I think he means you have to understand someone before you judge them, you never know the things people have gone through or are experiencing until you really get close to that person--it would be foolish and unreasonable to determine something regarding who they are. I think it reminds us that we should never make bad judgements about a person when we know nearly nothing about them, and who are we to be criticizing others when we can't even perceive the hardships of what it would feel like to be in their situation.
As Kellie and i have said you don't really know someone until you get into their skin, and it is kind of like the sounthern version of "Don't judge a book by it's cover", because they both say dont judge someone or something by howe it looks ir acts on the inside. It's the quality of the inside that matters.
I agree with Kellie, it would be foolish to judge someone and make bad judgements when you don't even know the person. You see them, but you don't know their story.
I agree with Kellie because Atticus wants Scout to realize that everybody has a reason for their actions. And if you don't know or understand that reason, you have no right to judge a person so harshly.
It's not necessarily "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Atticus is trying to tell Scout that not everything in life is going to be obvious. He is not only telling her to not judge people, but to think about their reasons and their motives for what they did.
I agree with Kellie because Atticus is trying to say to Scout that you shouldn't judge a person by looking at them you have to get to know them better and see what they have experienced.
When Atticus says "Climb into Jem's skin and walk around in it" he means two things. First, he is saying that it is not right for someone to judge another person by certain actions if they do not understand the person very personally, like being in someones skin. A good example from the book and the movie was when Walter Cunningham was eating with the Finchs. He poured maple syrup all over his food, and scout commented on it, which made Calpurnia angry and scout was admonished for being rude to her guest. This is what i believe Atticus means.
I believe that what Atticus is trying to say is "not to judge a book by its cover". Going off of what Kellie said, you can never really know the truth behind a person unless you have actually experienced what they have go through. In TKAM I believe that this quote factors into how Scout's attitude towards others changes throughout the story, especially toward Boo Radley.
I agree. Currently in Part One of TKAM Scout is still very sassy, but the seeds are sown for someone who understands the different groups in Maycomb. Unlike many of the resident's, Scout, I believe, will begin appreciating people not as Cunninghams or Radleys, but as Walter Cunningham and as Boo Radley.
That is wholly true, as you can see Scout begin to change as the story progresses. She learns from other people and her mistakes that people are not to be judged until you know and consider why they think in a certain way. By the end, you can probably predict that Scout will grow to be a mature, understanding woman.
I agree with Matt because while Scout is starting to mature throughout the novel, she doesn't fully understand what is happening, even if she thinks she does. In general, sure you can listen to other people's problems, but one really cannot fully understand what the other person is truly saying until you have actually experienced it for yourself.
I also agree with Matt because since Scout is younger than Jem, she can't completely understand what Jem is going through and his mindset way of thinking compared to hers.
I agree, we have to get to know someone and to look from their point of view before we have any say about that person. I think that Atticus wants Scout to get to know Jem better and to understand why Jem does the things he does.do.
Atticus may also be indirectly referencing the racism portrayed in this novel as well. In addition to not "judging a book by its cover" Atticus is alluding to the human cover we all have, skin. By climbing into Jem or any other character's skin, one would inherit all the biases and prejudice against them as well. I completely agree with Matthew's response about the growth and prejudice Scout experiences and perceives throughout the novel. Adding on to that, Scout soon becomes an "outsider" in her community when her father defends a Black man. She is now given the painful, heavy bricks which may help her connect her understanding of being an outcast with Boo Radley, another person enveloped in epithets and labels, ones which have covered his true skin.
By what Rudy said I think that its not just how you think of people, but how people think of you. By stepping into someone's skin, as Rudy said, you also need to understand how people will treat you as if you were actually that person.
In addition to what Rudy said, it is quite true that when Scout begins to be treated the way Boo Radley is treated, she feels the pain that comes with it. Essentially, you cannot truly understand a person until you have felt the way that person feels.
I agree with Rudy on the importance of the meaning of "skin" as our covers. I think that although people can wear masks and costumes or get plastic surgery, the one thing that you can't change as a whole is your skin, which really shows the importance it has on us as people. Scout has to learn at her young age what it means to be able to understand other people objectively and without judgement.
I think Atticus is trying to teach Scout a very humbling and valuable lesson, which is to see the world through Jem’s eyes. It teaches her that in life you cannot be one sided and make choses based on your own preference and feelings. Rather you should take into consideration the thoughts and feelings of the other person. Everyone is an individual and are able to form their own opinions and ideas about the world. This may foreshadow events in the book later on where the kids have to “climb into the skins “of other people like African Americans living in the south and maybe even Boo Radley.
That's a very good point. I believe Atticus is attempting to teach Scout about the art of making compromises and thinking of the greater good. The basis of prejudice is intolerance, ignorance, and resistance to thinking of others before yourself. By reinforcing the message of thinking of other's before yourself, Atticus is slowly weaning his children off the prejudices of Maycomb. He is helping them take the first step toward an integrated society.
Atticus knows that Jem is going through a hard time and is having internal conflicts. So he doesnt want anyone to judge him until he/she has "walked two moons in his moccasins" and seen things from his point of view. I also agree with what Austin said because no one has the right to judge someone until they get to know them.
I agree with Michelle that people when people go through a hard time there are many conflicts in that persons life. I agree with you based on this fact however It seems that Jem actually has very little conflict in his life, aside from the constant nagging from Scout that he cant seem to get rid of.
I agree I think not only was Atticus teaching Scout a lesson, but also was being a great father by protecting his son when Jem was having a really hard time.
I think what Atticus is trying to say is that no one should judge a person when you haven't walked in their shoes. You might know them but you don't know their story. Atticus is trying to say walk in their shoes and then maybe you'll understand what that person is going through and understand them better.
I think Atticus is trying to say that sometime you have to put your feet into their shoes and see the world as they see it because sometime its hard to realize how different your life may be form someone else's. I think this really describes one of the things Scout lacks, the ability to see things from a different perspective. Although she may be smart she still hasn't matured in a sense that she is able to see thing from two sides.
i agree with Frank, Scout does lack that ability, she just cant look at her own life but others as well. Scout needs to grow in order to know the world around her.
As a young child, she sees herself only through her own eyes as what she believes. What she cannot see is the beliefs of others, and why they think that way. By putting others into perspective,or to "climb into one's skin and walk around in it", Scout could provide some self-insight to how the other person thinks, which is what Atticus wanted Scout to be able to get a hold of. Respectively to what Atticus states, one will be misunderstood until another is able to see how the one who is misunderstood sees. However, it seems to be intentionally matched, as Scout seems to already, in some aspects, act like Jem. Instead of dressing up as a girl would, she, inversely, copies the way Jem dresses, like a boy. Following Jem everywhere he goes, she does the same acts that Jem does many times. What is so unexpected about it is that she still does not know how Jem thinks, and why he does so. This just means that no matter how much she acts like a boy does, she is still a girl who walks around in the skin of a boy.
i thought this was good. scout acts that way cause she is a tomboy and Jem is her brother. Usually, younger siblings follow the older ones becuase they are kind of like their role model. its just not how scout looks or acts like Jem(or a boy) that shows that she indeed had "climbed into skin..." and understood Jem. Its feelings aswell, not just appearance or outlook.
The movie was almost the same as the book, with the diologue, but still had its differences. One thing was that Scouts teacher was never introduced in the movie, it just skipped to where Scout beats up walter. Also, neither Finch's landing nor the history of teh Finchs were talked about in the movie. I dont think that Mr Ewell confronted Atticus that early in the book when they were in the courtroom.
Picture. relating to the theme education, which i think is the most important one, and its far better than a record deal. i thought id put this cause. http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=613&tbm=isch&tbnid=Diu8bV3bZ-CJfM:&imgrefurl=http://brownelessar.com/2011/11/19/education-a-necessary-good/&docid=GniMTJTUse-yDM&imgurl=http://brownelessar.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/bm1181education-posters.jpg&w=289&h=400&ei=Fp0PT4aqIaPRiALPzv21DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1037&vpy=142&dur=132&hovh=264&hovw=191&tx=108&ty=150&sig=113837780243956223568&page=3&tbnh=125&tbnw=85&start=42&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:42
A very thought provoking question. Why did Atticus agree to defend Tom Robinson's and take his case? What does that tell us about Atticus and his character?
I think he defends Tom Roninson because of his great indifference to the color of someones skin or to the race they belong to. I think this shows how Atticus is such a caring person and doesn't let things like race get in the way of seeing who a person really is.
I think that it shows alot about his character in different ways Within the novel, we are given the idea of him being a very humble man but he also makes himself and his children respect Calpurnia, which gives off that he wants all people to be treated equal, despite the color of the skin and how other people viewed blacks in Maycomb County. So Tom Robinson wouldn't have been taken in by any other lawyer besides Atticus and even if they were, they wouldn't be given the same defense than if it were a white man.
Atticus agrees to defend Tom because he is a very fair and unprejudiced person. As a person, it tells us that he's kind-hearted and equal. Taking this case and risking his reputation shows that he really doesn't care what other people think, he just does what he thinks is right.
The fact that there are many lawyers in the town, but Atticus was chosen to defend Tom does explain Atticus' character. During this time period, many people stereotyped the African Americans, but Atticus sees them as equal. This reveals that Atticus is mature, respectful, and fair.
I agree with all of the above. Before Atticus agreed to defend a black man, he knew that problems and mistreatment would come his and his kid's way. This shows his true character of him being brave, unprejudiced, and simply strong.
What I feel Atticus is saying is try to be in Jem's position and try to understand him from there. You have no idea the position anyone can be in because you don't live their life. However, you can assume by "putting yourself in their shoes" so to speak. No one can understand how a person lives their life, but they can try too and hopefully figure out the character of that person.
I really agree with the idea here that you have to see things through the eyes of others and at least try to understand about their situation, about why they might have done something that you don't necessarily agree with. Then you yourself would develop as a person, interacting and communicating with others.
I agree with Frank. I think Atticus wasn't really pressing Scout to understand Jem, I feel that he was twisting his words to get her to think about Boo Radley as well. As Jem is a more familiar person to Scout than Boo Radley, I think Atticus felt that it would be easier for her to understand such an adult concept as viewing things objectively and trying to understand other people's feelings if she could understand the concept with someone close to her like Jem, first. If Scout figured out the concept with Jem, she might be able to open up and incorporate the concept into her life and try to view other situations that way, such as Boo Radley.
Sometimes we forget how ignorant we are, how our actions or words unintentionally hurt others. By "climbing into another person's skin", we can see ourselves from the other person's point of view. Whenever making a decision to do something that can either positively or negatively affect others, it's best to first stop and think- If someone were to say or do this to me, how would I feel? After that, would you continue? By doing so, you start to develop a sense of sympathy towards others; you start to understand their thought processes and become better at expressing your ideas and opinions.
i completely agree with sharon. i also believe he said to "climb into Jem's SKIN..." the fact that he mentions skin is very important because skin color is very significant in this novel. imagine walking into Tom Robinson's skin for example, it would be a whole new prospective just because of the color of his skin. he didn't say walk in Jem's shoes for a reason.
