To Kill a Mocking Bird Novel Evaluation in Relation to US History Book Reviews

To Kill a Mocking Bird is a novel that deals with serious issues of racial inequality and rape in the American society in 1930s. These are contemporary issues that affected the country during the time in which the book was written. The novel is written by Lee Harper and was published in the year 1960. The major issues of the novel involve destruction of people’s innocence and racial injustice (Johnson, 1994). This target audience of this book was the majority whites. Reading this book would make them realize the pains the African Americans went through. The novel became a model for many lawyers and a moral hero to the readers. Many scholars have noted that Harper addressed specific issues of compassion, racism, courage, class and gender roles in the Southern parts of America during the Civil Rights Movement. The characters and the plot of this novel are based on Lee’s observations, basically of her own family and neighbours. She also includes an event thought to have oc curred in her hometown at the age of ten. Therefore, the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird is a good source for history because it has very many lessons to do with decry prejudice, racism, and tolerance. It should be noted that the reader will gain a lot of educational information from the novel. Set in the town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930s, the novel represents the African Americans as victims of continued oppression and racial prejudice. The novel presents politics, the economics, race relations, social constructs, setting, race relations and environment of the time. Some parts of this novel relate to the issues of comfort and safety of children in the environment. The book also challenged the social constructs of the day. Status quo in this society was a big problem during the time of writing the novel. The African Americans in the novel do not have any political powers in comparison with their oppressors. The two races presented in the novel do not relate well with one another as there are increased cases of bigotry, racial hatred and discrimination (O’Neill, 2000). Having been set in the Deep South, the novel presents the societal setting and values in advancing better understanding the economic, political and social issues of the time. The reader will gain all these educational information from the novel. Although this novel was a success, there are several things about it that are misleading since it is a work of fiction. To begin with, the character of Atticus Finch is greatly exaggerated. In this novel, Atticus becomes a folk hero in the legal circles of the day and is also treated as if he were a real person. Sincerely speaking, there is no real-life person or lawyer who has ever done more for the public perception as compared to Finch. Therefore, Finch should be noted as a paragon in this novel. Also, the treatment of racial prejudice in Maycomb is not harshly condemned as it would be expected. This leads to a disparate perception that this novel had positive impact on racial relations although with an ambiguous reception (O’Neill, 2000). The presentation of black characters in the novel is not dimensional at all. Classical racial epithets and stereotyping of the blacks as superstitions appears to marginalize the blacks. Ideas like gender roles and race also appear over-ex pressed in the novel. Abusive fathers and absent mothers also make another important theme of the novel. Relating the novel to the time in which it was written, it should be noted that the average reader might be deceived when it comes to setting, dialogue and clothing in the novel. There is also a lot of stereotyping of the blacks (Lee, 1960). Basically, the novel condemns acts of racism other than the racists. For a white person to come up with a novel of this intensity is seen by many as protestation and the reason it is believed to have a number of misleading information. Basically, popular novels give information about the time in which they were written. For example, a novel like To Kill a Mocking Bird presents information about racism and injustice faced during the time of Civil Rights Movement in United States. Such novels had been written with the intent of changing people’s mindsets and address some of the issues affecting man (Lee, 1960). Depending on the kind of information available in a novel, it will make it appealing across time. This is why present readers can gain a lot of historical information and knowledge from popular novels. However, it is not an obligation of the author to provide to the reader historical correct context for a novel since it is a work of fiction. It remains the right of such an author to willingly give such kind of historical information. It is also necessary to note that some novels provide historical information about the time in which they were written. However, sometimes it does not matter whether the in formation is correct or not unless the novel is an historical presentation of a given event in time (Johnson, 1994). The accuracy of a novel will significantly depend on its use and the information presented by the author. For the case of the To Kill a Mocking Bird, the novel has a lot of historical information about the Civil Rights Movements in United States during the period in which it was written. It would therefore necessary for the author to present some information about the novel however this is not mandatory. In conclusion, the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird happens to be a good source of historical information because it has very many lessons to do with decry prejudice, racism, and tolerance. This novel presents the historical situations of the 1930s in the South parts of America (Bloom, 2006). Issues of racism, rape and social injustice have been presented in the exact manner in which they happened during the time of its writing. Despite some of the flaws in the novel, it still remains useful as a tool for teaching history. The novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird is up to this day renowned for its humour and warmth despite tackling serious issues of racial inequality and rape. This is therefore one of the greatest novels relating to the historical events of United States of the twentieth century. References Bloom, H. (2006). Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: New Press. Johnson, C. (1994). To Kill a Mocking Bird: Threatening Boundaries. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Lee, H. (1960). To Kill a Mocking Bird. New York: J.P. Lippincott Co. O’Neill, T. (2000). Readings on to Kill a Mockingbird. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Shields, C. (2007). Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Anabolic Steroids Use by Athletes A Threat to Body and Mind

