furious. Claudius does nothing but make it worse. He wants Hamlet dead because he is the only one who knows the secret that he is the murderer of Hamlet Sr. Revenge is a major theme in Hamlet. Hamlet and Laertes similarities are that they want to seek revenge for the murder of their fathers. It is rage that eventually drives them both to madness. The difference is in how they achieve their revenge. Hamlet moves slowly but surely, and Laertes moves rashly. The revenge makes them act blindly through anger and emotion. They both come to find that revenge is a dark way to travel and it costs them their lives. In conclusion, Hamlet and Laertes have some similarities and differences. They both want revenge, but they have different personalities. They both learn that revenge is not sweet, and it costs them their lives. This teaches that we should not always seek revenge, but only forgive. This is why it is still read and discussed today. Research Papers on Hamlet and LaertesCapital PunishmentComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionMind TravelPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyBringing Democracy to AfricaCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Where Wild and West MeetThe Fifth Horseman

Choose a quote from a journal article and use it to put forth your own Essay

Choose a quote from a journal article and use it to put forth your own argument - Essay Example The term hegemony, historically, signifies a city, state or country that has exerted power and might over other cities and/or countries, indirectly rather than directly through military rule. Modern day use of the word hegemony refers to a group of people exercising power over another group, suppressing and influencing their existence and aspects of life. A very common example found in society today could be of the wealthy and rich class being able to exercise might over the poor solely due to the latter’s ability to utilize money and wealth to affect elements of society and control the lives of the poor. The subaltern is a highly complex term that is used to refer to certain kinds of dispossessed people who fit the model of the oppressor or the oppressed as the individual so marginalized that he/she does not even carry the ‘voice’ of the oppressed. So we can say that if the oppressor is ‘Other’ and the oppressed is ‘Self’, then the subal tern is the one invisible to both the Other and the Self. Some scholars suggest that the term subaltern reflects the term proletariat. â€Å"Some thinkers use it in a general sense to refer to marginalized groups and the lower classes – a person rendered without agency by his or her social status.† (Young, Robert J.C., 2003). ... Reflecting the concepts of hegemony and subalternty in the Karl Marx’s theory, we can say that the subalterns are under the spell of false consciousness; a state that does not allow them to realize the fact that they are being oppressed by the hegemons, and accept their condition and position in society as fate. They are under the false impression that nothing can absolutely be done to improve their statuses. Since hegemony is practiced through the use of wealth, the hegemons have used the value of their wealth and riches to form a structure called the media and have used it’s influential power to further marginalize and oppress the subalterns. The subalterns are said to have no ‘voice’ and no strength, therefore it is believed impossible for these groups to rebel and earn their positions and statuses. â€Å"There's really no such thing as the 'voiceless'. There are only the deliberately silenced, or the preferably unheard.†Ã‚  (Arundhati Roy). It is clearly evident that the subalterns did not by cause of nature exist in such a marginalized, oppressed and ‘voiceless’ form, rather these characteristics were forced upon them by hegemony. However, according to Karl Marx’s theory, the subalterns will eventually develop a voice for themselves, a rebellious voice and utilize it’s power. Following the theory of Historical Materialism, the subalterns will gradually through a lot of push and pull, emerge out of their state of false consciousness and realize that they are being led falsely astray by their oppressors. The power and influence of wealth and the media will no longer be able to play their roles in creating an illusion of helplessness for the subalterns to believe in; instead