I agree with Sharon when she says that empathy can have you understand other people's thought processes and become better at expressing your ideas and opinions. Empathy is important, because you are considering another person's feelings. However, empathy also impacts yourself positively, because it allows you to communicate more effectively with others and expressive yourself.
One thing i did not fail to notice was how eloquently Atticus spoke in the movie. He did not speak with a heavy southern accent like the rest of Maycomb county's population. I also noticed, that Miss Caroline isn't depicted in the movie. They leave out her peppermint description and also how Scout reacts to her. Also in the movie, they don't show as much of the sibling brawls that scout and beam have in the novel, they seems to get along quite well in the movie. The book of course has a lot ore meaning and depth, but the fact that they leave out some minor characters in the movie is like taking the icing off the cake. Overall, the movie is just a lot less intense than the novel.
a thought provoking question: why does Atticus force Jem to go read for Ms Dubose although he knows that she has very hateful words about him? what does this say about Atticus?
A moive clip from the movie 'The Help' shows how Calpurnia can be a mother figure to Jem and Jean Louise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H50llsHm3k
I slightly disagree on the fact that you say Jem and Scout seem to get along. In my opinion, they seem to disagree a lot for example when in the movie Scout mentions she's scared and Jem tells her to leave. She seems like an outsider because she is the only girl. But, it is true that the siblings do have more disputes in the novel.
I kinda agree with Niki. It may seem like Jem and Scout get along quite fine, but maybe because Jem accepts the fact that as the older brother, he should at least allow her to play with them. You can notice when Jem gets irritated at Scout and they argue for a while. However, it does seem like they fight more in the book.
MOVIE vs. BOOK TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD There were only minor differences between the book and the movie, besides that they were almost similar.One difference I notice was that Atticus seemed to be home more often then portrayed in the book. In the book Atticus is described as being at work most of the time, but in the movie he seems to be at home a long time.Another difference was that in the movie the Radley Place seemed to be much less menacing than how the book portrayed it to be. Not to mention the fact that in the movie Boo Radley was not talked about as much in the book, giving us less background history on Boo Radley than what the book says. A big difference was that in the movie the part about her going to school and being in the classroom was taken out.Instead Scout had been describing what had happened like her not being able to read with her father. This in a way took away from the seriousness that she was not allowed to read with her father anymore. Other than those things the movie was great, its always cool to see what your reading come to life and actually watch it scout talking to her father about her first day of school : http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctentertainment/upload/2010/08/atticus2.jpg QUESTION: Why does scout ask i she is getting anything from Atticus like her brother Jem? Is she jealous of jem or is she simply asking for more attention from her father?
I think Scout is just curious and wonders since her brother is getting something from her father, will she too get something. I don't really think she wants attention
Although there were many similarities between eh book and the movie, there was slight subtle differences. For example, for example in the movie they cut out some major people, such as Miss Carolina. In the book they have multiple scenes with her and she is the spark to a lot of Scout's anger, problems, and even, her rebellious nature. This contrasts to the movie because they do not show her in any of the scenes.
This picture shows how women were viewed in the 1930s. It shows how delicate and structured they were thought of in their society. Even during sports, they worn white dresses and looked very graceful and feminine.
Thought provoking question: Why is Boo Radley brought up again and again in this novel? What's his significance?
I like your picture because it epitomises how women were potrayed around the time that Scout lived in and how women were usually viewed as very feminine while Scout is such a tomboy and goes against soceity during that time.
Atticus is trying to teach Scout that you shouldn't judge a person no matter how close you are to them. He is also indirectly referring to Boo Radley as well telling Scout that he has his reasons for his actions. Until you truly know what that person has been through or is going through, you have no right. The only person that knows your own personal story and ever will is your own self. Making rash un-thought through conclusions is unfair. Differences between the movie and novel were that Scout's kindergarten teacher was not introduced. In addition, the children do not retrieve the tire from the Radley's porch. And finally, the scene where Bob Ewell confronts Atticus was not in the book. Why does Jem tease Scout about acting like a girl? cartoon http://www.classicalvalues.com/Sexist_PA_Men.JPG
I agree with Melissa's comment when she says that every person has a personal story about theirselves. Empathy can only go so far. It is highly unlikely that you will ever penetrate that deeply into a person's life, to know their personal stories. Every person has their own secrets that they don't want anyone to know. Empathy is putting yourself into other's shoes. However, you should never go so far as to make them uncomfortable or meddle in their private lives.
I believe that Atticus is trying to teach Scout a life lesson that she will always carry around with her: To empathize and understand another person before judging them. Scout is still young and immature, so I think Atticus is trying to help Scout mature by thinking before her actions. At this point in her life, she can only see situations from her own perspective. To truly understand another person, I believe Atticus is trying to teach Scout that she needs to live and see their life from their perspective, not hers. Although Jem is, in a sense, Scout's role model and probably the closest person to her, Scout still can not understand Jem's point of view. This just goes to show that Scout has a long way to go until adulthood. Jem, on the other hand, has already shown signs of maturity when he protects Boo Radley from Atticus, who he previously was frightened of. He empathized with Boo's feelings, instead of judging him right off the bat. I believe that Scout is a smart girl. However, in terms of maturity and adulthood, she still has a long way to go. Atticus, also being one of Scout's role models, is trying to guide her in the right direction by providing the suggestion to "climb in Jem's skin and walk around in it". I thought this was a funny picture to represent this quote: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6iifp1LS9ng/TJiwKMoWCYI/AAAAAAAAADY/hLrQC65lMvw/s320/cartoon+on+being+in+someone+else%27s+shoes.jpg
I think that Atticus is teaching Scout this lesson because obviously she doesn't see others perspectives, as most of you said. Learning how to put yourself in other people’s positions so that you can understand their feelings and actions isn't a lesson usually learn on ones own, since you are primarily set on your own opinion, but usually taught by others. Scout is not very careful in choosing her words wisely and lacks tactfulness. So this results in her not thinking of what she does/says and doesn't take the time to digest the other persons point-of-view.
This picture kind of reminded me of Mrs. Dubose and Jem: http://www.explosm.net/db/files/Comics/Matt/This-is-for-you-Grandma.-I-miss-you..png
A question that i have is why does everyone in Maycomb County know about Atticus's past with guns and why does he feel that he has to hide his past?
Movie VS. Book In the movie, Boo Radley's house seems like an ordinary house where in the book it is portayed as a scary, haunted place. Jem seems much more annoying/bratty in the movie than the book. This is possibly a result of Scout annoying him too much, which rubs off on him.
Question: How does Atticus manage his role as a single parent in the novel?
To answer your question, Atticus really isn't the only parental figure in the novel- Calpurnia acts as a substitute motherly figure towards Scout and Jem, taking care of them, scolding them about their behavior, and treating them as if they were her own children. Atticus plays the role of a guide for Scout and Jem, a role model, teaching them about life and helping them develop as individuals. He also teaches them about having sympathy towards others.
Well I have to say, it was a little disappointing to see how the scene between Scout and Miss Caroline was cut out completely from the movie. In the novel, this scene really brought out the ignorance of both Scout and Miss Caroline, two very different people coming from two very different points of view. Miss Caroline, having come from Northern Alabama, had no idea of how the Southerners lived, about what they valued or what their customs were. I even felt pity for her after her encounter with Burris Ewell later in the story. Scout, on the other hand, was born and raised in the South, orientated right from the start towards Southern ideals, not used to having a new system of teaching forced onto her. The two of them didn't get along, but having met each other both characters learned more about how people don't always think the same way as you- and sometimes you need that experience as a person to develop and learn to communicate with others.
This is the link to a picture of two soldiers going against each other in the Civil War since it Miss Caroline and Scout kind of remind me of these two opposing sides: http://g0203003.edublogs.org/files/2011/05/civil-war-soldiers1-300x2901-yzybfq.jpg
Hopefully a thought provoking question... Why is Boo Radley depicted as a monster by everyone else when he really hasn't done anything to harm them? Is he a scapegoat, blamed and shunned by other people so that they may think more highly of themselves?
I agree with Sharon in saying that it was disappointing when the scene containing Scout's and Miss Caroline's argument was omitted. It really did bring up a good point that you must learn from other people's customs and experiences to develop as a maturing individual.
Difference between movie and book: A very important difference that I noticed was Scout and Jem talking about their deceased mother. In the novel, Scout says that although Jem misses their mother, Scout does not remember her that much so she does not miss her. However, in the movie, they specifically show scenes where Scout thoughtfully fingers Atticus's watch with the inscription "to my beloved husband, Atticus", and where she talks with Jem before going to sleep. It is also shown that Atticus has listened in on their conversation. I believe the movie shows a more deep aspect of the Finch's past: about the pain that Jem and Scout went through when their mother passed away, and Atticus's loneliness without his wife. This shows an interesting perspective of the story, since the novel barely touches on Scout and Jem's mother. An inspirational picture about Atticus: http://www.motivationalpictures.net/demotivational-pictures/Thumbnails/Loneliness-Motivational-Picture.jpg
I agree with Michelle in saying that in the book, the story of Scout's mom isn't represented much, but in the movie, we learn about a lot of memories that Jem and Atticus have of her, and that Scout longs to remember those few years that she spent with her mom.
To look at this from another perspective, there are many people who become angry at this kind of misunderstanding.
One of the most overlooked people are teachers.And no I am not sucking up to them, but recently, on a math test, a student asked a couple hours after the test if the teacher was done correcting 150+ tests. Infuriated by this, the teacher refused to stay up grading tests and eventually returned our test much much later.
There were a few subtle yet important differences between the novel and the novel that I was able to pick up: One thing about reading a book and then seeing a movie is the interpretation of dialogue. The movie was an explanation of the book in the eyes of the director. For example, Jem did not have the crooked finger that the book mentioned. Similarly, the movie added an extra scene where an opponent of Atticus in court ridicules Atticus's client. Both these events were omitted in order to emphasize certain aspects. I believe that he included the courthouse scene to point out an exact and tangible form discrimination for the viewers.
Here is a picture I thought displays my point: http://www.google.com/imgres?start=22&num=10&hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&biw=1280&bih=619&tbm=isch&tbnid=2hIX2nxUrkwe0M:&imgrefurl=http://tendollarthoughts.com/2010/03/15/shame-and-prejudice/
To all of you I ask: Scout is a unique name. Why do you think that her father and Jem call her that? Do you think her name describes her character before Atticus began defending a Black man or her character in the face of ridicule?
I think Scout got her nickname for her attitude. We don't quite know when that nickname caught on, but I'm that she got it because she's like a "true scout". She's able to fit in even though she's a girl. She's tough and that's what a scout is.
I agree. Scout portrays a tomboy and is very unlike most girls. She wears overalls and prefers them over a feminine dress. Jem even mentions in the movie that Scout is becoming more like a girl day by day. This reveals that Jem considers his own sister as "one of the guys".
I agree with Rudy because I think one of the biggest differences between the book and the novel is the extra scenes that are created to add more personality to the characters.
