Consider the title - To Kill a Mockingbird

Mockingbirds are creatures placed upon this earth with the soul purpose of creating beautiful music. They do no harm and are a nuisance to no-one, for 'they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us,'  and it is for this reason that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird symbolizes innocence and the sin found in accusing 'mockingbird' characters of crimes they did not commit. Thus, to kill a mocking pined is to destroy innocence
In this case, the two characters of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson could be identified as mockingbirds for, in their own ways, they are innocent but have been harmed through their contact with injustice. In Tom Robinson's case, it is very clear that he is indeed innocent of the crime he was accused, and yet he had to face the consequences of a crime he did not commit. When Tom Robinson is shot, Mr Underwood compares his death to 'the senseless slaughter of songbirds.' Boo Radley is also innocent, but in a completely different manner to Tom, and yet he is ostracized from society for reasons that are not entirely true. Even young Scout realises that hurting Boo Radlye would be like 'shootin' a mockingbird.' Both men have kind hearts and only wish help others, but are ultimately destroyed through the injustice of society - just as innocence is destroyed when a mockingbird is shot.

While the title of To Kill a Mockingbird has very little literal connection to the plot, it is deeply significant, and presents, to the reader, a number of major themes that underpin the novel. The importance of moral education is explored to a great extent throughout the novel, and the symbol of the mockingbird is key in portraying this idea. The story follows the growth of Scout and Jem in particular, and much of the exploration of moral questions take place from the children's perspective. However, this theme is most powerfully examined through the relationship between Atticus and his children. Atticus is a very morally upright man and thus, devotes himself to instilling a social conscience in both Jem and Scout. Atticus uses the symbol of the mockingbird to teach the children about innocence and the sin found in destroying it. It is through Atticus's lessons, where the children place themselves 'in someone else's shoes,' that both Jem and Scout come to understand the prejudices of society and realize that some people, like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, are just like mockingbirds, and to hurt these people would be similar to hurting a mockingbird. However, through these lessons, the children too loose their innocence and move to adulthood, as they gradually begin to develop a social conscience and understand that society is not at all as simple a they believed it to once be.

Week 4 homework - Jem's dairy entry

This morning, Atticus told Scout and I that Mrs Dubose had died only a few minutes previous. I had always thought that she was a bitter old lady that took pleasure in harassing my sister and I every time we walked past her house. She used call out things like, 'don't you say hey to me! You say good afternoon Mrs Dubose!" But it was when she called Atticus a nigger-lover that I could not hold my head any longer. But, I guess if I had kept my head, and not destroyed Mrs Dubose's garden, I would never have been able to truly understand the horrible woman that live on our street.

I did not realize when I started reading for Mrs Dubose that she was in fact a morphine addict.....but it does explain the fits she used to have while Scout and I spent the afternoon at her house. She was trying to ween herself of the drugs before she died so that she could, as Atticus says, "beholden to no one and nobody." Mrs Dubose knew that she would die if she came off the morphine, but she did it anyway. I guess a bit the same way as Atticus is going to take Tom Robinson's case even when he knows he will not win.

Atticus said he wanted me to see what real courage is....and by reading to Mrs Dubose I would understand. I used to think that courage was simply being able to point a gun and shoot well, but I reckon that maybe its not just that. I think there is more to it. People like Atticus or Mrs Dubose show real courage. They know they are licked before the even begin, but they begin anyway. Even though Atticus was the best shot in Maycomb, he is a gentleman. For he displays true courage, not the gun type, but the one where you have to sacrifice yourself if it means doing the right thing. Even though Atticus says Mrs Dubose is the bravest person he is ever met, I think he could probably giver her some competition, for my father is one of the bravest people I have ever met.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Week 3 homework

Making Boo Radley come out:

Dill makes a bet that Jem would not be able to make it past the Radley's gate - Jem eventually runs into the garden, and touches the side of the Radley house.
Boo Radley places chewing gum in the hole of the tree outside his house, along with various other objects, over a few weeks.
Jem, Scout and Dill attempt to drop a note to Boo Radley through an open window, using a fishing rod
Jem and Dill, peek through the Radley house, but see nothing as inside is dark. Half way through the delivery, a large shadow was cast across Jem, but no one came out of the house. Mr Radley then shoots at Jem, mistaking him for a prowler, when the three children are running home and Jem gets stuck on the fencing wire.
When Jem returns to retrieve his pants from the wire, they were neatly folded and mended waiting for them to be collected.
When Jem and Scout continue to find small objects placed, by Boo Radley, in the knot hole of the nearby tree, the decide to write a letter to him to thank him for the small objects.
Whilst Jem and Scout are standing in front of the Radley's place during Miss Maudie's fire, Boo Radley placed a blanket around Scout shoulders without her even knowing.

Atticus' Diary Entry:

It has indeed been an interesting, and rather eventful day. It was barley 1 this morning when I woke to find Maudie 's house a blaze. I quickly fetched the children, and rushed them outside to stand in from of the Radley's house, put of the way of the fire. I was so busy trying to salvage as much of Maudie's furniture as possible, that I did not see the children move from their position across the road. But, both Jem and Scout insist that they stay put, despite returning home with a blanket they certainly did not leave the house with earlier that morning. While I knew its was Arthur Radley, I was not entirely sure that either of the children did. However, I can now say, with a degree of certainty, that it seems as though Jem has realized that Boo Radley has come out. Perhaps he will start to realize how wrong his assumption of poor Boo were.

