In class on Thursday, Craig raised the point that if not for Dill, the children would not be as tolerant and open-minded as they are. Who do you feel had the most profound influence on the children's understanding of equality and human kindness? Gee, so many characters to choose from! TRY to pick just one and, as always, back it up with proof from the text!
Don't forget to identify who you are to receive participation points!
34 comments:
I think Calphurnia had a big influence on the children's beliefs on equality. Jem and Scout have no mother that they can clearly remember and Atticus works from early in the morning to dinner time. At the begining of the novel both children disliked Calphurnia because of her strictness. But as the book progresses both children begin to appreciate how grateful they should be for a great maid and mother figure. Jem and Scout begin to beleive that colored people are not as bad as they are made out to be. Both children were going to go as far as running away from home if Aunt Alexandra convinced Atticus to get rid of Calphurnia.
I think that Atticus had the biggest influence on Jem's and Scout's beliefs because the children looked up to him as their father and their leader. Since Atticus was always a good man, Jem and Scout thought that he was always doing the right thing (which he usually was). When Jem and Scout stood by their father at the jail house infront of the mob of men, their presence showed how much they cared for him and how he influenced them. Since he took the Tom Robinson case, his children realized that they can't be racist because Tom Robinson is a human being just like everyone else. A human being is being prosecuted for something he hasn't done and the children know that its not right.
Ok it was definiatally Dill that had the greatest influence on Scout and Jem. Dill taught the kids to be more adventurous, open minded as Craig said and less afraide of their previous fear which was Boo Radley. Before Dill came the children walked the long way around the radley house after Dill's influence the kids learned so many new things and became unafraide of Boo and ended up haveing a very close relationship with him in the end. It was Dill that led to Jem breaking his arm because he caused them to chose the path they took home from the halloween party away from the naighbors and street lights.
I agree with Shane and lauren equally Shane is absolutly correct when he said that Calpurnia had an effect on the children's belief on eqaulity and Lauren is right because is was Atticus who was the role model for the children by defending Tom Robinson. Calpurnia tool the childern to the black church and she was their courage to go on and support their father. She made them relize that black people are no different than white people and Calpurnia has a motherly effect oin the kids. Atticus like lauren said was also a role model due to him always beign fair and doing the right thing.
I think that Atticus has the most profound influence on the children's understanding of equality. This is because he teaches Scout that one cannot judge another person until he/she is put in the other person's shoes. In addition, Atticus makes Jem and Scout read to Mrs. Dubose as punishment even though she insults him for being Tom Robinson's lawyer. This displays Atticus trying to teach Scout and Jem about human kindness because even though Mrs. Dubose insults him and his children, Atticus is understanding of her situation.
I agree with Lauren and Ambika. Atticus has the most influence on Jem and Scout's understanding of equality and human kindness. Atticus is always kind to others, even when he is put in difficult situations. Even when Bob Ewell spit in his face, Atticus stayed calm and didn't get angry. Atticus also helps Jem and Scout's understanding of equality. By defending Tom Robinson, Atticus showed his kids and his community that he believed Tom Robinson was innocent. He showed that he would defend him even thought he was black, and it was against the beliefs of most people in the town to defend a black person. This is evidence that Atticus believes in equality.
I agree with Lauren, Allison, and Ambika that Atticus had the most influence on Jem and Scout's understanding of equality and kindness. Like Lauren said, that children look up to Atticus. They look up to him to make the best decisions for them. Seeing Atticus support someone from another race is okay to Jem and Scout because they know that their dad does the right thing and they would not support him if Atticus didn't do the right thing.
Lindsey is correct. Atticus had such a major influence on the kids decisions. Atticus defending another race is ok for the kids and they want to support him. Scout especially cares about him so much that she gets into fights at school because of the mean things kids say about Atticus. I think that Calpurnia also has an effect because they are living with her everyday and she inspires them almost to be on their fathers side and stand up for what he belives in, and then what they end up beliving in.
