To Kill a Mockingbird Identity - 1239 Words

OUR SURROUNDINGS AND THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES SHAPE OUR IDENTITY. Good morning ladies and Gentlemen. Do our surroundings and the people in our lives shape our identity? I will explore how this quotation is reflected in the novel â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† by Harper Lee, the film ‘Witness’, by Peter Weir, and the film ‘The Lion King’ by Roger Allers. The meaning of identity is not easily defined. Identity generally refers to the stable defining characteristics of a person that makes them an individual. I will explore a number of parallel themes evident in all three texts; the influence of courage, violence, discrimination, religion and the revolutionary nature of the protagonists whose identity is shaped by these themes. Harper Lee†¦show more content†¦However it also indicates his inability to denounce violence when he states ‘It’s my way’. Towards the end of the movie Book has demonstrated that he was able to forego violence in favour of a peaceful resolution. Book initially finds it difficult to assimilate into an Amish lifestyle. Having to live by their moral code sees Book as more accepting and respectful of their belief structures, as seen when he represses the use of violence when confronted by the English at the end of the film. As outlined it is evident in the film ‘Witness’ that the main characters identities are shaped by their surroundings and the people around them. ‘The Lion King’ by Roger Allers features Simba, a young lion cub, struggling to find his place in ‘the circle of life’ who eventually matures into his father due to his strong influence shaping his identity. His father, King Mufasa teaches Simba the ‘delicate balance of nature which bonds all animals together’, and cautions him to prepare for the day he will be called upon to rule shown by the quote, â€Å"Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance, and respect all the creatures.† Mufasa and Simba share a special bond and throughout the film his identity begins to emulate that of his fathers. Simba develops a strong belief structure based on courage and respect due to his father’sShow MoreRelatedExamples Of Identity In To Kill A Mockingbird874 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout history, different people have many struggles with their identity and trying to figure out who they are. When I was younger, I struggled with my identity and who I was to my family and my friends. I did not know how to be myself without being called names or being looked at funny. At the house I would act one way towards my parents and my siblings, and at school I would act differently towards my friends to fit in. This time period of my life is well conveyed throughout different charactersRead MoreAnalysis Of Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird1210 Words   |  5 Pagesthat we grow to learn from who and what surrounds us, things that help to form our identity. Prejudice is an inte gral theme in Harper Lee’s, To Kill A Mockingbird. Prejudice is evident throughout the novel, not just in the appalling racism but also through, prejudice against different sexual orientations, gender constructs and feminism. Society had certain constructs that had to be met. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee breaks the bounds to overcome barriers, and challenge social constructs. ThisRead MoreWhat Makes Lees To Kill A Mockingbird a Literary Classic1008 Words   |  4 PagesTo Kill A Mockingbird is a prime example classic modern literature, having won the Pulitzer Prize. Elements that have helped deem worthy of such classification, consists of its exploration of universal themes, the memorable and relatable characters who help define the story, and its addressing of issues that even now are common in today’s society, being able to evoke thoughts and emotional responses from its audience, helping them to define the world around them. It truly is a masterpiece. To beginRead MoreCircumstances Affect The Development Of Identity1575 Words   |  7 PagesDevelopment of Identity: Did you know two thirds of the world is affected by something that may have not even occurred close to their country? So many things in this world including people can change who an individual really is. Things such as trends and people’s judgment are the major issues today that people do not seem to be who they actually are. There is nothing that can really be done about this, since people acting as themselves seem to be judged. Just like Scout in the novel To Kill A MockingbirdRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Reflection Essay744 Words   |  3 PagesTo Reflect on Mockingbird To Kill A Mockingbird reflected the contentious race relations of the 1930’s-1960’s, and sparked nationwide examination of racism. There are countless court cases that closely resemble the trial that took place in the novel, such as the Scottsboro Trials. The book was published right before the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement. In the years after the book’s publication, the Freedom Riders made their famous trip across the South, and the March on Washington took placeRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird And Kindred Essay735 Words   |  3 PagesBryah Spruill Ms.Rorke English 9 GT 31 October 2017 â€Å"My potential is more than can be expressed within the bounds of my race or ethnic identity† (Ashe). Throughout the novels, â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† and â€Å"Kindred†, the authors address important issues like social and racial injustice, racism, and discrimination in our history. In â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird†, we follow young Scout and Jeremy as they began to discover the true meaning of discrimination. In â€Å"Kindred†, we follow a young woman as she travelsRead MoreRacism In America Essay1559 Words   |  7 Pagesinspired Harper Lee to begin writing. the perfect time for Harper Lee’s internationally acclaimed novel; To Kill A Mockingbird to be released. Unlike laws, novels have the power to change attitudes. Few novels have had such a sustained impact on society’s views of education, identity and racism. The novel has sparked international debates, at its time of release. In 1960, when To Kill a Mockingbird was published, much of white America viewed the coming together of the races as immoral, dangerous, andRead MoreDangerous Social Forces1185 Words   |  5 Pagesthem. Social forces influence identities and become dangerous. Gender, race, time and place are just three social forces. All can have negative effects associated with them, the stereotyping of gender, saying that a girl has to dress nice, or cook in the kitchen, race and being discriminated against for not being a certain color, or even how being in a certain place can affect a persons identity, on the way they should act. Using references from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and other variousRead MoreSocial Forces in to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 768 Words   |  3 Pagesthe world has their own identity; have you ever thought about what your identity is? Identity plays a big role in the world especially in America where not all identities are good. People might identify a weal thy person as â€Å"snotty rich† or a poor person as â€Å"defective† or maybe someone calls a man a woman when theyre really a man. Or maybe you call someone a terrorist just because they are middle eastern. The list goes on and on and thats why social forces influence identities and can become dangerousRead MoreTalk About Scout And The Married Women1295 Words   |  6 Pagesnovel too, and end in your topic sentence. How would you feel if you were a woman that lived in the harsh 1930’s? A woman’s life was very hard, and some people wanted it to change in real life and the book. Scout and the married women in To Kill a Mockingbird are pushed by the men to work hard everywhere without a reward. Women were expected to come home and do everything like cleaning and making dinner. If they had children, then they were expected to take care of them after they finished working