| Below is the abstract of a graduate thesis that dealt partially with an aspect of TKAMB that we have yet to discuss: Atticus as a single parent. As you move into part two of the novel this issue will come more into the forefront of the action. Read the abstract below and comment. | ||
Themes such as racial identity and self-exploration are usually discussed in Zora Neale Hurston'sTheir Eves Were Watching God and Harper Lee'sTo Kill a Mockingbird. Therefore, the less typical aspect found within the characters of the novel's single parents—Nanny and Atticus—form an unusual and representative pair to study. Through a critical analysis of these characters and the novels, the hopes of what any effective parent desires will be shown, i.e. a better life for their offspring and the will to do whatever it takes to ensure that. Against very different American backdrops, the black former slave and the white male attorney raise their children single-handedly during the Depression of the 1930s. They decide what values they want to instill in their children. These single parents are fictional characters, but their childrearing efforts and techniques can speak to a new generation of single parents everywhere.
204 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 204 of 204Thanks for clarifying, thankfully people have gotten over racism and it isn't a problem in american today.
I agree with what Nikkie said about how it is not possible for him to get people to look past race. In the time period that this book was written at, people were very racist and I think that for them, it was just a part of their life and they couldn't even imagine their life without the separation of white people and black people. I think that people will not be able to look past it. For us, living in this time period, it is easy to say that people could look past racism because of how we live now, but for them, it was a very different time, and i don't think that people could look past it. Even though Atticus, Scout, and Jem all consider Calpurnia part of their family, even they don't treat her as they treat other white people. I think that if people could look past racism, they might find him innocent, but, i don't think that is possible for them to do based on the time period of the book. I agree with Nikkie that if this case happened today, he would probably be found innocent, but since it is in a different time period, I think that the people will not be able to look past the fact that Tom is black.
I agree with Jack's first comment and the fact that Atticus and Calpurnia are doing the best they can. I just think that they should try more to turn Scout into more of a lady and less of a tomboy. Just to fit in with the rest of the women that she will encounter in the rest of her life.
I think it's even harder for Calpurnia, because she's living two completely different lives. She has the life with her church group where she behaves like a normal african american at the time, because she wants to fit in. Then she has the life with the Finches where she acts as a second mother and helps Atticus deal with lots of problems. It's like having a part-time job in high school, I think. You go to school, then you go to work for a while, then school again, and so on.
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