I agree with maureen that Atticus had the most impact on the kids because he taught them many lessons which were also helped by some neighbors and friends. One he taught Scout was not to judge someone until you walk in their shoes when she was angry at the Cunnigham's boy. Scout didn't fully understand this at first but was then realizing what it rlly meant when she was on Boo Radley's porch going over everything from his point of view. Another time is when Atticus was watching Jem learn how to shoot a gun and he told him that it was a sin to kill a mockingbird so he should rlly try to avoid them. Jem realizes this expectionally when he is sitting with the ppl in the court house and Tom Robinson is convicted guilty. He is disgusted when Tom is going to be killed because of a Bob Ewell a white man is lying about beating his daughter.
I agree with Shane saying that Calpurnia had the biggest influence on Jem and Scout's understand of equality and human kindness because Jem and Scout grew up with her being like their mother and she was very strict to them. When she brought Jem and Scout to her church, Jem and Scout learned a lot about what the colored people are going through such as the most of them not being able to read and only having one book of songs to sing from which Calpurnia's son sang and the rest repeated. I think Calpurnia made Jem and Scout more aware of the colored race. However I disagree with Shane in saying that colored people aren't as bad as they are made out to be because Scout and Jem never thought of them as different from them and they didn't understand why they were so mistreated.
I think that Jem and Scout's sense of human equality was due to the influence of both Atticus and Calpurnia. Living with someone of a different race who inforced rules in their house allowed the children to gain an understanding of respect and tolerance for colored people. However, this would not have been possible if Atticus did not share these same beliefs, making him a huge influence. If Atticus did not believe someone of the black race was capable of taking care of his children, he would not have hired Calpurnia and the children would have grown up a different way.
I disagree with the opinion that Dill was the biggest influence because though he did inspire adventure in the kids, the bottom line is that the people who raise you are the people whose beliefs you are going mimick.
In my opinion, both Atticus and Calpurnia influenced Jem and Scout's views. Calpurnia is really the only mother Jem and Scout have known, and, being that she's black, they see her and people like her as human. This combined with Atticus's open-minded teachings molds the children into what they become.
In think that both Dill and Calpurnia had the biggest influence on Jem and Scout's views of equality and human kindness. Dill led Jem and Scout to accept Boo Radley, even though he was not necessarily accepted in society. Throughout the novelthe children try to experience contact with Boo and they do not think of him as a different person; they treat Boo the same way they would treat anyone else. However, Calpurnia also influences the children. She is a colored person and the children still obey the rules she enforces in the household. Jem and Scout do not judge people by their race or past actions, but by who they truely are as a person.
I agree with shane, lauren, and maureen. Having Calpurnia in their lives changed how Scout and Jem thought. They, unlike their classmates and neighbors, didn't grow up thinking whites were superior. Atticus also acted as their role model. He defended Tom Robinson even though no one else would. He and Calpurnia influenced his children and taught them about equality.
In addition to Atticus, I think that Calpurnia has a big influence on Jem and Scout's outlook on life. Calpurnia is Jem and Scout's mother figure. She scolds Scout when she asks why Walter has bad table manners. From this, readers can assume that Calpurnia is trying to teach Scout about human kindness and the understanding of equality.
As many people said, Calpurnia is a big influential character. She has definitly acted like a mother-like figure during the book. She scolds them like a mother would and without her they wouldn't have been the way they are. Calpurnia has taught them about equality as Vickie mentioned.
I think Calphurnia influenced Scout and Jem and help them understand equality and human kindness, but I believe that Atticus did more. He was a great man in their society that they looked up to. He stood up for Tom Robinson in the case , unlike many other people in their town ,and that influenced Jem and Scout a lot. Atticus and the court case taught them about equality and that they could never view a colored person as less important. Their knowledge they learned from their father will help them throughout their whole life.
I agree with Maureen when she says that Dill had the biggest influence on Jem and Scout. Dill taught the two children how to be free and to have fun with their lives. He also sparked their curiosity about Boo Radley and the world around them, which not only shaped them as characters, but also kept the story and the plot going, making every small achievement by Scout and Jem worthwile and relevant to the plot.
A way that Calpurnia has taught them about kindness, is when the rabid dog, Tim Johnson came into the story. She has to warn the neighbors and she doesn't leave Boo Radley out. This shows that she doesn't judge him like the other people.
