Jem And Scout example essay topic

Has evil always been around, or did man create it? One could trace evil all the way back to Adam and Eve; however, evil came to them, but it was not in them. When did evil become part of a person? No one knows, but evil has been around for a long time and unfortunately is discovered by everyone. In many great classics in literature evil is at the heart or the theme of the novel, including Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird. This classic book demonstrates the growing up of two children in the South and illustrates the theme of evil by showing how they discover, how they deal, and how they reconcile themselves to the evils they experience.

First, the trial of Tom Robinson is an eye-opening experience for Jem and Scout; there they discover hatred, child abuse, and lying. Seeing pure hate is new and strange for Jem and Scout. They know that prejudice does exist, but listening to and watching Bob Ewell during the trial is astounding to them because Bob Ewell abhors all blacks, especially Tom Robinson. Bob's daughter, Mayella, makes an advance on Tom, which is absolutely unspeakable and shameful at that time.

In addition, Bob Ewell's hate grows (especially for Atticus) because after the trial his reputation and respect is ruined, even though he does not have a high degree of integrity to begin with. Also, through the Jones 2 verdict of the trial, Jem and Scout see the hate in jurors for blacks, for it is obvious that Tom Robinson is innocent. Another new and disturbing element that Jem and Scout discover is child abuse. Having never been hit by Atticus, the children know nothing of physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse. However, Mayella Ewell knows too well of these abuses and is a victim of them from her own father.

Bob Ewell shows he has no consideration for her by his actions or words, and this is clearly displayed during the trial when he is being asked on the stand, 'Are you the father of Mayella Ewell?' (172) His crude reply is, 'Well, if I ain't I can't do nothing about it now' (172). This shows he has no class or respect, while on the other hand, Jem and Scout are used to seeing the example of their tactful father. Also, during the trial it becomes lucid that Bob Ewell beat Mayella up and not Tom Robinson. One last example is during Tom's testimony; while telling what happened, he includes that 'She says she never kissed a grown man before an's he might as well kiss a Negro. She says what her papa do to her don't count' (194). Mayella saying this implies that she is abused more than just physically by her father.

Then Jem and Scout come to see the evil of lying. Unfortunately, the entire trial is one lie. The charge against Tom Robinson is not true, testimonies by Bob and Mayella Ewell about the night are false, and finally the verdict made by the jurors are unfair and wrong. Jem and Scout are able to see through the lies and find the truth.

Second, while growing up in the small prejudiced town of Maycomb, Jem and Scout deal with the same and different evils in very unique ways; while young and naive Scout would usually physically lash out, older and wiser Jem would usually emotionally Jones 3 and mentally deal with the evils. Scout has a hard time handling each evil, once she discovers it. She especially finds it difficult to restrain herself from striking out when the evils of ridiculing and name-calling exist. A prime example of this is apparent when Scout is at school. One time Cecil Jacobs announces to the school yard that Atticus is defending a Negro, Scout becomes upset and says, 'You can just take that back, boy!'.

.. My fists were clenched and I was ready to let fly' (74). This shows that even any attention brought to the trial or Atticus would greatly bother or annoy Scout, resulting her to physical fighting. Another time Scout wants to get back evenly by physical means occurs when Atticus, Jem, and Scout visit Aunt Alexandra and her family, which includes Francis. Scout never enjoys Francis, and when he calls Atticus a 'Negro-lover' and says Atticus is disgracing the family, Scout could not take it anymore. As she is about to punch Francis in the face, her Uncle Jack holds her back just in time.

Again, this example shows that whenever an evil arrives, Scout's initial reaction is to fight back. On the contrary, while Scout would deal with the each evil physically, Jem confronts the evils with emotion. An incident showing this occurs when Mr. Nathan Radley cements the hole in the tree. The hole in the tree is special to the children because they are receiving little gifts in their from an unknown source; however, Jem secretly knows it is 'Boo' Radley leaving the small presents.

After seeing the cement covering the hole, Jem is sad because he knows that he can now never thank the person leaving the gifts and that it cut off communications with the person too. The next night, after Mr. Nathan Radley lies to Jem about the reason the hole in the tree is cemented up, Jem sits on the front porch where, 'He stayed there until Jones 4 nightfall, and I waited for him. When he went into the house I saw he had been crying; his face was dirty in all the right places, but I thought it odd that I had not heard him' (63). Another time Jem has to deal with an evil is evident when he runs into conflict with Mrs. Henry Dubose. Going against his nature this time, Jem looses control and lets out his anger by lashing out. For years, Mrs. Dubose harasses Jem and Scout and since news of Atticus defending a Negro came out, Mrs. Dubose starts to attack the children on that subject.

One day, Jem just could not take it anymore and violently starts to cut off the tops of all of Mrs. Dubose's camellia bushes with Scout's new baton. Jem is so hurt and tired of Mrs. Dubose and everyone else in Maycomb being so prejudice that this time he explodes to deal with evils of his town. Finally, throughout the book Jem and Scout encounter and deal with many evils, but after the fact, they learn how to process the evil, be aware of it, and decide to not contribute to it. For Scout, hypocracy is the evil she reconciles with many times, once at the missionary tea circle and a time at school.

One afternoon, Aunt Alexandra has the missionary tea circle over and Scout joins them. While listening to the conversations of the ladies, she recognizes all the hypocracy in the room and automatically decides that she wants no part of the women's world. However she comes to the realization that she will have to become part of it. She thinks, There was no doubt about it, I must soon enter this world... But I was more at home in my father's world. Mr. Heck Tate did not trap you with innocent questions to make fun of you...

There was something about them, no matter how Jones 5 much they cussed and drank and gambled and chewed; no matter how undetectable they were, there was something about them that I instinctively liked... they weren't hypocrites. (232-233) This statement shows exactly how Scout feels and thinks about the situation she is in and her confusion over it. The second incident that happens to Scout occurs at school while the class discusses Adolf Hitler. While listening to Miss Gates, her teacher, talk about how Hitler is persecuting the Jews and how wrong it is, Scout remembers how after the trial she hears Miss Gates talk unfavorably about blacks. Again, Scout makes the connection and comprehends the evil of hypocracy. She then goes home and asks questions about the difference between the treatment of the Jews by Hitler and the treatment of blacks by whites.

She asks both Atticus and Jem about it. When it comes to reconciling with evils, Jem has a more difficult time with it. After the trial of Tom Robinson is over, Jem talks to Atticus and his feelings about it. Giving his opinions on sentences, capital punishments and offenses, Jem adds, 'We oughta do away with juries' (220).

Jem believes that juries are unfair and still convict even though there is not always reasonable doubt. His beliefs and asking questions is his way of reconciling with the evil of prejudice. A time that Jem adapts to the evil of gossip transpires when he concludes to the reason that 'Boo' never comes out. When he was younger, Jem hears all of the rumors and gossip told about 'Boo' Radley and believes some of it and does not believe other parts of it. However, while growing up and dealing with different experiences, Jem becomes wiser and tells Scout that 'I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Jones 6 Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time... it's because he wants to stay inside (227). Jem starts to understand the reason that 'Boo's says in the house and forgets about and ignores the gossip that is told about 'Boo'.

To conclude, this novel gives the reader a clearer understanding of how growing up with evil around, can affect one in many ways. For Jem and Scout encountering the evil is shocking, reacting to it is difficult, and existing with it is life-changing. Unfortunately almost all of the same evils that haunt Jem and Scout sixty years ago still effect people to this day. Is it not sad that between three generations of people that evil still dwells and thrives among us and has not been destroyed? However, even though we don't know how evil started, we know that we can all do our part to help to end it.