Hatred: to detest or loathe. How can this textbook definition even begin to describe true hatred? In
the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus' idea of prejudice does not define the har
sh reality of the hatred that exists in Maycomb County. Atticus believed that if even one person sto
pped being prejudiced, it would make a big difference. He taught his children to accept everyone for
who they are, regardless of race or social standing. As a result, Atticus' misconception of evil be
came dangerous for him and his children. His misunderstanding of the extreme hatred in Maycomb almos
t cost him his children's lives. Atticus believes that if even one person reconsiders being prejudic
e, it will make a difference. In the novel, Atticus' morals and values are very high. He is not raci
st and treats everybody the same: in a courteous and gentlemanly manner. Atticus gains the respect o
f some of the people in Maycomb County by acting in such a way. The people in Maycomb showed their a
ppreciation for Atticus's taciturn fight against racism and hatred in many different ways. Atticus w
as not afraid to defend Tom Robinson to his full extent, he believed every person had the right to a
fair trial and believed Tom's innocence, even though he was black. As expected, Atticus did not win
the case, but gained the respect of the black community. They were very happy that for once somebod
y was listening and sticking up for them. They showed their respect in a very open way: As a sign of
respect and a thank you, the black community gave Atticus a great deal of food. "Atticus's eyes fil
led with tears. He did not speak for a moment. 'Tell them I'm very grateful', he said. 'Tell them-te
ll them they must never do this again. Times are too hard©'"(213). He was very taken aback by this.
Even though he had only done a little bit to help, the black community helped Atticus realise that w
hat he had done had been worthwhile. Another person in the novel who appreciated Atticus' work was M
s. Maudie. She showed her appreciation by talking to Jem and Scout about how proud she was of him. "
'©Atticus Finch won't win, he can't win, but he's the only man in these parts who can keep a jury ou
t so long in a case like that'"(216). Ms. Maudie also recognised Atticus' baby-step towards defeatin
g some of the injustice that exists in Maycomb. She gained even more respect for Atticus because of
the way that he made the jury realise that Tom was an individual, not just a "nigger". Even though a
great deal of the town appreciated what Atticus did, a large portion was resentful towards him. Man
y children at school taunted Scout and Jem, saying that their dad was a "nigger lover". Even in Atti
cus' own family there was resentment towards him; Aunt Alexander did not think it was appropriate fo
r him to be defending Tom Robinson. Through all this outward resentment of the town towards Atticus,
a strange thing happened. "©people were content to re-elect him to the state legistlature that year
, as usual, without opposition"(243). The town seemed unforgiving towards him for defending a "nigge
r", but at the same time they re-elected him to be on the state legislature. So, the town silently a
ppreciated what he had done. Atticus made a baby-step towards defeating some of the hatred that was
in Maycomb and the town approved of his efforts. Although Atticus had an idea of what hatred was, an
d how to defeat it in his own small way, he still did not understand its full effects. As well as im
parting his beliefs on the town, Atticus was a good parent, and taught his children good morals and
values. Atticus taught his children to accept everyone, regardless of race or social standing. He be
lieved in treating people as individuals, rather than groups. "'Do you defend niggers, Atticus?' I a
sked him that evening. 'Of course I do. Don't say nigger, Scout, that's common.' 's what everybody a
t school says'"(75). Atticus knows that racism is bad and teaches Scout the same. During the court c
ase, it was very hard for Scout to act in a civil manner towards other children making fun of her da
d. Atticus gave her some good advice: "'You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one
thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down'"(76). Atticus kno
ws his children well, he knows that they are going through the same rough time as he is with the cas
e. Scout is not being treated fairly by her classmates; they are acting in an unjust way towards her
. Atticus knows how apoplectic Scout can get, so he asks her to just keep being civil and not to mak
e it any worse by fighting. Atticus teaches his children about racism, injustice and prejudice: "'As
you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you so
mething©whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how f
ine a family he comes from, that white man is trash'"(220). Atticus teaches his children about injus
tice, he gives them good advice and high morals. Although he is able to elucidate injustice to his c
hildren, he is still unable to understand its full extent. His misunderstanding became dangerous for
his children. Atticus' misconception of evil became harmful for him and his children. His morals an
d values were so high that he could not even conceive of how people could hate each other so much. '
" It's not okay to hate anybody'"(246). Atticus believes that it is not okay to hate anyone no matte
r what hurt they may have caused you. This seems good in theory because by hating someone back all y
ou are doing is continuing the cycle of hatred. In reality, it is virtually impossible to just forgi
ve and forget. In the case of Bob Ewell, Atticus did not take his threats seriously when he should h
ave. Atticus knew that Ewell had a grudge against him, but because he could not comprehend true evil