Although he may not have realized it Dill taught Jem and Scout alot about equality and human kindness. Dill taught them that Boo Radley isnt a bad person. The only reason Jem and Scout thought Boo was such a bad person was because of the people in the town. The people of Maycomb county only hear what they want to hear. After noticing how nice Boo was Jem and Scout realized that you shouldnt judge people because of what other say. I also agree with Vickie; Calpurina also influenced the kids on this topic. She came into their house (as a black women) expecting the same respect they give their dad.
I agree with everyone who said that Atticus influenced Scout and Jem the most when it comes to equality and human kindness. Atticus defends a balck man despite the critism he recieved from the community. Atticus taught Jem and Scout that they should stand up for what they believe in. Atticus treats Calpurnia equally. He does not believe in slaves and he believes that Calpurnia is allowed to punish and slap Jem and Scout.
You guys are right, Calpurnia did have a HUGE influence on the children's childhood but Atticus was the one to show them that black people are the same. If Atticus didn't allow Calpurnia to play the role she did in the children's lives, they would be so different. They might even be racist, or prejudice. Who knows. But if it wasn't for Atticus showing the children between right and wrong, then they wouldn't be the children they are today.
Both Calpurnia and Atticus had an influence on the children's understanding of equality. I agree with Lauren. Without Atticus's acceptance of Calpurnia, the children wouldn't have respect for her. This is because both Scout and Jem look up to Atticus. As a result of Atticus's respect for a black woman, Calpurnia plays the role of the mother figure in Jem and Scout's life; influencing the decisions they make.
I agree with what you guys said about Atticus, Calpurnia. But I also think that Boo Radley had a large impact on Scout and Jem. He teaches them about human kindness when he leaves the confines of his boundary and risks his life fighting a druken Bob Ewell. Although the Maycomb society mocks Boo, he still risks his own life and crosses his major boundary to save the children that he loves.
Boo Radley did have an impact on the kids but it was mostly in their imagination because in the beginning he was just a figment of their imagination, but towards the end he becomes more and more of real person to them. And this would never even happened if Dill hadn't sparked their intrests in him during the first summer he stayed with Ms. Rachel and they became great friends.
i agree with George C. In addition to Atticus and Calpurnia, Boo has a major influence on Scout and Jem. He teaches them about human kindness by risking his life to save the children.
I also agree with Erica. Scout and Jem are influenced to make decisions based on what they imagine Boo to look like. They judge him based on the rumors they have heard. Both of them imagine Boo to appear very different than he really is. This is also because of Dill's influence.
I agree with Maureen that Dill had the greatest affect on Dill. Without Dill the children would have been less open minded andventurous. They would have minded their own business when the Tom Robinson's case came. They would have never went with Calpurnia to her church and sit with them in the black seats in the courthouse.
I think that Miss Maudie Atkinson affected Jem And Scout. She would talk with the children and told them what Arthur Radley was really like when he was younger. This makes Jem know that Boo isn't as scary as he used tho think he was.
I think that Calpurnia has a huge influence on the Fich children. She was a motherly figure to them. She was abled to spank them if they did something wrong. She also brought them with her to her black church and she taught them lessons of equality.
Yes Calpurnia did teach them about equality and was a motherly figure, but if Atticus hadn't brought Calpurnia into the house as an equal than would not have happened. Atticus was the one who different from everyone else and let her in to play that motherly role that most people in the town wouldn't have done. His part in treating Calpurnia equally showed Jem and Scout that they should do the same.
I agree with Jaime. Calpurnia taught them about equality but Atticus really showed they about equality by letting a black person come and effect his children and be a motherly form. If Atticus treated Calpurnia like a slave so would the kids because Atticus effects the way the children think, and he influences them to treat calpurina fairly.
Atticus did affect his children alot. He made them believe in equality between blacks and whites by having Calpurnia able to hit them. Also, by taking the case he taught them that Maycomb is not as perfect as they think it is.
...and Kerry has the final word. This blog topic is CLOSED. Thank you to all who participated!
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