Analyzing Abstract Concepts
by Will Howard
Prejudice
- an opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason
Connotation
- sounds rude/very strong word to describe something
Association
- racism, civil rights, intolerance
Prejudice to me:
Prejudice is something that is an unreasonable intolerance, similar to what many people have faced. It is something that is very wrong, and is one thing that shows just how terrible the world we live in can be. Prejudice is also something that can be related to a lack of intelligence or education, that leads to illogical and unreasonable hate of people with little information.
Prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird
Prejudice is seen throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, but is specifically seen in several places. The beginning of chapter 9, has Scout in the schoolyard being picked on by Cecil Jacobs, because her father, Atticus, is defending a black man in court. Another example, is when Jem almost gets caught in the Radley's yard, but people just assume that it was a negro.
Prejudice in Our Society
Racism is one example in our society. My grandparents grew up very similar to Jem and Scout in the book, and they still hold the same views on race that they were raised with. Another example of prejudice in our society is with religion. People are becoming hateful towards those that want to practice their religion freely, like Muslims in America, or Christians in the Middle East.
The Picture of Prejudice
The picture above, is a simple depiction of prejudice. Someone left out or treated badly, because they are different. One thing the picture shows is the loneliness and terrible feelings that are experienced by those affected by prejudice. Prejudice is always a negative thing, and is never good for either party involved.
Courage
-the quality mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty
Connotation
-sounds positive, tough, heroic
Association
-heroism, bravery, military/first responder
Courage to Me
Courage is a combination of two things, selflessness and bravery. It is the willingness to do the right thing no matter the consequences. Courage is the being able to push yourself to the limit in order to serve/protect others.
Courage in To Kill A Mockingbird
At the end of chapter 11 in To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus describes Mrs. Dubose, as courageous and gives his reasoning. He says that courage is doing something even when you know you are beat from the start. Another example of courage is in chapter 9 when Atticus is explaining to Scout why he is defending Tom Robinson. He says it is the right ting to do, and he would not be able to represent his family or his people in the state legislature, if he did not do it.
Courage in Our Society
One example of courage in our society is the men and women in the military. They make many sacrifices, in order to keep the U.S. safe from threats around the world. A similar example is first responders. Fire fighters, police officers, and paramedics all risk their lives in order to keep people safe around the country.
The Picture of Courage
This picture is of a young man protesting in Tiananmen Square in China in 1989. This is exactly what Atticus was talking about when he explained courage. The boy knew he would either be run over, jailed, or shot, but he protested anyway because it was the right thing to do. He stood for what was right and for all the people in China under the oppressive rule of a communist government.
Injustice
-lack of fairness
Connotation
-arousing righteous anger
Association
-courts, judge, racism
Injustice to Me
Injustice is when there is an obvious lack of fairness that is in decisions, laws, or anything else. I think of injustices, when innocent men are sent to prison for a crime they did not commit. The greatest injustices, are when groups of people are treated terribly, and good people do nothing to stop the persecutors.
Injustice in To Kill A Mockingbird
In To Kill A Mockingbird, the most obvious example of injustice is the courts' verdict on Tom Robinson. They find him guilty, despite the lack of evidence and Atticus poking holes in the stories told by the prosecution's witnesses. It is a great injustice, that sadly was not uncommon during that time in the South.
Injustice in Our Society
Injustice in our society can be seen in similar ways to those in the book. The greatest example of injustice, has to be racism and discrimination that was embedded in our society for many years, and still exists today.
The Picture of Injustice
Injustice is unfairness, and one of the greatest injustices today is people starving throughout the world. Kids starve while we sit comfortable and eat ourselves sick everyday in the west. There are many efforts to provide for these people, but there are so many people, it is very difficult to take care of them. It is extremely unfair and unjust.