he just thought Bob was a little upset because Atticus made him look like a fool in court. "'We don
't have anything to fear from Bob Ewell, he got it all out of his system that morning'"(218). Even t
hough Bob had threatened Atticus and sworn to get him back he did not listen to him. Atticus' neglig
ence and in not understanding how deep prejudice and evil goes in Maycomb almost cost him his childr
en's lives. Because Atticus did not take Ewells threats seriously he attacked the children. Without
the help of Boo Radley both Jem and Scout could be dead. Even after the attack, Atticus could still
not understand how a man could hurt children to get back at their father. "'I can't conceive of a ma
n who'd-'"(269). Atticus couldn't even bring himself to say the words. He does not comprehend how so
meone would try to murder children as revenge on him. Instead, Atticus made up excuses that Bob was
out of his mind, that he was drunk. In reality, Bob Ewell was full of hatred that was so deep Atticu
s could not even conceive of it. He was naïve and oblivious to how low some people can get. Atticus'
idea of hatred does not begin to describe its true meaning. Atticus' idea of hatred does not define
the reality of the prejudice existing in Maycomb. He knew what injustice was, and how to begin defe
ating it, but could not comprehend its deepest effects. Atticus was able to explain what he knew abo
ut hatred to his children, but did not fully understand it himself. He could not conceive of such de
ep prejudice and it almost cost him his children's lives. Atticus learned that his textbook idea of
hatred did not define its true meaning. In conclusion: "Those who are incapable of committing great
crimes will not easily suspect others of doing so"(Francois, Duc de la Rochefoucauld).hatred detest
loathe this textbook definition even begin describe true hatred novel kill mockingbird harper atticu
s idea prejudice does define harsh reality hatred that exists maycomb county atticus believed that e
ven person stopped being prejudiced would make difference taught children accept everyone they regar
dless race social standing result atticus misconception evil became dangerous children misunderstand
ing extreme maycomb almost cost children lives believes that even person reconsiders being prejudice
will make difference novel morals values very high racist treats everybody same courteous gentleman
ly manner gains respect some people maycomb county acting such people showed their appreciation taci
turn fight against racism many different ways afraid defend robinson full extent believed every pers
on right fair trial believed innocence though black expected case gained respect black community the
y were very happy once somebody listening sticking them they showed their respect very open sign tha
nk black community gave great deal food eyes filled with tears speak moment tell them grateful said
tell them tell must never this again times hard taken aback this though only done little help commun
ity helped realise what done been worthwhile another novel appreciated work maudie showed appreciati
on talking scout about proud finch only these parts keep jury long case like maudie also recognised
baby step towards defeating some injustice exists gained more because made jury realise individual j
ust nigger though great deal town appreciated what large portion resentful towards many school taunt
ed scout saying their nigger lover family there resentment towards aunt alexander think appropriate
defending robinson through outward resentment town strange thing happened people were content elect
state legistlature year usual without opposition town seemed unforgiving defending nigger same time
elected state legislature silently appreciated what done made baby step defeating some approved effo
rts although idea defeat small still understand full effects well imparting beliefs good parent taug
ht good morals values taught accept everyone regardless race social standing treating individuals ra
ther than groups defend niggers asked evening course scout common everybody school says knows racism
teaches same during court case hard civil manner other making gave good advice might hear ugly talk
about school thing will just hold your head high keep those fists down knows well knows going throu
gh rough time with being treated fairly classmates acting unjust apoplectic asks just keep civil mak
e worse fighting teaches about racism injustice prejudice grow older white cheat every your life som
ething whenever white does matter rich fine family comes from white trash teaches injustice gives ad
vice high morals although able elucidate still unable understand full extent misunderstanding became
dangerous misconception evil became harmful values were could conceive could hate each other much o
kay hate anybody believes okay hate anyone matter hurt have caused seems theory because hating someo
ne back doing continuing cycle reality virtually impossible forgive forget ewell take threats seriou
sly when should have knew ewell grudge against because could comprehend true evil thought little ups
et made look like fool court have anything fear from ewell system morning threatened sworn back list
en negligence understanding deep goes almost cost lives take ewells threats seriously attacked witho
ut help radley both dead after attack still understand hurt back father conceive couldn bring himsel
f words does comprehend someone would murder revenge instead excuses mind drunk reality deep conceiv
e oblivious idea begin describe true meaning define existing knew begin defeating comprehend deepest
effects able explain knew fully himself such deep almost cost lives learned textbook define meaning
conclusion those incapable committing great crimes will easily suspect others doing francois rochef
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