Novel vs. Movie The novel and movie are similar in many ways but different in some because of the amount of depth given to us in the book. One big difference I saw was the movie didn't really explain the character's actions. For example when the scene of Scout tackling Cunningham. We wouldn't have quite understood why she did it if we hadn't read the book. The history of the Finches weren't mentioned in the movie either.
Because people's actions didn't seem to be explained in the movie: http://www.hazelmchaffie.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/confused-person.png
One thing I found interesting about the movie was that the very beginning of the movie was exactly like the cover of the book. Scout was humming while slowly drawing a bird with scenes of a stopwatch during the credits in the beginning. I related that to cover of the book that has a bird and stopwatch. The stopwatch seems to be an important object in the movie, and Atticus contains it. What does the object symbolize and why of all characters does Atticus have it?
The novel and the movie are very similar in some ways but there are very big differences. The novel goes into way more depth on the characters and the story and I feel like the movie rushed things that needed more emphasis. The movie also left out many aspects of the book and just didn't include many things. The movie also emphasizes the fact that Scout is a big tomboy. In the book however, it wasn't mentioned too much
This shows how they portrayed Scout. http://www.google.com/imgres?q=scout+in+to+kill+a+mockingbird&num=10&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&nord=1&biw=1024&bih=653&tbm=isch&tbnid=JGoY_wT7edNAvM:&imgrefurl=http://keirsteade.edublogs.org/&docid=VInRFBRY2gdKwM&imgurl=http://keirsteade.edublogs.org/files/2009/12/scout.jpg&w=199&h=153&ei=tb4PT7TYGceOiALzm4DrDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=638&vpy=411&dur=1554&hovh=122&hovw=159&tx=109&ty=70&sig=118259877827534226871&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=122&tbnw=159&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0
I really agree with Frank because many of the characters in the movie were not portrayed as good as they were in the book. You didn't really know who the character were.
A picture describing what I believe women were believed to be in the 1930s. Just housewives and people to be able to cook a meal for the men when they came home. Obviously, women are not like that but in the 1930s, the view on many things was murky and clouded.
In the movie, when Atticus was tucking Scout into bed, Scout asked what her inheritance was going to be. Atticus told her that he has kept jewlery for her from her mother. Now I would assume, a usual tomboy wouldn't be interested in those things but Scout's face lit up when he mentioned it. I just wanted to point out that this wasn't in the novel and I found it interesting.
I think that Atticus was trying to tell Scout to try to think about what it's like to be Jem; to think about Jem's actions and the reasons behind it. Atticus is trying to tell Scout that people in general always have a reason for what they do. She can't assume anything about their personality based on their actions.
in the movie they dont show the scene where scout is at her first day of school. i feel that is an important part of the book for scout and the story itself. in the book that is where we get a glimpse of the other families and their struggles. walter cunnigham doesnt even have lunch so jem decides to invite walter to eat with them. it seems like the finches are the richest family in the town. they have all the food they want and live comfortably while other families struggle to feed each other. that is why i think the school scene is very important and should have been included in the movie.
In my opinion, the movie's story line was very similar to the book but the movie seems to emphasize two main points 1) the childishness of Scout and 2)the fact that Scout's a girl. For example, in the movie Scout's very dependent on everyone else's opinion around her, showing that she's too young to make decisions on her own. Also, she's constantly rebelling from wearing dresses and wants to hangout with the guys, almost as if against being treated like a girl. I think that these two points that are hinted constantly throughout the movie show more of Scout's struggle to decide between what to be and what she's supposed to be.
Below is a link to an interview of three women that grew up in a similar situation like Scout's, and it brings up questions about what a girl was supposed to be like in the 1930s vs. how they actually were.
Movie vs. Novel The movie and the novel are very similar. The dialogue is almost exactly the same to the novel.
Differences stood out more to me than similarities, though. I noticed that Dill's aunt's name was different in the movie. In the novel, his aunt was Miss Rachel. In the movie, it's Miss Stephanie. A major difference that stood out to me was that the movie portrayed Scout as a tomboy but also showed more girliness in her. This really stood out when her face lit up when Atticus told her she was inheriting her mother's jewelry and when she said she was scared when they were going to the Radley house.
This wasn't in the movie. But, it's a picture of Scout in a dress smiled as she stands in front of the mirror. In the movie, she comes out irritated by the dress. Maybe she is secretly longing to be girlier, like her mother, maybe?
I agree with you about the hints of Scout's tomboyish demeanor diminishing a bit, but I don't think her eyes lit up, when she was talking to Atticus, because she was excited about new jewelry. I think it was more about her finally having a hand-me-down that she could remember her mom by, and relive memories that she would never have been able to recall before.
I think what Atticus is trying to tell Scout is that she should take the time to not only look at life from her perspective, but also Jem's. He is trying to get her to see where Jem is coming from and understand his point of view as well. They're both entirely different people with different bodies, minds, opinions, and responsibilities, and Scout has to understand that Jem is growing up, as she should be too. All in all, Atticus is telling Scout to respect her brother's decisions more, and do that by stepping into his shoes and watching the world through his eyes. Maybe changing her attitude towards Jem is only the first step in the bigger picture, which would be to overlook the discrimination and gossip in Maycomb and, like Atticus, Scout would be able to step over the differences in race and color and treat people equally.
I agree with Tushara when she says that Atticus is training her to overlook race and the color of one's skin. As a defense lawyer for African Americans, Atticus has to deal with prejudice and racism everyday and often sees his colored clients wrongly accused of crimes they didn't commit. By making Scout open minded, he's avoiding her mind being polluted with the narrow minded mindset of the rest of the community.
Even though the movie incorporated dialogue from the book, some differences were set between the novel and movie. Probably to lower costs and decrease the total time of the movie, several parts,such as the teacher scenes, were cut out. However, in place of the narration from the book that described people in Maycomb, they added more dialogue to express the personalities of each person, as dialogue is also more open to interpretation that narration. It also adds scenes that give the people more character, such as the judge coming to ask Atticus of the Tom Robinson case, which was not included in the novel. Unlike narration, these scenes allowed people to form their own opinions of what kind of person each person is, instead of narration telling what they are like.
This is what relates to what I am saying: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=2Eb&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=587&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsb&tbnid=XCbsgp46jkeh2M:&imgrefurl=http://llamalima.xanga.com/730743454/individualism-being-alternative-for-the-sake-of-it/&docid=-1TW3YHFEjm_dM&imgurl=http://thehedge.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/individualism.jpg&w=683&h=868&ei=GMgPT4HVHITYiAKbqsXJDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=494&vpy=143&dur=5400&hovh=253&hovw=199&tx=147&ty=146&sig=102539723680526241487&page=1&tbnh=109&tbnw=86&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
When comparing and contrasting the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the movie based upon this book, there are many differences one can spot right off the bat. A major differenced that has been mentioned numerously is the extreme lack of detail. Many scenes from the plot are left out of the movie resulting in a weaker impression left on a reader of the novel. One detail left out of the movie was Scout’s strong dislike of her education system. Scout, being more advanced than her piers in terms of reading, finds her school days boring and anything but stimulating. In the movie, we never see Scout’s frustration with the school system and its elementary curriculum. Another huge detail that is left out is the town’s true terror of the Radley house and the infamous Boo Radley. When Scout describes the Radley house in the book, she mentions how anything that grew near it would kill you and how baseballs that flew over the fence and onto their lawn, were considered lost forever. In the movie, however, Atticus tells Scout and Jem to not go near the house again. This is the only sign of fear we see from the community. The children give a brief description and backround on the Radley household however I felt that the fear was more expressive in the novel. As someone mentioned earlier, the Radley house is not even portrayed as a place not to be trifled with. It seems like another ordinary house along the street. Other minor details are omitted as well such as the fact that when Jem returned to get his pants from the Raldey fence, they had not been mended and folded along the fence.
My thought provoking question is: Was Mrs. Dubose a mockingbird? Could she really have been following the rest of society and mocking them in calling Atticus a “nigger lover” when in fact, she was a just, fair, and open minded individual who sought civil rights and fair treatment for African-Americans? Scout and Jem believed Mrs. Dubose was naturally bitter before learning of her morphine addiction. This could have been the contributor to her mental instability. The following picture shows that few are willing to break free from the lures of the bandwagon and pursue what they believe to be just. In a way, everyone on the bandwagon is a mockingbird. http://www.google.com/imgres?start=16&num=10&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1AVSX_enUS392US392&biw=1280&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=xOo_caiTM11hVM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/f/fads.asp&docid=gz5K-UVN
When Atticus tell Scout to “climb into his skin and walk around in it”, he clearly means that you can never judge a person right away until you fully comprehend their circumstances. Before telling Scout this, Atticus says that, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” Atticus is very right in saying this and teaches Scout that whether it be her teacher, Ms. Caroline, or one of the Cunninghams, nobody deserves to be judged right away until their life is taken into account.
In the movie, you can spot very obvious parts that were taken out from the original story in the book. One part was the part where Miss Caroline is introduced and how Scout was told not to read, how Scout explained how the Cunninghams are, and also how she was punished. I think this was a very important part of the book and that it gives the reader insight of how the town is; a very close knit conservative town, but since it was taken out, the person watching may lose the feel of Maycomb County as opposed to someone who read the book.
Oops, forgot to post a thought provoking question! Question: Do you think that the author made Scout, Jem, and Atticus's last name to be Finch on purpose? Why? How would this symbolize a part of the book?
My group had a discussion similar to this question. We related the finches to Charles Darwin. The Finches were the only ones seeing past this racial prejudice and "evolving," like the ones studied by Charles Darwin.
Throughout the movies, there were so many dialogues that were exactly the same as those in the book, but there were also some very obvious differences. One was that the scene of Scout explaining the "rules" of Maycomb County wasn't there in the book. Instead, the movie went straight to Scout's "fight" scene. Also, the scene in which Scout is reading to Atticus wasn't mentioned in the book, but I thought it was a welcome addition. This scene emphasized how little Scout really remembered and knew about her mother and how she was so happy, as well as curious, to finally have a keepsake that would allow her to relive memories which she would not have been able to access before. Also, like Rudy said, there was that scene in which the director emphasized how different Atticus really was, when he was wiling to first, take the case defending a "black man", and then believing what the client's story was. I think this scene was also a welcome addition because it outlined how badly African Americans were treated and how biased the general population was. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3llLFNZ-iLM/TVaUho4TPtI/AAAAAAAAABk/q79bsyr07Rc/s1600/discrimination.jpg I felt this picture of a "white only" sign during the Civil Right Movement time was a good example of how blacks were forced to hide behind the whites in society as they weren't welcome, just because of their color and race, much like how that man talked about Atticus' black client at the courthouse.
My question is 'Even after so many years of being the same, why does Maycomb County remain the same and refuse to change traditions and discrimination? Are they scared, or are they merely proud Southern whites?'
I believe that Maycomb County remains the same because they resist change. They are scared of the unknown. When putting myself in their shoes, change is not greatly desired in a society where everybody can get along just fine within their racial territories. Unless a guaranteed and great benefit appears out of change, the citizens of Maycomb will not be willing to undergo the process of change.
Although the movie and the book are very similar, I think the two had different perspectives as to what was important for the reader/viewer to see.
