Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is maybe one of the top novels for many ardent readers! The theme of racism and the court scenes still gives you goosebumps!
After his argument when Atticus comes out of the court, all those who were watching get up as a mark of extreme respect! Nothing is told and no words are spoken but even if you are watching the movie or reading the novel you may feel like getting up and giving him a big salute!
Now there are so many such incidents which are notable in the novel but my favorite one is how an innocent girls innocent and true remarks dispels a mob! There was a video circulated recently which may or may not be true where a Robber goes to rob a store and take the money after hitting the owner! Then the owner’s daughter innocently gives him her candy! The thief then suddenly changes into a human being! Returns the money and leaves!
The same thing happens in the novel!
The young girl, Scout Finch, protects her father, Atticus, and Tom Robinson from a lynch mob through her innocent conversation and personal connection with one of the men, Walter Cunningham.
Unaware of the gravity of the situation, Scout runs into the middle of the tense semi-circle of men surrounding her father outside the jailhouse! In fact if you read the novel or watch the movie, you will be definitely on edge!
The whole sequence of mob dispersal is like a sequence which could be used to dispel a mob sometimes!
It starts with recognizing a Familiar Face! Scout searches the unfamiliar faces in the mob and recognizes Mr. Walter Cunningham Sr., the father of her classmate!
She then engages in Innocent conversation! Scout strikes up a friendly, one-sided conversation with Mr. Cunningham about his legal “entailment” and his son, Walter. She mentions that she goes to school with his son and asks him to “say hey” to Walter for her!
This whole scene then Humanizes the Situation!
This personal interaction forces Mr. Cunningham to see Atticus and the situation not as an anonymous conflict, but within the context of their shared community and personal relationships. Her innocence reminds him of his own family and responsibilities as a father!
By addressing Mr. Cunningham as an individual rather than a faceless member of a hostile group, Scout breaks the mob’s collective anonymity and hostility. This breaks the Mob Mentality!
In fact when confronted by a guileless child, Mr. Cunningham becomes embarrassed and ashamed of his violent intentions. He eventually tells the other men to leave, and the entire mob disperses peacefully.
Scout’s actions demonstrate the power of empathy and how seeing others as individuals can defuse even the most volatile situation!
Of course it may not work all the time!
Atticus also tells that it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird because they are harmless and only bring good things to the world by singing. He explains that while they can shoot other birds like blue jays (I do not agree with this also though but different time period so let it go!), they should protect mockingbirds since they do not harm anyone, and their only purpose is to make music!
Those statements now have become legendary! A true Legend also was shri
Hemant Kamlakar Karkare…
Your bravery will inspire many!
Shubh ratri…
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