The children, have been acting out their ideas about the Radleys in much the same way they have previously acted out stories they had read. Unfortunately, I think they believe that the family is just a part of their fictional games. They don't see the Radleys as real people and they don't realize that their game may be hurtful to people that live behind the Radley windows. When I did catch them, I tried to stop them from tormenting the poor people, and remind them that what Mr Radley does is indeed his own business.

However, after today's events, I think that both the children, perhaps Jem more so than Scout, are starting to gain an understanding of the Radley family. But before they truly learn the lesson of respect, I will be sure to prevent the children from causing anymore trouble for the Radley family.

The meaning of the title of The Crucible

The title of the play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is extremely appropriate as it refers to a number of critical themes explored throughout the play. A crucible can either be defined as a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures; or a place or occasion of severe test or trial. Both these definitions can be applied to the meaning of the tile of the play, The Crucible. The village of Salem, being a strict puritan community, could be described as the 'container', containing the deeply religious and God fearing people of Salem. Sparked by the the hysteria and associating lies, the community of Salem is finally brought to a "melting point" where they allow themselves to become caught up in the deceit and paranoia of the trials. The accusations of the witch trials could also be described as a severe test. To begin with, social outcasts of society were the only people accused of witchcraft, but as the trials evolved, more respectable members of the community, such as Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor, began to be accused. These characters were put through a test of their faith in God, and in John Proctor's case, faith in himself. By the end of the trials, their faith was beginning to waver as more and more people were executed; however, Proctor in particular was able to endure the test by finally seeing the good in himself, and therefore refusing to sign a false confession. Proctor realises this when he explains his refusal to sign the confession, "... I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor." (p.125). Thus, perhaps the meaning behind the choice of title could be interpreted in a number of different ways, as it both refers the fiery events of the trials as a whole, as well as more personal tests of faith experienced by various characters in the play.

Connections between McCarthyism and the Crucible

In the early 1950s, Arthur Miller composed The Crucible during an era when anti-communism was prevalent and McCarthyism gripped America. Being one of the ‘accused’ in the McCarthy hearings conducted by Joseph McCarthy in attempt to expel communism from America,   Miller wanted to point out the echoes that he found still in existence in the America of his time. In particular, the idea that people, who were often innocent, were accused based on such little evidence, due to the mounting hysteria of the time, is apparent both in The Crucible, and during the McCarthy ‘witch trials’ of the 1950s. In both cases, instigators of hysteria took advantage of the fears of their different societies, causing hysteria to replace the logic of the community (Joseph McCarthy used his nation’s wave of terror against communism – Abigail used the fear of witchcraft in her Puritan society.) As a result, when a source for their problem was suggested, even if it may be false, their new found fear caused everyone to willingly support it. In other words, fear fed fear. This is illustrated in the Crucible when neighbours suddenly turn on each other with accusations of witchcraft, as depicted through the character of Putnam, in particular. Miller intended audiences to see parallels between Putnam and individuals during his era who were accusing various celebrities of communism for equally selfish reasons. After all, hysteria thrives because people benefit from it as it allows them to act out hateful and vengeful urges under the cover of pious righteousness.

John Proctor - a hero, or not?

As the protagonist of the Crucible, John Proctor is an intelligent and honorable man, but it is when the source of his downfall is uncovered, that John Proctor becomes a tragic hero. Throughout the play, John's righteous nature seeks out the truth and denounces those who abuse their given power. However, his one fatal flaw appears to be his lust for Abigail Williams, which ultimately led him to committing lechery - a serious crime in the Puritan village of Salem. Although John openly struggles to do good, his final decision of the play is perhaps what allows him to be considered a hero. On the morning of his hanging. John Proctor is offered a way out; if he confesses he would be pardoned, however this confession requires a signature that would degrade his dignity. This is exemplified when, in reply to Danforth's question as to why he will not sign, John says, "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another!.....How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" John thus knowingly consigns himself to execution. However, his ‘flaw’ is not his sin with Abigail but instead his inability to sacrifice something as seemingly small and insignificant as his name in return for his life and the lives of others. The tragedy lies, then, in the fact that John's good action, his only choice if he is to remain a good man, leads inevitably to his death.

John Proctor's Confession - Crucible Homework

Why does John Proctor decide to confess? Why does he then change his mind? John Proctor decides to confess once he had an honest and meaningful conversation with Elizabeth. John realizes that by confessing, he has an opportunity to start over in his marriage and remain as a father figure to his children. Elizabeth forgives him for his affair with Abigail and also states that she believes it was partly her fault as well, as her distance drove him away. Both John and Elizabeth has many things to live for, and realizing this, John decides to confess. However, John decides to confess for an additional and more significant reason. Owing to the sins he has committed, John feels that he would not be able face execution believing that he has never committed any sins, as saintly members of the society such as Rebecca Nurse are able to do. In his view, it would be hypocritical to do so. John further believes that he is not worthy of equal standing with the likes of Rebecca Nurse as his lies and sins have stripped all goodness from him. John then decides to confess after Judge Danforth questions and asks him to sign a confession. At first, Proctor agrees to confess in order to please Elizabeth. However, after seeing Rebecca Nurse maintain her innocence, he refuses to confess, and consciously consigns himself to execution. He cannot find it in souls to forgive himself for his affair with Abigail, despite receiving Elizabeth's forgiveness. John then wants to at least keep his name and dignity after suffering the loss of his soul through his confession. He therefore decides it is better to die than to lie any further. He has been scornful of the proceedings all along, and does not want to be hypocritical anymore.