Race, Class, and Gender in To Kill a Mockingbird: Crash Course Literature 211

In which John Green teaches you MORE about To Kill a Mockingbird. In this installment, John teaches you about race, class, and gender in the American south, as seen through the eyes of Scout and Harper Lee. John will talk about how Scout learns about these aspects of the social order as she interacts with the people of the town, learns from Calpurnia, watches the trial of Tom Robinson, and endures the attack of Bob Ewell. You'll also learn a little bit about Demi Moore and Mila Kunis, and John will ask just who is the Mockingbird, anyway? Not that he'll answer that, but he'll ask it.

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[domsusefulstuff]

So once upon a time we were in literature class and I tap my friend and say, "I need a phrase that describes the way Atticus' goes ahead with the trial with full enthusiasm even though he knows he's going to lose."
Without losing a beat that smart bastard spits out, "fatalistic resignation". I haven't forgotten it in 20 years.

[Kitsune]

My favorite thing my 11th grade teacher pointed out to us was the women who were trying to 'save' those Africans, saying how uncivilized they were, how they didn't know the fathers of the children so the whole village raised them. My teacher said if the people of Maycomb raised the children together as the 'uncivilized Africans' did, the Ewell children wouldn't be dirty, covered in lice and uneducated. It wouldn't have taken Mayella weeks to gather a few nickles just to get the kids ice cream. She said every society is uncivilized in its own way and the abandoning of the Ewell children was one example of Maycomb's uncivil-ness.

[yoyo]

I died because I remember that Calpurnia said " If he wants to eat the table cloth you let him"

[aviviavai]

I'm surprised you didn't talk about the scene where Scout does become comfortable with the notion of femininity and that it is not inherently bad, only different. And that the women around her, including Calpurnia, do give her insight to what it means to be 'ladylike' without actually telling her, and she can do that when she's good and ready for it (because let's face it, she puts her overalls back on and runs around with the boys again anyway.) If you're going to talk about gender, it's a pretty important scene.

[pigcatapult]

Out of all the fictional men in all the books I've ever read, I think Atticus Finch is the one I admire the most. His unshakable integrity is something I wish I could live up to.

[GlitterIsLikeHerpes]

In my opinion, Atticus was the mockingbird. If you research mockingbirds, you'll find that they are docile creatures until their neat is threatened. When I found that, I could only think of Atticus. If it was up to him, he wouldn't harm a fly, but if Jem and Scout are in danger, he would do whatever it takes. Take the scene with Tim Johnson for example. Atticus didn't take pride in his shooting skills because he believed he was more than just a good shooter, so he decided to hide it. However, when he fears his neighborhood may get hurt, he steps up to the plate. Over all, Atticus is just an amazingly well written character and will forever be one of my favorites.

[MnMPryoBanana]

For me, the most touching scene in the movie adaptation was when the Blacks stood up when Atticus Finch left the courtroom. For me, it was not the respect that they paid that touched me but the manner in which Atticus Finch left the room. It tells me that he felt guilty and ashamed that, he could not save that innocent man's life.

I guess it appeals to me because although humans have gone so far in issues like slavery and discrimination against race, religion, gender and  sexual preferences, we still have so far to go. For instance. The killing and torture of animals for food. The destruction of their natural habitats and probably many other issues that I am still too naive to see. The guilt and shame I felt for being part of it allows me to empathize with the moment Atticus Finch left the room. The mocking bird in the title to me represents Atticus Finch. He is the man who who sings the ''truth''. To try to live his life in the right way in an unjust society but instead of being rewarded, he put his loved ones lives in danger. Since to kill his children's life is to kill him, thus the title ''to kill a mocking bird.'' Society's punishment for people who speak up for what is right in a society does wrong. 

[chansondelapluie]

In English class we discussed how Mayella could also be seen as a mockingbird. While she does ultimately do harm, all she really wants is affection, and she is "shot" by unfortunate circumstances and her abusive father, for which there is no justification. She is a victim - not quite an innocent victim, but a victim nonetheless.

[GraceMcFadden]

ugh they need to keep doing crash course literature

[aeri]

At 10:38, John Green mentioned that it could also be Katniss Everdeen. Who laughed/smiled at this one?

[fireflamefine]

I JUST NOW REALIZED THAT JOHN GREEN WAS THE SAME JOHN GREEN WHO IS AN AUTHOR. 😳 face palm

[elibernard]

I shall use this knowledge to pass my English midterm. THANK YOU.

[meredithaguilar]

I'm actually watching this because I like it. Not because of studying or school. 😂😂😂

[auspicious]

Wait, this is the guy who wrote The Fault in Our Mind blown.

[crashcourse]

In which John Green  teaches you MORE about To Kill a Mockingbird. In this installment, John teaches you about race, class, and gender in the American south, as seen through the eyes of Scout and Harper Lee. John will talk about how Scout learns about these aspects of the social order as she interacts with the people of the town, learns from Calpurnia, watches the trial of Tom Robinson, and endures the attack of Bob Ewell. You'll also learn a little bit about Demi Moore and Mila Kunis, and John will ask just who is the Mockingbird, anyway? Not that he'll answer that, but he'll ask it.

Race, Class, and Gender in To Kill a Mockingbird: Crash Course Literature 211

[rane]

“Scout I don’t want to cast dispersions but that’s literally the definition of communism.”
That quote is amazing. I laughed so hard

[witchesandwillow]

I would love a Crash Course on Fahrenheit 451.

[Pokemarky]

"That's what makes it endearing, but also what makes it enduring."

After the second it took me to parse this, I smiled one of the biggest smiles I've smiled in a while.

[thenameisizzi]

Good Luck to any GCSE English Lit students!

[amandalovelace]

This novel was a major part of my life. I remember distinctively my mother sitting on the couch next to me watching the film version. She always watches old movies so I didn't pay attention the first half hour. But when the court scene came up, I closed my computer and paid full attention on how elegantly and courageously Atticus Finch delivered his speech. I was blown away, and honestly it's what started my adventure towards classic novels. Also what started my fascination with society, and led me to my love of psychology.