For example, the movie didn't show Scout's first day at school, but emphasized more on Scout hating her dress and beating up Walter. Although the book felt that it was important to show how smart and capable yet rebellious Scout is, the movie perspective felt that it was more important to show her strong and boyish personality. The movie spent a very short time and didn't even expand on Scout's advancement in academics and reading, but showed many points of Scout being tough and strong.
Also, the movie points out Scout's confusing longing for her mother. As she was too young to remember her mother, she doesn't miss her, but we can feel that she longs for her greatly. The movie takes time in showing Scout longingly fingering Atticus' watch, and talking to Jem about their mother. She does care, but she doesn't really know what to expect from a motherly figure. In the book, Scout's mother is spoken of, but not so much that it is a lasting thing to think about as it is in the movie. Again, I feel that in this way, the movie is also showing more about Scout's tomboy character, as maybe the absence of a mother may have made her tough and stronger than other girls her age.
http://hollywoodjesus.com/movie/harry_potter/15.jpg Here is a picture of harry potter, because I feel that Harry potter's parental absence affected the way he grew up and his personality just as how Scout growing up without her mother affected her personality and her actions.
here is the URL for a picture, it shows the story of the ugly duckling; how he was shied away for being different because the other ducklings didn't understand that he might look different, but he is also handling his own troubles within him and trying to fit in. I think its important that we shouldn't discriminate towards others for being different. I think this is like how African Americans were discriminated. It reminds me of how even today, where situations for equality have improved, people still fear things that are queer or different to them.
Question: Why is it hard for people to accept things that they can't understand?
I think the book relates to the quote at the top because its about understanding different people and their situations, Miss Caroline, Walter Cunningham, and others that will be introduced in the book. I feel like understanding a person before making judgements is an important part of accepting others for who they are. After all, everyone is mortal and we all deal with many of the same struggles and face the same fears in life.
"Why is it hard for people to accept what they can't understand," the answer lies within the question. If you don't understand something, then of course it is hard to accept because if you don't understand something, why would you accept it?
For some reason my com doesn't let me reply directly. something to do with the javascript so yea..
I agree with you, I think misunderstandings can lead to a lot of conflict, sometimes people think that others will understand them, and they'll take it for granted. As in you example, I feel like the teacher thought the students understood the pressure she was in and was simply being inconsiderate and nagging her for the impossible.
Differences between the movie and book The movie and book had many similarities, but it also had some differences. Many of the scenes from the book were cut out from the movie. For example, Scout's conflict with her teacher when she first meets her is not shown which was a very important scene because it shows how two people act from two different places. Also the movie seemed more faster and not many of the character were explained well.
I think he means to understand it from their point of view. You have to understand how they are and that you can't just judge them from your point of view. Atticus is trying to say to Scout is to look at life from Jem's shoes and see how it is.
Novel vs. Movie: Although it has the same storyline and same characters, watching the movie "To Kill A Mockingbird" and reading the novel provided two different experiences. The first distinction that I noticed right away is Scout's personality and maturity in both the movie and novel. In the novel, Scout, although young, is mature because at age 6, she has figured out how everything works in Maycomb County. It's hard to believe that she's still so young because of her extensive knowledge on how things operate. On the contrary, in the movie, Scout really seems like a kid. The movie begins with Scout drawing pictures and humming songs, like children normally do.
Quote Analysis: "You never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" (30), wise words coming from a wise man. I believe what Atticus meant from this was that no one can understand a person better than himself, so sometimes only he knows what he's going through. Therefore, before you judge him or misunderstand, you should act as if you're that person and think the way he would. Therefore, you'll get a better understanding of what the other person's going through, so you won't accidentally make a mistake.
Thought-provoking Question: Out of all the many lawyers in Maycomb, why has Atticus specifically been selected for this case?
Here are some questions to keep you thinking: In many other stories, many times the minor characters who act as some kind of secondary mentor, such as Calpurnia, do not act as fiercely as she does. Why does the author want to let Calpurnia be so harsh on Scout, instead being a traditionally kind mentor?
I believe that Calpurnia is not exactly HARSH to Scout. When Cal scolded her, it was because she was teaching Scout a valuable lesson to not look down upon anybody, no matter their financial situation, and that everybody who comes to their house is a guest and should be treated as one. I believe that Calpurnia plays the mother figure for Jem and Scout. She cares for them and teaches them the difference between what's right and wrong, just like a mom.
I think this image pictures To Kill A Mockingbird perfectly because segregation(or racism) is a natural part of Maycomb, but Atticus, knowing it's wrong, is going against it and he's doing his best to fight for justice.
The question, what did Atticus mean when he said, "Climb into Jem's skin and walk around in it,” has been thoroughly analyzed and scrutinized by my peers in Room 19, yet as I scrolled down the aisle of comments I failed to recognize variation in the answers. However, while carefully reading over the question and taking each word into consideration, I noticed that climb means to ascend. This may be an unintentional meaning, but by replacing climb with ascend, Atticus wants Scout to rise up into Jem’s skin, or standard. Jem is older and he does not cause as much trouble as Scout, further explaining the logic behind Atticus’s choice of words. I am uncertain, but in this quote, Atticus may unintentionally degrade Scout and tell her to live up to Jem’s standards. Movie vs Book: Overall, like all other movies based on based on books, the movie and the book were similar. Some of the sequential order was out of place, but everything flowed smoothly. I noticed that the movie stressed more so on the court case. The book never explained about the meeting with the Judge and Atticus, or about Scout, Jem and Dill sneaking to the courthouse either. This proves that the court case is the main topic of the movie and this court case will shape the plot and outcome of events. The movie does not have two parts like the book, so in order to have a single main idea, the movie combined parts and expanded on the court case.
The court case is centered on judging democratically, yet this is not so in the deep south. This link for the gif shows to not judge based on what is presented to you. http://chzgifs.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/funny-gifs-dont-judge-too-quickly.gif
Question: Symbolism has a huge role in classic novels. What is the importance and symbolism of the watch?
When Atticus tells Scout to "climb into Jem's skin and walk around in it", I think he's trying to teach Scout to not be judgemental. Since Scout is a young girl, she has a innocent personality that doesn't fully understand what it means to walk in someone else's shoes. Therefore, Atticus is telling Scout to try to understand Jem from his point of view. No one will ever understand what another person feels and sees unless they walk in their shoes. After all, different eyes see different things.
Novel vs. Film Like many other people had mentioned already, in the film, they don't have a scene that shows Scout first day at school. In the novel, it's explained how Scout starts out on the wrong foot with her new teacher and gets in trouble for trying to help Miss Caroline. Also, in the beginning of the movie, there's a scene where Jem wouldn't come down from the tree before Atticus left for work. However, this scene shows the stubborness of Jem's character.
PICTURE: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1280&bih=626&tbm=isch&tbnid=CMDwVM-yZ15ReM:&imgrefurl=http://plantingwisdom.org/&docid=Juhhe90jkrAJAM&imgurl=http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvcv17VFr31qjstjjo1_500.jpg&w=500&h=375&ei=SOgPT_yfIpLUiAKj3bi5CA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=693&vpy=146&dur=110&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=173&ty=134&sig=118034686727218207208&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=175&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0 I think this picture relates to the quote above, "Climb into Jem's skim and walk around in it."
In Haper Lee's award-winning film, TKAM, Scout's teacher, Miss Caroline is not mentioned like she is in the novel. Without her Miss Caroline's input in the movie, Scout lacks the internal conflict of her still wanting to read and write with Atticus, although, she is forbidden by her teacher, which results with her not wanting to go to school. Also, without Miss Caroline, the movie lacks the background of the Cunninghams and the Ewells of how they either don't take money they cannot repay or only come to school for the first day. http://www.google.com/search?hI=en&gl=us&biw=320&bih=356&site=images&+bm=isch&oq=first+grader+&aq=f&agi=&gs_upI=5334=T12678I0I13147127I19I0I0I0I614071
I think he means you have to understand someone before you judge them, you never know the things people have gone through or are experiencing until you really get close to that person--it would be foolish and unreasonable to determine something regarding who they are. I think it reminds us that we should never make bad judgements about a person when we know nearly nothing about them, and who are we to be criticizing others when we can't even perceive the hardships of what it would feel like to be in their situation.
ReplyDeleteAs Kellie and i have said you don't really know someone until you get into their skin, and it is kind of like the sounthern version of "Don't judge a book by it's cover", because they both say dont judge someone or something by howe it looks ir acts on the inside. It's the quality of the inside that matters.
DeleteI agree with Kellie, it would be foolish to judge someone and make bad judgements when you don't even know the person. You see them, but you don't know their story.
DeleteI agree with Kellie and I think that although Atticus was talking about Jem, he he wanted Scout to realize that this also applied to Boo Radley.
DeleteI agree with Kellie because Atticus wants Scout to realize that everybody has a reason for their actions. And if you don't know or understand that reason, you have no right to judge a person so harshly.
DeleteIt's not necessarily "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Atticus is trying to tell Scout that not everything in life is going to be obvious. He is not only telling her to not judge people, but to think about their reasons and their motives for what they did.
DeleteI agree with Kellie because Atticus is trying to say to Scout that you shouldn't judge a person by looking at them you have to get to know them better and see what they have experienced.
DeleteWhen Atticus says "Climb into Jem's skin and walk around in it" he means two things. First, he is saying that it is not right for someone to judge another person by certain actions if they do not understand the person very personally, like being in someones skin. A good example from the book and the movie was when Walter Cunningham was eating with the Finchs. He poured maple syrup all over his food, and scout commented on it, which made Calpurnia angry and scout was admonished for being rude to her guest. This is what i believe Atticus means.
ReplyDeleteI believe that what Atticus is trying to say is "not to judge a book by its cover". Going off of what Kellie said, you can never really know the truth behind a person unless you have actually experienced what they have go through. In TKAM I believe that this quote factors into how Scout's attitude towards others changes throughout the story, especially toward Boo Radley.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Currently in Part One of TKAM Scout is still very sassy, but the seeds are sown for someone who understands the different groups in Maycomb. Unlike many of the resident's, Scout, I believe, will begin appreciating people not as Cunninghams or Radleys, but as Walter Cunningham and as Boo Radley.
DeleteThat is wholly true, as you can see Scout begin to change as the story progresses. She learns from other people and her mistakes that people are not to be judged until you know and consider why they think in a certain way. By the end, you can probably predict that Scout will grow to be a mature, understanding woman.
DeleteI agree too, although I don't believe Scout is judging Jem's character, she just doesn't understand what is going on in the first place.
DeleteI agree with Matt because while Scout is starting to mature throughout the novel, she doesn't fully understand what is happening, even if she thinks she does. In general, sure you can listen to other people's problems, but one really cannot fully understand what the other person is truly saying until you have actually experienced it for yourself.
DeleteI also agree with Matt because since Scout is younger than Jem, she can't completely understand what Jem is going through and his mindset way of thinking compared to hers.
DeleteI agree, we have to get to know someone and to look from their point of view before we have any say about that person. I think that Atticus wants Scout to get to know Jem better and to understand why Jem does the things he does.do.