Anything of worth or value in life must be worked for. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson In the world of sports today, anabolic/androgenic steroid use is a vast problem. Since its’ introduction into Russian weightlifting, it has been expanding with no signs of stopping. It has spread into every major sport, with usage by every age and race. The use continues to grow, even with a lengthy list of serious health, legal, and ethical concerns. Because of our societys adoration of muscle, athletes put their athletic goals higher on their priority list than their long-term health. From Hulk Hogan to Arnold Schwarzenegger, our heroes all fit the superhuman mold. The government has tried various laws and programs to cut down on usage, but these†¦show more content†¦The oil-based form is injected, usually into the hamstring or buttock, using large-gauge, reusable needles obtained on the black market (NIDA 7). Some users may share the needles needed to inject the steroids, and this may expose the users to the spread of AIDS. The only two oil-based steroids that are used in mass quantities are Deca-durabolin and Delatestryl (Yesalis 109). Because of the beneficial effects of steroid-use, many athletes are willing to risk their health. The name anabolic/androgenic steroids comes from the words anabolic, meaning growing or building, and androgenic, meaning masculinizing. Athletes take steroids because they significantly increase lean muscle mass, strength, and endurance by helping the body retain dietary protein (NIDA 3). At high levels of competition, everyone possesses God-given talent, so athletes look for that special edge. They see steroids as that edge that will put them over the top and make them a champion. They are willing to achieve this goal by any means possible, even if it includes entering an early grave. Along with the phenomenal muscle gains, though, steroids produce many terrible side effects. Many doctors believe that the long-term effects of high dosages include liver and kidney malfunction, liver cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and heart disease (James 2). Another problem with steroids is that the muscles may be unnaturally enhanced, but the tendons and ligaments do not receive anyShow MoreRelatedAnabolic Steroids And Its Effects On The Body1272 Words   |  6 Pagesremembered a friend telling him about what anabolic steroids had done for him and decided to try it, he would later regret that decision. Anabolic steroids are drugs that reciprocate certain natural hormones in the body such as the male hormone testosterone, which can improve endurance and performance and stimulate muscle growth. Even though anabolic steroids may provide the body image and results some adolescents want, they can be harmful to the adolescent body and mind, it’s not fair to those who ga inedRead MoreEssay about The Use of Anabolic Steroids in Society Today1215 Words   |  5 PagesThe Use of Anabolic Steroids in Society Today The use of steroids in our society today is very common, that is with prescription. But that is not the kind of steroids I am talking about, I am talking about Anabolic Steroids. Anabolic steroids are a very sensitive issue in the world of sports today. Even though the side effects are life threatening, men and woman alike continue to submit their bodies to this illegal drug. Anabolic steroids are taken either through pills or injected directlyRead MoreAnabolic Steroids in Major League Baseball Essay1824 Words   |  8 Pagesdebating about the anabolic steroids situation that is occurring in professional baseball today. 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Professional athlete James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers opinion on the matter is, â€Å" I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them tillRead MoreSports : Sports And Sports2137 Words   |  9 Pagesthis case the application of any regulations or limitations might only work in the short-term, however in the long run such an individual will find the opportunity to break the rules while not getting caught. Finally because morality is a state of mind imposed either by cultural, religious or philosophical values, it always evades dishonest behavior in order to avoid the anxiety caused by breaking those internal principles. An Individual who acts morally is likely to act in the way which not alwaysRead MoreSports : An Essential Component Of Education2418 Words   |  10 Pagesthis case the application of any regulations or limitations might only work in the short-term, however in the long run such an individual will find the opportunity to break the rules while not getting caught. Finally because morality is a state of mind imposed either by cultural, religious or philosophical values, it always evades dishonest behavior in order to avoid the anxiety caused by breaking those internal principles. An Individual who acts morally is likely to act in the way which not always

Preschool Age Free Essays

During preschool age, physical growth begins to slow down. It is much slower than it was during infancy. Children at the early childhood stage, children start to become taller and leaner as they mature. We will write a custom essay sample on Preschool Age or any similar topic only for you Order Now They will look more like adults than like infants by the end of early childhood. â€Å"During the ages two to six, children make great strides in the development of gross motor skills, which involves the large muscles used in movement â€Å"(Rathus, 2017). At four years old, she has a more complex physical development using both gross and fine motor skills. She has greater control over large muscles, such as her arms and legs. She is also able to coordinate multiple tasks at the same time, such as singing and building blocks as opposed to when she was a toddler. She is much more coordinated in her play than the younger children around her. In early childhood, children appear to acquire motor skills by teaching them selves in observing the behavior of other children and adults† (Rathus, 2017, p. 255). Thus, fine motor skills develop more gradually. Fine motor skills are all the small muscles used in manipulation and coordination. Control over the wrist and fingers enable children to, write, dress themselves and in her case the ability to stack blocks. While observing the child’s use of language, her comprehension and use of words is more sophisticated, she can make sentences and can understand what others are saying. She can talk in clear speech. She is quite self-assured and can understand the concept of conversation. Her language is more mature, her memory and imagination has developed and she is able to think more symbolically. Children’s language skills develop radically during the preschool years. Between the ages of three and five, egocentric speech starts to disappear. The child’s conversational language starts to show sensitivity to the listener, for example, the subject was taking turns talking and listening to her fellow classmates. By that age of four years old, some milestones children develop are the ability to ask adults and each other questions, taking turns talking, and partaking in longer conversations. â€Å"They have vocabulary of 1500-1600 words. They’re speech is fluent and their articulation is also good. Children can use five or six words in sentences and can now coordinate two sentences together† (Rathus, 2017 p. 301). How to cite Preschool Age, Papers