One Day As Jem And Scout example essay topic

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, one of the most prominent themes is the idea of ignorance in people. Ignorance, being the condition of being uneducated or unaware, is apt to be found all throughout the citizens of Maycomb county, whether it is in the form of racism and prejudice against blacks during the trial of Tom Robinson, or playing a part in the Finch children's attitude and views of others. Although possibly an underdeveloped topic, this is one of the bases for much of the lesson. To Kill a Mockingbird is trying to convey to the readers of the book. Ignorance plays a large role in the story as a whole, giving it its presentation of swayed perspectives of morality and judgment in the community of Maycomb. Even one little casual comment from child to child could be a remark of ignorance.

This could still hurt the receiver, no matter how odd it seems. After catching Scout trying to beat up Walter Cunningham for starting her off on the wrong foot, Jem invited Walter to dinner at their house. After taking a great amount of time to consider Jem's offer, Walter agreed to come over. During the dinner, Walter began to pour Molasses all over his meal, and Scout, who noticed this, was greatly disturbed. She then proceeded by interrupting him asking why he was doing that. She found his pouring of Molasses everywhere quite odd.

Atticus tried to stop her from questioning Walter's peculiar act, but Scout did not understand that she was embarrassing Walter and that it was impolite. Walter immediately became embarrassed and stopped. However, Calpurnia was furious at Scout for that comment. "There's some folks who don't eat like us", Cal told Scout privately, "but you ain't called onto contradict 'em at the table when they don't. That boy's yo' comp " ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?" (Lee 24) She had not realized that different people do different things and that she hurt Walter by that comment. Even though other people do things differently, it is not wrong to question and contradict other people's actions.

If she had been aware, the whole situation would have never happened. Though the older children are supposed to set good examples to their younger brother and sisters, but sometimes their ignorance gets the better of them. In one case, the readers of To Kill a Mockingbird discover how ignorant Jem was to Mrs. Dubose. When Jem and Scout were young, they would often pass Mrs. Dubose, an old lady who often yelled and interrogated regarding their behavior.

She would often insult the children, saying that they would never amount to anything or how horrible they were. Jem would always get furious of what she said and Atticus would tell him that Mrs. Dubose was an incredibly old and sick lady. But one day, as Jem and Scout were heading towards the stores, Mrs. Dubose insulted their father. She said that their father was "no better than the niggers and the trash he works for". (Lee 102) So, after coming from the stores, Jem's anger overtook him and he grabbed Scout's new precious baton and viciously attacked Mrs. Dubose's Camellia bushes. Atticus discovered Jem's treacherous act and Jem was punished- he had to read to Mrs. Dubose every afternoon.

Finally, after a month from having stopped reading, they discovered that she had died. Atticus explained to his children that she was a morphine addict and she had died free- off of morphine. To die like that was very brave and Jem was too ignorant to realize what Mrs. Dubose was going through every day until Atticus explained to him. Even though it may seem that children are more unaware, adults, perhaps, may be more ignorant. But, like everyone else they too can realize and stop before anything dangerous happens.

One late night Atticus was "visiting" Tom Robinson at the Maycomb Jail. Jem, having found out about this had this "bad feeling". I've got this feeling", Jem told Dill and Scout, "just this feeling". (Lee 149) So, Scout, Dill, and he went to see what was going on and stayed hidden. A mob of men, who were not sober, had come to hurt Tom and was warning Atticus.

One of the people was Mr. Walter Cunningham, a good man whom Atticus had helped. He and the rest of the men were being ignorant and prejudiced against Tom because he was an African American. They seemed ready to attack then Scout, Jem, and Dill appeared. Then they were going to "send" the children home until Scout, who sensed her father's fear, searched for a familiar face in the crowd, found Mr. Walter Cunningham, and began small talk with him. After the rather odd conversation Mr. Cunningham realized how wrong all of this was- he thought about Atticus's view- and called off the mob of men.

Scout had saved everyone's lives. Another time of when people where ignorant and only thought about the skin color in To Kill a Mockingbird is Tom Robinson's trial. When Tom was accused off harassing Mayella, he was already guilty and dead to the jury's eyes. During the trail, Atticus provided lots of evidence that clearly proved that Tom Robinson was an innocent man.

Like that Mayella was hit on the right side of her face and only a left-handed person could have. Readers learn that Tom Robinson's left arm was mangled when reading "He got it caught in a cotton gin, got it caught in Mr. Dolph us Raymond's cotton gin when he was a little boy... like bled to death... tore all the muscles lose from his bones-" (Lee 186). Atticus made sure that everyone realized that Bob Ewell was left-handed. But, of course since he was a black man, he must be guilty. Therefore the jury voted unanimously that Tom Robinson was a guilty man and he was sent to Prison farm. He gave up all hope and when he tried to escape he was killed.

Death, is one of the worse consequences that come from actions done in ignorance. From just a simple comment to a deadly act, acts of ignorance deal lots of damage no matter how small they seem. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the people of a jury dub an innocent man guilty just because he is black. Just like in the book, in real life, too often do they not even realize that what their actions especially those tied with ignorance do lead to pain, conflict, and death. Such are the chain reactions that come from people's ignorance. By reading To Kill a Mockingbird, readers learn the dangers of ignorance and its repercussions and that they must be more aware of the things around them.