ReplyDeleteAtticus may also be indirectly referencing the racism portrayed in this novel as well. In addition to not "judging a book by its cover" Atticus is alluding to the human cover we all have, skin. By climbing into Jem or any other character's skin, one would inherit all the biases and prejudice against them as well. I completely agree with Matthew's response about the growth and prejudice Scout experiences and perceives throughout the novel. Adding on to that, Scout soon becomes an "outsider" in her community when her father defends a Black man. She is now given the painful, heavy bricks which may help her connect her understanding of being an outcast with Boo Radley, another person enveloped in epithets and labels, ones which have covered his true skin.
ReplyDeleteBy what Rudy said I think that its not just how you think of people, but how people think of you. By stepping into someone's skin, as Rudy said, you also need to understand how people will treat you as if you were actually that person.
DeleteIn addition to what Rudy said, it is quite true that when Scout begins to be treated the way Boo Radley is treated, she feels the pain that comes with it. Essentially, you cannot truly understand a person until you have felt the way that person feels.
DeleteI agree with Rudy on the importance of the meaning of "skin" as our covers. I think that although people can wear masks and costumes or get plastic surgery, the one thing that you can't change as a whole is your skin, which really shows the importance it has on us as people. Scout has to learn at her young age what it means to be able to understand other people objectively and without judgement.
DeleteI think Atticus is trying to teach Scout a very humbling and valuable lesson, which is to see the world through Jem’s eyes. It teaches her that in life you cannot be one sided and make choses based on your own preference and feelings. Rather you should take into consideration the thoughts and feelings of the other person. Everyone is an individual and are able to form their own opinions and ideas about the world. This may foreshadow events in the book later on where the kids have to “climb into the skins “of other people like African Americans living in the south and maybe even Boo Radley.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very good point. I believe Atticus is attempting to teach Scout about the art of making compromises and thinking of the greater good. The basis of prejudice is intolerance, ignorance, and resistance to thinking of others before yourself. By reinforcing the message of thinking of other's before yourself, Atticus is slowly weaning his children off the prejudices of Maycomb. He is helping them take the first step toward an integrated society.
DeleteAtticus knows that Jem is going through a hard time and is having internal conflicts. So he doesnt want anyone to judge him until he/she has "walked two moons in his moccasins" and seen things from his point of view. I also agree with what Austin said because no one has the right to judge someone until they get to know them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Michelle that people when people go through a hard time there are many conflicts in that persons life. I agree with you based on this fact however It seems that Jem actually has very little conflict in his life, aside from the constant nagging from Scout that he cant seem to get rid of.
DeleteI agree I think not only was Atticus teaching Scout a lesson, but also was being a great father by protecting his son when Jem was having a really hard time.
DeleteI think what Atticus is trying to say is that no one should judge a person when you haven't walked in their shoes. You might know them but you don't know their story. Atticus is trying to say walk in their shoes and then maybe you'll understand what that person is going through and understand them better.
ReplyDeleteI think Atticus is trying to say that sometime you have to put your feet into their shoes and see the world as they see it because sometime its hard to realize how different your life may be form someone else's. I think this really describes one of the things Scout lacks, the ability to see things from a different perspective. Although she may be smart she still hasn't matured in a sense that she is able to see thing from two sides.
ReplyDeletei agree with Frank, Scout does lack that ability, she just cant look at her own life but others as well. Scout needs to grow in order to know the world around her.
Deleteactually, it shouldn't just be their shoes, but their whole skin. because skin itself has a meaning of its own in this novel.
DeleteAs a young child, she sees herself only through her own eyes as what she believes. What she cannot see is the beliefs of others, and why they think that way. By putting others into perspective,or to "climb into one's skin and walk around in it", Scout could provide some self-insight to how the other person thinks, which is what Atticus wanted Scout to be able to get a hold of. Respectively to what Atticus states, one will be misunderstood until another is able to see how the one who is misunderstood sees.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it seems to be intentionally matched, as Scout seems to already, in some aspects, act like Jem. Instead of dressing up as a girl would, she, inversely, copies the way Jem dresses, like a boy. Following Jem everywhere he goes, she does the same acts that Jem does many times. What is so unexpected about it is that she still does not know how Jem thinks, and why he does so. This just means that no matter how much she acts like a boy does, she is still a girl who walks around in the skin of a boy.
i thought this was good.
Deletescout acts that way cause she is a tomboy and Jem is her brother. Usually, younger siblings follow the older ones becuase they are kind of like their role model. its just not how scout looks or acts like Jem(or a boy) that shows that she indeed had "climbed into skin..." and understood Jem. Its feelings aswell, not just appearance or outlook.
Difference from movie and book.
ReplyDeleteThe movie was almost the same as the book, with the diologue, but still had its differences. One thing was that Scouts teacher was never introduced in the movie, it just skipped to where Scout beats up walter. Also, neither Finch's landing nor the history of teh Finchs were talked about in the movie. I dont think that Mr Ewell confronted Atticus that early in the book when they were in the courtroom.
Picture. relating to the theme education, which i think is the most important one, and its far better than a record deal. i thought id put this cause.
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=613&tbm=isch&tbnid=Diu8bV3bZ-CJfM:&imgrefurl=http://brownelessar.com/2011/11/19/education-a-necessary-good/&docid=GniMTJTUse-yDM&imgurl=http://brownelessar.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/bm1181education-posters.jpg&w=289&h=400&ei=Fp0PT4aqIaPRiALPzv21DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1037&vpy=142&dur=132&hovh=264&hovw=191&tx=108&ty=150&sig=113837780243956223568&page=3&tbnh=125&tbnw=85&start=42&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:42
A very thought provoking question.
Why did Atticus agree to defend Tom Robinson's and take his case? What does that tell us about Atticus and his character?
I think he defends Tom Roninson because of his great indifference to the color of someones skin or to the race they belong to. I think this shows how Atticus is such a caring person and doesn't let things like race get in the way of seeing who a person really is.
DeleteI think that it shows alot about his character in different ways Within the novel, we are given the idea of him being a very humble man but he also makes himself and his children respect Calpurnia, which gives off that he wants all people to be treated equal, despite the color of the skin and how other people viewed blacks in Maycomb County. So Tom Robinson wouldn't have been taken in by any other lawyer besides Atticus and even if they were, they wouldn't be given the same defense than if it were a white man.
DeleteAtticus agrees to defend Tom because he is a very fair and unprejudiced person. As a person, it tells us that he's kind-hearted and equal. Taking this case and risking his reputation shows that he really doesn't care what other people think, he just does what he thinks is right.
DeleteThe fact that there are many lawyers in the town, but Atticus was chosen to defend Tom does explain Atticus' character. During this time period, many people stereotyped the African Americans, but Atticus sees them as equal. This reveals that Atticus is mature, respectful, and fair.
DeleteI agree with all of the above. Before Atticus agreed to defend a black man, he knew that problems and mistreatment would come his and his kid's way. This shows his true character of him being brave, unprejudiced, and simply strong.
DeleteWhat I feel Atticus is saying is try to be in Jem's position and try to understand him from there. You have no idea the position anyone can be in because you don't live their life. However, you can assume by "putting yourself in their shoes" so to speak. No one can understand how a person lives their life, but they can try too and hopefully figure out the character of that person.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Tim but I think at the same time, Atticus is talking about Boo Radley and how Jem and Scout always say hes a monster.
DeleteI really agree with the idea here that you have to see things through the eyes of others and at least try to understand about their situation, about why they might have done something that you don't necessarily agree with. Then you yourself would develop as a person, interacting and communicating with others.
DeleteI agree with Frank. I think Atticus wasn't really pressing Scout to understand Jem, I feel that he was twisting his words to get her to think about Boo Radley as well. As Jem is a more familiar person to Scout than Boo Radley, I think Atticus felt that it would be easier for her to understand such an adult concept as viewing things objectively and trying to understand other people's feelings if she could understand the concept with someone close to her like Jem, first. If Scout figured out the concept with Jem, she might be able to open up and incorporate the concept into her life and try to view other situations that way, such as Boo Radley.
DeleteI agree with Tim of how Atticus is saying that unless you're actually in Jem's position, you are oblivious of what he is going through and feels.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we forget how ignorant we are, how our actions or words unintentionally hurt others. By "climbing into another person's skin", we can see ourselves from the other person's point of view. Whenever making a decision to do something that can either positively or negatively affect others, it's best to first stop and think- If someone were to say or do this to me, how would I feel? After that, would you continue? By doing so, you start to develop a sense of sympathy towards others; you start to understand their thought processes and become better at expressing your ideas and opinions.
ReplyDeletei completely agree with sharon. i also believe he said to "climb into Jem's SKIN..." the fact that he mentions skin is very important because skin color is very significant in this novel. imagine walking into Tom Robinson's skin for example, it would be a whole new prospective just because of the color of his skin. he didn't say walk in Jem's shoes for a reason.
DeleteI agree with Sharon when she says that empathy can have you understand other people's thought processes and become better at expressing your ideas and opinions. Empathy is important, because you are considering another person's feelings. However, empathy also impacts yourself positively, because it allows you to communicate more effectively with others and expressive yourself.
DeleteOne thing i did not fail to notice was how eloquently Atticus spoke in the movie. He did not speak with a heavy southern accent like the rest of Maycomb county's population. I also noticed, that Miss Caroline isn't depicted in the movie. They leave out her peppermint description and also how Scout reacts to her. Also in the movie, they don't show as much of the sibling brawls that scout and beam have in the novel, they seems to get along quite well in the movie. The book of course has a lot ore meaning and depth, but the fact that they leave out some minor characters in the movie is like taking the icing off the cake. Overall, the movie is just a lot less intense than the novel.
ReplyDeletea thought provoking question: why does Atticus force Jem to go read for Ms Dubose although he knows that she has very hateful words about him? what does this say about Atticus?
A moive clip from the movie 'The Help' shows how Calpurnia can be a mother figure to Jem and Jean Louise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H50llsHm3k
I slightly disagree on the fact that you say Jem and Scout seem to get along. In my opinion, they seem to disagree a lot for example when in the movie Scout mentions she's scared and Jem tells her to leave. She seems like an outsider because she is the only girl. But, it is true that the siblings do have more disputes in the novel.
DeleteI kinda agree with Niki. It may seem like Jem and Scout get along quite fine, but maybe because Jem accepts the fact that as the older brother, he should at least allow her to play with them. You can notice when Jem gets irritated at Scout and they argue for a while. However, it does seem like they fight more in the book.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMOVIE vs. BOOK
ReplyDeleteTO KILL A MOCKING BIRD
There were only minor differences between the book and the movie, besides that they were almost similar.One difference I notice was that Atticus seemed to be home more often then portrayed in the book. In the book Atticus is described as being at work most of the time, but in the movie he seems to be at home a long time.Another difference was that in the movie the Radley Place seemed to be much less menacing than how the book portrayed it to be. Not to mention the fact that in the movie Boo Radley was not talked about as much in the book, giving us less background history on Boo Radley than what the book says. A big difference was that in the movie the part about her going to school and being in the classroom was taken out.Instead Scout had been describing what had happened like her not being able to read with her father. This in a way took away from the seriousness that she was not allowed to read with her father anymore. Other than those things the movie was great, its always cool to see what your reading come to life and actually watch it
scout talking to her father about her first day of school :
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctentertainment/upload/2010/08/atticus2.jpg
QUESTION:
Why does scout ask i she is getting anything from Atticus like her brother Jem? Is she jealous of jem or is she simply asking for more attention from her father?
I think Scout is just curious and wonders since her brother is getting something from her father, will she too get something. I don't really think she wants attention
DeleteDifference between movie and book
ReplyDeleteAlthough there were many similarities between eh book and the movie, there was slight subtle differences. For example, for example in the movie they cut out some major people, such as Miss Carolina. In the book they have multiple scenes with her and she is the spark to a lot of Scout's anger, problems, and even, her rebellious nature. This contrasts to the movie because they do not show her in any of the scenes.
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1C1SNNT_enUS347US347&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=xddy0iEwXIzLuM:&imgrefurl=http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/asustory/pages/16stor.htm&docid=mPaNwfzEYP-IDM&imgurl=http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/asustory/images/16stor.jpg&w=400&h=287&ei=pagPT5zcKdDaiQKX_sG-DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=360&vpy=160&dur=5443&hovh=190&hovw=265&tx=30&ty=63&sig=102612569809096982599&page=1&tbnh=126&tbnw=176&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0
This picture shows how women were viewed in the 1930s. It shows how delicate and structured they were thought of in their society. Even during sports, they worn white dresses and looked very graceful and feminine.
Thought provoking question: Why is Boo Radley brought up again and again in this novel? What's his significance?
I like your picture because it epitomises how women were potrayed around the time that Scout lived in and how women were usually viewed as very feminine while Scout is such a tomboy and goes against soceity during that time.
DeleteAtticus is trying to teach Scout that you shouldn't judge a person no matter how close you are to them. He is also indirectly referring to Boo Radley as well telling Scout that he has his reasons for his actions. Until you truly know what that person has been through or is going through, you have no right. The only person that knows your own personal story and ever will is your own self. Making rash un-thought through conclusions is unfair.
ReplyDeleteDifferences between the movie and novel were that Scout's kindergarten teacher was not introduced. In addition, the children do not retrieve the tire from the Radley's porch. And finally, the scene where Bob Ewell confronts Atticus was not in the book.
Why does Jem tease Scout about acting like a girl?
cartoon http://www.classicalvalues.com/Sexist_PA_Men.JPG
I agree with Melissa's comment when she says that every person has a personal story about theirselves. Empathy can only go so far. It is highly unlikely that you will ever penetrate that deeply into a person's life, to know their personal stories. Every person has their own secrets that they don't want anyone to know. Empathy is putting yourself into other's shoes. However, you should never go so far as to make them uncomfortable or meddle in their private lives.
DeleteI believe that Atticus is trying to teach Scout a life lesson that she will always carry around with her: To empathize and understand another person before judging them. Scout is still young and immature, so I think Atticus is trying to help Scout mature by thinking before her actions. At this point in her life, she can only see situations from her own perspective. To truly understand another person, I believe Atticus is trying to teach Scout that she needs to live and see their life from their perspective, not hers. Although Jem is, in a sense, Scout's role model and probably the closest person to her, Scout still can not understand Jem's point of view. This just goes to show that Scout has a long way to go until adulthood. Jem, on the other hand, has already shown signs of maturity when he protects Boo Radley from Atticus, who he previously was frightened of. He empathized with Boo's feelings, instead of judging him right off the bat. I believe that Scout is a smart girl. However, in terms of maturity and adulthood, she still has a long way to go. Atticus, also being one of Scout's role models, is trying to guide her in the right direction by providing the suggestion to "climb in Jem's skin and walk around in it". I thought this was a funny picture to represent this quote: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6iifp1LS9ng/TJiwKMoWCYI/AAAAAAAAADY/hLrQC65lMvw/s320/cartoon+on+being+in+someone+else%27s+shoes.jpg
ReplyDeleteI think that Atticus is teaching Scout this lesson because obviously she doesn't see others perspectives, as most of you said. Learning how to put yourself in other people’s positions so that you can understand their feelings and actions isn't a lesson usually learn on ones own, since you are primarily set on your own opinion, but usually taught by others. Scout is not very careful in choosing her words wisely and lacks tactfulness. So this results in her not thinking of what she does/says and doesn't take the time to digest the other persons point-of-view.
ReplyDeleteThis picture kind of reminded me of Mrs. Dubose and Jem:
http://www.explosm.net/db/files/Comics/Matt/This-is-for-you-Grandma.-I-miss-you..png
A question that i have is why does everyone in Maycomb County know about Atticus's past with guns and why does he feel that he has to hide his past?
Movie VS. Book
ReplyDeleteIn the movie, Boo Radley's house seems like an ordinary house where in the book it is portayed as a scary, haunted place.
Jem seems much more annoying/bratty in the movie than the book. This is possibly a result of Scout annoying him too much, which rubs off on him.
Question: How does Atticus manage his role as a single parent in the novel?
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=father+and+kids+cartoon&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1600&bih=799&tbm=isch&tbnid=UGTGF2C4_xQI3M:&imgrefurl=http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/f/father__son.asp&docid=GzdJxRftFxJTDM&imgurl=http://www.car
To answer your question, Atticus really isn't the only parental figure in the novel- Calpurnia acts as a substitute motherly figure towards Scout and Jem, taking care of them, scolding them about their behavior, and treating them as if they were her own children. Atticus plays the role of a guide for Scout and Jem, a role model, teaching them about life and helping them develop as individuals. He also teaches them about having sympathy towards others.
DeleteDifferences between the movie and the novel
ReplyDeleteWell I have to say, it was a little disappointing to see how the scene between Scout and Miss Caroline was cut out completely from the movie. In the novel, this scene really brought out the ignorance of both Scout and Miss Caroline, two very different people coming from two very different points of view. Miss Caroline, having come from Northern Alabama, had no idea of how the Southerners lived, about what they valued or what their customs were. I even felt pity for her after her encounter with Burris Ewell later in the story. Scout, on the other hand, was born and raised in the South, orientated right from the start towards Southern ideals, not used to having a new system of teaching forced onto her. The two of them didn't get along, but having met each other both characters learned more about how people don't always think the same way as you- and sometimes you need that experience as a person to develop and learn to communicate with others.
This is the link to a picture of two soldiers going against each other in the Civil War since it Miss Caroline and Scout kind of remind me of these two opposing sides: http://g0203003.edublogs.org/files/2011/05/civil-war-soldiers1-300x2901-yzybfq.jpg
Hopefully a thought provoking question...
Why is Boo Radley depicted as a monster by everyone else when he really hasn't done anything to harm them? Is he a scapegoat, blamed and shunned by other people so that they may think more highly of themselves?
I agree with Sharon in saying that it was disappointing when the scene containing Scout's and Miss Caroline's argument was omitted. It really did bring up a good point that you must learn from other people's customs and experiences to develop as a maturing individual.
DeleteDifference between movie and book:
ReplyDeleteA very important difference that I noticed was Scout and Jem talking about their deceased mother. In the novel, Scout says that although Jem misses their mother, Scout does not remember her that much so she does not miss her. However, in the movie, they specifically show scenes where Scout thoughtfully fingers Atticus's watch with the inscription "to my beloved husband, Atticus", and where she talks with Jem before going to sleep. It is also shown that Atticus has listened in on their conversation. I believe the movie shows a more deep aspect of the Finch's past: about the pain that Jem and Scout went through when their mother passed away, and Atticus's loneliness without his wife. This shows an interesting perspective of the story, since the novel barely touches on Scout and Jem's mother. An inspirational picture about Atticus: http://www.motivationalpictures.net/demotivational-pictures/Thumbnails/Loneliness-Motivational-Picture.jpg
I agree with Michelle in saying that in the book, the story of Scout's mom isn't represented much, but in the movie, we learn about a lot of memories that Jem and Atticus have of her, and that Scout longs to remember those few years that she spent with her mom.
DeleteTo look at this from another perspective, there are many people who become angry at this kind of misunderstanding.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most overlooked people are teachers.And no I am not sucking up to them, but recently, on a math test, a student asked a couple hours after the test if the teacher was done correcting 150+ tests. Infuriated by this, the teacher refused to stay up grading tests and eventually returned our test much much later.
There were a few subtle yet important differences between the novel and the novel that I was able to pick up:
ReplyDeleteOne thing about reading a book and then seeing a movie is the interpretation of dialogue. The movie was an explanation of the book in the eyes of the director. For example, Jem did not have the crooked finger that the book mentioned. Similarly, the movie added an extra scene where an opponent of Atticus in court ridicules Atticus's client. Both these events were omitted in order to emphasize certain aspects. I believe that he included the courthouse scene to point out an exact and tangible form discrimination for the viewers.
Here is a picture I thought displays my point:
http://www.google.com/imgres?start=22&num=10&hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&biw=1280&bih=619&tbm=isch&tbnid=2hIX2nxUrkwe0M:&imgrefurl=http://tendollarthoughts.com/2010/03/15/shame-and-prejudice/
To all of you I ask:
Scout is a unique name. Why do you think that her father and Jem call her that? Do you think her name describes her character before Atticus began defending a Black man or her character in the face of ridicule?
I think Scout got her nickname for her attitude. We don't quite know when that nickname caught on, but I'm that she got it because she's like a "true scout". She's able to fit in even though she's a girl. She's tough and that's what a scout is.
DeleteI agree. Scout portrays a tomboy and is very unlike most girls. She wears overalls and prefers them over a feminine dress. Jem even mentions in the movie that Scout is becoming more like a girl day by day. This reveals that Jem considers his own sister as "one of the guys".
DeleteI agree with Rudy because I think one of the biggest differences between the book and the novel is the extra scenes that are created to add more personality to the characters.
DeleteNovel vs. Movie
ReplyDeleteThe novel and movie are similar in many ways but different in some because of the amount of depth given to us in the book. One big difference I saw was the movie didn't really explain the character's actions. For example when the scene of Scout tackling Cunningham. We wouldn't have quite understood why she did it if we hadn't read the book. The history of the Finches weren't mentioned in the movie either.
Because people's actions didn't seem to be explained in the movie:
http://www.hazelmchaffie.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/confused-person.png
One thing I found interesting about the movie was that the very beginning of the movie was exactly like the cover of the book. Scout was humming while slowly drawing a bird with scenes of a stopwatch during the credits in the beginning. I related that to cover of the book that has a bird and stopwatch.
The stopwatch seems to be an important object in the movie, and Atticus contains it. What does the object symbolize and why of all characters does Atticus have it?
The novel and the movie are very similar in some ways but there are very big differences. The novel goes into way more depth on the characters and the story and I feel like the movie rushed things that needed more emphasis. The movie also left out many aspects of the book and just didn't include many things. The movie also emphasizes the fact that Scout is a big tomboy. In the book however, it wasn't mentioned too much
ReplyDeleteThis shows how they portrayed Scout.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=scout+in+to+kill+a+mockingbird&num=10&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&nord=1&biw=1024&bih=653&tbm=isch&tbnid=JGoY_wT7edNAvM:&imgrefurl=http://keirsteade.edublogs.org/&docid=VInRFBRY2gdKwM&imgurl=http://keirsteade.edublogs.org/files/2009/12/scout.jpg&w=199&h=153&ei=tb4PT7TYGceOiALzm4DrDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=638&vpy=411&dur=1554&hovh=122&hovw=159&tx=109&ty=70&sig=118259877827534226871&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=122&tbnw=159&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0
I really agree with Frank because many of the characters in the movie were not portrayed as good as they were in the book. You didn't really know who the character were.
Deletehttp://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=PPfXgTltoS1yNM:&imgrefurl=http://andsomeplyers.blogspot.com/2010/06/pivo-resources-homeland.html&docid=_F-yG8cmsrk62M&imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KIL_g5RJUPY/TA0axJOLa1I/AAAAAAAAAL8/XCC93jDu9Ks/s1600/colliourefaces.JPG&w=1000&h=667&ei=ZL0PT4X4KsGviQL17rW9DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=680&vpy=184&dur=2472&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=200&ty=85&sig=113045695566455537382&page=6&tbnh=136&tbnw=183&start=102&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:102
ReplyDeleteA picture describing what I believe women were believed to be in the 1930s. Just housewives and people to be able to cook a meal for the men when they came home. Obviously, women are not like that but in the 1930s, the view on many things was murky and clouded.
In the movie, when Atticus was tucking Scout into bed, Scout asked what her inheritance was going to be. Atticus told her that he has kept jewlery for her from her mother. Now I would assume, a usual tomboy wouldn't be interested in those things but Scout's face lit up when he mentioned it. I just wanted to point out that this wasn't in the novel and I found it interesting.
I think that Atticus was trying to tell Scout to try to think about what it's like to be Jem; to think about Jem's actions and the reasons behind it. Atticus is trying to tell Scout that people in general always have a reason for what they do. She can't assume anything about their personality based on their actions.
ReplyDeletein the movie they dont show the scene where scout is at her first day of school. i feel that is an important part of the book for scout and the story itself. in the book that is where we get a glimpse of the other families and their struggles. walter cunnigham doesnt even have lunch so jem decides to invite walter to eat with them. it seems like the finches are the richest family in the town. they have all the food they want and live comfortably while other families struggle to feed each other. that is why i think the school scene is very important and should have been included in the movie.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1366&bih=624&tbm=isch&tbnid=3xgsWyyojjRQ3M:&imgrefurl=http://yawoot.com/post/3154&docid=E6BWGFbTXxdNfM&imgurl=http://img.yawoot.com/cf11ed30ad0395dd74c172c13b1e0802.jpg&w=914&h=608&ei=PMEPT-iQAaSWiQK-mqHJDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=635&vpy=156&dur=11433&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=97&ty=51&sig=115616534250998561341&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=181&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MOVIE AND THE BOOK:
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the movie's story line was very similar to the book but the movie seems to emphasize two main points 1) the childishness of Scout and 2)the fact that Scout's a girl. For example, in the movie Scout's very dependent on everyone else's opinion around her, showing that she's too young to make decisions on her own. Also, she's constantly rebelling from wearing dresses and wants to hangout with the guys, almost as if against being treated like a girl. I think that these two points that are hinted constantly throughout the movie show more of Scout's struggle to decide between what to be and what she's supposed to be.
Below is a link to an interview of three women that grew up in a similar situation like Scout's, and it brings up questions about what a girl was supposed to be like in the 1930s vs. how they actually were.
http://library.thinkquest.org/12111/girl.html
Movie vs. Novel
ReplyDeleteThe movie and the novel are very similar. The dialogue is almost exactly the same to the novel.
Differences stood out more to me than similarities, though. I noticed that Dill's aunt's name was different in the movie. In the novel, his aunt was Miss Rachel. In the movie, it's Miss Stephanie. A major difference that stood out to me was that the movie portrayed Scout as a tomboy but also showed more girliness in her. This really stood out when her face lit up when Atticus told her she was inheriting her mother's jewelry and when she said she was scared when they were going to the Radley house.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=scout+in+a+dress+to+kill+a+mockingbird&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1536&bih=838&tbm=isch&tbnid=9cLjwdsuFeTZyM:&imgrefurl=http://www.leofuchsarchives.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/scout/2355116&docid=1u7BfGgy1-KpQM&imgurl=http://www.leofuchsarchives.com/picture/1072%252520to-kill-a-mockingbird-mary-badham-scout-dress-in-mirror_c_leo_fuchs_photography_www.leofuchs.com.jpg%253FpictureId%253D2355116&w=700&h=425&ei=UcQPT4vwOImJiALNzN3NDQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=392&sig=113783152403870892726&page=1&tbnh=120&tbnw=196&start=0&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=142&ty=48
This wasn't in the movie. But, it's a picture of Scout in a dress smiled as she stands in front of the mirror. In the movie, she comes out irritated by the dress. Maybe she is secretly longing to be girlier, like her mother, maybe?
I agree with you about the hints of Scout's tomboyish demeanor diminishing a bit, but I don't think her eyes lit up, when she was talking to Atticus, because she was excited about new jewelry. I think it was more about her finally having a hand-me-down that she could remember her mom by, and relive memories that she would never have been able to recall before.
DeleteI think what Atticus is trying to tell Scout is that she should take the time to not only look at life from her perspective, but also Jem's. He is trying to get her to see where Jem is coming from and understand his point of view as well. They're both entirely different people with different bodies, minds, opinions, and responsibilities, and Scout has to understand that Jem is growing up, as she should be too. All in all, Atticus is telling Scout to respect her brother's decisions more, and do that by stepping into his shoes and watching the world through his eyes. Maybe changing her attitude towards Jem is only the first step in the bigger picture, which would be to overlook the discrimination and gossip in Maycomb and, like Atticus, Scout would be able to step over the differences in race and color and treat people equally.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tushara when she says that Atticus is training her to overlook race and the color of one's skin. As a defense lawyer for African Americans, Atticus has to deal with prejudice and racism everyday and often sees his colored clients wrongly accused of crimes they didn't commit. By making Scout open minded, he's avoiding her mind being polluted with the narrow minded mindset of the rest of the community.
DeleteEven though the movie incorporated dialogue from the book, some differences were set between the novel and movie. Probably to lower costs and decrease the total time of the movie, several parts,such as the teacher scenes, were cut out. However, in place of the narration from the book that described people in Maycomb, they added more dialogue to express the personalities of each person, as dialogue is also more open to interpretation that narration. It also adds scenes that give the people more character, such as the judge coming to ask Atticus of the Tom Robinson case, which was not included in the novel. Unlike narration, these scenes allowed people to form their own opinions of what kind of person each person is, instead of narration telling what they are like.
ReplyDeleteThis is what relates to what I am saying:
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=2Eb&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=587&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsb&tbnid=XCbsgp46jkeh2M:&imgrefurl=http://llamalima.xanga.com/730743454/individualism-being-alternative-for-the-sake-of-it/&docid=-1TW3YHFEjm_dM&imgurl=http://thehedge.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/individualism.jpg&w=683&h=868&ei=GMgPT4HVHITYiAKbqsXJDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=494&vpy=143&dur=5400&hovh=253&hovw=199&tx=147&ty=146&sig=102539723680526241487&page=1&tbnh=109&tbnw=86&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
When comparing and contrasting the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the movie based upon this book, there are many differences one can spot right off the bat. A major differenced that has been mentioned numerously is the extreme lack of detail. Many scenes from the plot are left out of the movie resulting in a weaker impression left on a reader of the novel. One detail left out of the movie was Scout’s strong dislike of her education system. Scout, being more advanced than her piers in terms of reading, finds her school days boring and anything but stimulating. In the movie, we never see Scout’s frustration with the school system and its elementary curriculum. Another huge detail that is left out is the town’s true terror of the Radley house and the infamous Boo Radley. When Scout describes the Radley house in the book, she mentions how anything that grew near it would kill you and how baseballs that flew over the fence and onto their lawn, were considered lost forever. In the movie, however, Atticus tells Scout and Jem to not go near the house again. This is the only sign of fear we see from the community. The children give a brief description and backround on the Radley household however I felt that the fear was more expressive in the novel. As someone mentioned earlier, the Radley house is not even portrayed as a place not to be trifled with. It seems like another ordinary house along the street. Other minor details are omitted as well such as the fact that when Jem returned to get his pants from the Raldey fence, they had not been mended and folded along the fence.
ReplyDeleteMy thought provoking question is: Was Mrs. Dubose a mockingbird? Could she really have been following the rest of society and mocking them in calling Atticus a “nigger lover” when in fact, she was a just, fair, and open minded individual who sought civil rights and fair treatment for African-Americans? Scout and Jem believed Mrs. Dubose was naturally bitter before learning of her morphine addiction. This could have been the contributor to her mental instability. The following picture shows that few are willing to break free from the lures of the bandwagon and pursue what they believe to be just. In a way, everyone on the bandwagon is a mockingbird. http://www.google.com/imgres?start=16&num=10&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1AVSX_enUS392US392&biw=1280&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=xOo_caiTM11hVM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/f/fads.asp&docid=gz5K-UVN
When Atticus tell Scout to “climb into his skin and walk around in it”, he clearly means that you can never judge a person right away until you fully comprehend their circumstances. Before telling Scout this, Atticus says that, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” Atticus is very right in saying this and teaches Scout that whether it be her teacher, Ms. Caroline, or one of the Cunninghams, nobody deserves to be judged right away until their life is taken into account.
Movie vs. Novel
ReplyDeleteIn the movie, you can spot very obvious parts that were taken out from the original story in the book. One part was the part where Miss Caroline is introduced and how Scout was told not to read, how Scout explained how the Cunninghams are, and also how she was punished. I think this was a very important part of the book and that it gives the reader insight of how the town is; a very close knit conservative town, but since it was taken out, the person watching may lose the feel of Maycomb County as opposed to someone who read the book.
Oops, forgot to post a thought provoking question!
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Do you think that the author made Scout, Jem, and Atticus's last name to be Finch on purpose? Why? How would this symbolize a part of the book?
My group had a discussion similar to this question. We related the finches to Charles Darwin. The Finches were the only ones seeing past this racial prejudice and "evolving," like the ones studied by Charles Darwin.
DeleteDifference Between the Movie and Novel
ReplyDeleteThroughout the movies, there were so many dialogues that were exactly the same as those in the book, but there were also some very obvious differences. One was that the scene of Scout explaining the "rules" of Maycomb County wasn't there in the book. Instead, the movie went straight to Scout's "fight" scene. Also, the scene in which Scout is reading to Atticus wasn't mentioned in the book, but I thought it was a welcome addition. This scene emphasized how little Scout really remembered and knew about her mother and how she was so happy, as well as curious, to finally have a keepsake that would allow her to relive memories which she would not have been able to access before. Also, like Rudy said, there was that scene in which the director emphasized how different Atticus really was, when he was wiling to first, take the case defending a "black man", and then believing what the client's story was. I think this scene was also a welcome addition because it outlined how badly African Americans were treated and how biased the general population was.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3llLFNZ-iLM/TVaUho4TPtI/AAAAAAAAABk/q79bsyr07Rc/s1600/discrimination.jpg
I felt this picture of a "white only" sign during the Civil Right Movement time was a good example of how blacks were forced to hide behind the whites in society as they weren't welcome, just because of their color and race, much like how that man talked about Atticus' black client at the courthouse.
My question is 'Even after so many years of being the same, why does Maycomb County remain the same and refuse to change traditions and discrimination? Are they scared, or are they merely proud Southern whites?'
I believe that Maycomb County remains the same because they resist change. They are scared of the unknown. When putting myself in their shoes, change is not greatly desired in a society where everybody can get along just fine within their racial territories. Unless a guaranteed and great benefit appears out of change, the citizens of Maycomb will not be willing to undergo the process of change.
DeleteAlthough the movie and the book are very similar, I think the two had different perspectives as to what was important for the reader/viewer to see.
ReplyDeleteFor example, the movie didn't show Scout's first day at school, but emphasized more on Scout hating her dress and beating up Walter. Although the book felt that it was important to show how smart and capable yet rebellious Scout is, the movie perspective felt that it was more important to show her strong and boyish personality. The movie spent a very short time and didn't even expand on Scout's advancement in academics and reading, but showed many points of Scout being tough and strong.
Also, the movie points out Scout's confusing longing for her mother. As she was too young to remember her mother, she doesn't miss her, but we can feel that she longs for her greatly. The movie takes time in showing Scout longingly fingering Atticus' watch, and talking to Jem about their mother. She does care, but she doesn't really know what to expect from a motherly figure. In the book, Scout's mother is spoken of, but not so much that it is a lasting thing to think about as it is in the movie. Again, I feel that in this way, the movie is also showing more about Scout's tomboy character, as maybe the absence of a mother may have made her tough and stronger than other girls her age.
http://hollywoodjesus.com/movie/harry_potter/15.jpg
Here is a picture of harry potter, because I feel that Harry potter's parental absence affected the way he grew up and his personality just as how Scout growing up without her mother affected her personality and her actions.
here is the URL for a picture, it shows the story of the ugly duckling; how he was shied away for being different because the other ducklings didn't understand that he might look different, but he is also handling his own troubles within him and trying to fit in. I think its important that we shouldn't discriminate towards others for being different. I think this is like how African Americans were discriminated. It reminds me of how even today, where situations for equality have improved, people still fear things that are queer or different to them.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Why is it hard for people to accept things that they can't understand?
I think the book relates to the quote at the top because its about understanding different people and their situations, Miss Caroline, Walter Cunningham, and others that will be introduced in the book. I feel like understanding a person before making judgements is an important part of accepting others for who they are. After all, everyone is mortal and we all deal with many of the same struggles and face the same fears in life.
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=781&tbm=isch&tbnid=Eu4F9Tn_GUE2pM:&imgrefurl=http://enlightenyourday.com/2008/04/09/great-lessons-and-a-little-zen-i-have-learned-on-stumbleupon/&docid=Oy7A3NMXzA_l6M&imgurl=http://enlightenyourday.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/sometimes-its-ok-to-be-different.png&w=541&h=462&ei=VNAPT--0CbDJiQKnnIS6DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=177&vpy=175&dur=1410&hovh=207&hovw=243&tx=65&ty=163&sig=105223650738207066216&page=1&tbnh=126&tbnw=156&start=0&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
"Why is it hard for people to accept what they can't understand," the answer lies within the question. If you don't understand something, then of course it is hard to accept because if you don't understand something, why would you accept it?
Delete@CarissaP
ReplyDeleteFor some reason my com doesn't let me reply directly. something to do with the javascript so yea..
I agree with you, I think misunderstandings can lead to a lot of conflict, sometimes people think that others will understand them, and they'll take it for granted. As in you example, I feel like the teacher thought the students understood the pressure she was in and was simply being inconsiderate and nagging her for the impossible.
Differences between the movie and book
ReplyDeleteThe movie and book had many similarities, but it also had some differences. Many of the scenes from the book were cut out from the movie. For example, Scout's conflict with her teacher when she first meets her is not shown which was a very important scene because it shows how two people act from two different places. Also the movie seemed more faster and not many of the character were explained well.
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1280&bih=933&tbm=isch&tbnid=6yjB0HLecTsoHM:&imgrefurl=http://vsual.co/2011/09/splitscreen-a-love-story/&docid=2c_FnNmZAZDFWM&imgurl=http://vsual.co/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/splitscreen.jpg&w=698&h=390&ei=-tEPT57eFoGkiQLu5-DqDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=174&vpy=208&dur=2526&hovh=168&hovw=301&tx=163&ty=99&sig=110007509539233274732&page=1&tbnh=116&tbnw=208&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
I think he means to understand it from their point of view. You have to understand how they are and that you can't just judge them from your point of view. Atticus is trying to say to Scout is to look at life from Jem's shoes and see how it is.
ReplyDeleteNovel vs. Movie:
ReplyDeleteAlthough it has the same storyline and same characters, watching the movie "To Kill A Mockingbird" and reading the novel provided two different experiences. The first distinction that I noticed right away is Scout's personality and maturity in both the movie and novel. In the novel, Scout, although young, is mature because at age 6, she has figured out how everything works in Maycomb County. It's hard to believe that she's still so young because of her extensive knowledge on how things operate. On the contrary, in the movie, Scout really seems like a kid. The movie begins with Scout drawing pictures and humming songs, like children normally do.
Quote Analysis:
"You never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" (30), wise words coming from a wise man. I believe what Atticus meant from this was that no one can understand a person better than himself, so sometimes only he knows what he's going through. Therefore, before you judge him or misunderstand, you should act as if you're that person and think the way he would. Therefore, you'll get a better understanding of what the other person's going through, so you won't accidentally make a mistake.
Thought-provoking Question:
Out of all the many lawyers in Maycomb, why has Atticus specifically been selected for this case?
Here are some questions to keep you thinking:
ReplyDeleteIn many other stories, many times the minor characters who act as some kind of secondary mentor, such as Calpurnia, do not act as fiercely as she does. Why does the author want to let Calpurnia be so harsh on Scout, instead being a traditionally kind mentor?
I believe that Calpurnia is not exactly HARSH to Scout. When Cal scolded her, it was because she was teaching Scout a valuable lesson to not look down upon anybody, no matter their financial situation, and that everybody who comes to their house is a guest and should be treated as one. I believe that Calpurnia plays the mother figure for Jem and Scout. She cares for them and teaches them the difference between what's right and wrong, just like a mom.
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DeleteI think this image pictures To Kill A Mockingbird perfectly because segregation(or racism) is a natural part of Maycomb, but Atticus, knowing it's wrong, is going against it and he's doing his best to fight for justice.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1600&bih=706&tbm=isch&tbnid=iKXEifQ07ElVUM:&imgrefurl=http://madamenoire.com/5964/are-american-schools-returning-to-segregation/&docid=zdA324rEEqJjbM&imgurl=http://cdn.madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/segregation.jpg&w=455&h=550&ei=Q9cPT620DefhiAK4nYjkDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=901&vpy=302&dur=1539&hovh=247&hovw=204&tx=127&ty=161&sig=117785602409512942585&page=1&tbnh=158&tbnw=131&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0
The question, what did Atticus mean when he said, "Climb into Jem's skin and walk around in it,” has been thoroughly analyzed and scrutinized by my peers in Room 19, yet as I scrolled down the aisle of comments I failed to recognize variation in the answers. However, while carefully reading over the question and taking each word into consideration, I noticed that climb means to ascend. This may be an unintentional meaning, but by replacing climb with ascend, Atticus wants Scout to rise up into Jem’s skin, or standard. Jem is older and he does not cause as much trouble as Scout, further explaining the logic behind Atticus’s choice of words. I am uncertain, but in this quote, Atticus may unintentionally degrade Scout and tell her to live up to Jem’s standards.
ReplyDeleteMovie vs Book: Overall, like all other movies based on based on books, the movie and the book were similar. Some of the sequential order was out of place, but everything flowed smoothly. I noticed that the movie stressed more so on the court case. The book never explained about the meeting with the Judge and Atticus, or about Scout, Jem and Dill sneaking to the courthouse either. This proves that the court case is the main topic of the movie and this court case will shape the plot and outcome of events. The movie does not have two parts like the book, so in order to have a single main idea, the movie combined parts and expanded on the court case.
The court case is centered on judging democratically, yet this is not so in the deep south. This link for the gif shows to not judge based on what is presented to you.
http://chzgifs.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/funny-gifs-dont-judge-too-quickly.gif
Question: Symbolism has a huge role in classic novels. What is the importance and symbolism of the watch?
When Atticus tells Scout to "climb into Jem's skin and walk around in it", I think he's trying to teach Scout to not be judgemental. Since Scout is a young girl, she has a innocent personality that doesn't fully understand what it means to walk in someone else's shoes. Therefore, Atticus is telling Scout to try to understand Jem from his point of view. No one will ever understand what another person feels and sees unless they walk in their shoes. After all, different eyes see different things.
ReplyDeleteNovel vs. Film
Like many other people had mentioned already, in the film, they don't have a scene that shows Scout first day at school. In the novel, it's explained how Scout starts out on the wrong foot with her new teacher and gets in trouble for trying to help Miss Caroline. Also, in the beginning of the movie, there's a scene where Jem wouldn't come down from the tree before Atticus left for work. However, this scene shows the stubborness of Jem's character.
PICTURE:
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1280&bih=626&tbm=isch&tbnid=CMDwVM-yZ15ReM:&imgrefurl=http://plantingwisdom.org/&docid=Juhhe90jkrAJAM&imgurl=http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvcv17VFr31qjstjjo1_500.jpg&w=500&h=375&ei=SOgPT_yfIpLUiAKj3bi5CA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=693&vpy=146&dur=110&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=173&ty=134&sig=118034686727218207208&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=175&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0
I think this picture relates to the quote above, "Climb into Jem's skim and walk around in it."
Movie vs. Book
ReplyDeleteIn Haper Lee's award-winning film, TKAM, Scout's teacher, Miss Caroline is not mentioned like she is in the novel. Without her Miss Caroline's input in the movie, Scout lacks the internal conflict of her still wanting to read and write with Atticus, although, she is forbidden by her teacher, which results with her not wanting to go to school. Also, without Miss Caroline, the movie lacks the background of the Cunninghams and the Ewells of how they either don't take money they cannot repay or only come to school for the first day.
http://www.google.com/search?hI=en&gl=us&biw=320&bih=356&site=images&+bm=isch&oq=first+grader+&aq=f&agi=&gs_upI=5334=T12678I0I13147127I19I0I0I0I614071
Provocative Question: Why is it that Scout and Jem call Atticus "Atticus" instead of "Dad"?
ReplyDelete