America in the 1960 – 1970 where the world was built around prejudicial opinions related to race and gender. Even though many years have passes, society has developed and changed but courage in the face of adversity has evolved in the film and illustrated in many lives today. The 2011 version of The Help produced by Tate Taylor compared to the 1962 film adaptation of Harper Lee’s famous ‘’To Kill A Mockingbird’’ are two films that represent Courage in the face of adversity. The two characters Atticus Finch and Aibileen Clark are both portrayed as characters who show couagre in the face of adversity, however the contrast in their actions deliver meanigfulness, however the contrast in their actions deliver meaningful actions and messages about racial prejudice. The Help’ and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ both demonstrate the power of courage in the face of adversity.
During the 20th century people of a different race experienced brutal recsism and racial segregation became the law in most parts of the American South until the civil rights Movement. The many segregation laws placed throughout America made life extremely difficult and hard for people of a different race. The Jim Crow Laws were established in the late 19th and early 20th century, these laws were put in place to reinforce the senseless idea that black and white lives could be ‘’separated but equal’’ in the state of America. These social matters are often represented throughout the film and present in lives today, specially in ‘’To Kill A Mockingbird’’ and The Help. Both these films are a representation of ‘’courage in the face of adversity’’, which can be defined by countless characters through each film. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Courage is the power of the mind to overcome fear’’ (Murry 2017). ‘’To Kill A Mockingbird’’ centers around a white male lawyer who decides to take on the case of defending a black man who was accused of raping a young white women in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. Similar to the film ‘’The Help’’ is a tale of a black women in the town of Jackson, Mississippi who risks her freedom and life to collaberate with a white women about writing an artical about black lives and there perspective of life.
It can be stated that the characters Aibileen Clark and Atticus Finch both share many of the same similarities and beliefs towards racisms and equality when standing up for what is right and what they believe in. In ‘’The Help’’ Aibileen conveys courage in the face of adversity by agreeing to help skeeter write a book about her life as a black woman and the challenges and experiences she has faced been a black maid. In regard to this, Aibileen was asked ‘’Do you think you’d be willing to help me with those ‘’Miss Myrna’’ letter?’’ () When first given the offer to tell her side of the story Aibileen shuts it right down because of the consequences she will receive if caught. Once given time to think the offer over Aibileen decided she wanted to tell her story to the world and explain what is was like been black women/maid in America. Aibileen shows courage when agreeing to help skeeter write her article on black maids because if Aibileen is caught the consequences result in jail time or even the death penalty. Comparatively, in ‘’To Kill A Mockingbird’’ Atticus Finch demonstrates the message of showing courage in the face of adversity, by attempting to save a black mans life after been wrongly accused of raping a young women just because of his race. The judge went by Atticus house to inform him the news of Tom Robinson’s case ‘’Grande jury will get around to charging him tomorrow. I thought I’d let you now it’s your case’’ (page 34). Atticus was quick to reply ‘’Yes, sir’’(page 35). During a conversation with Tom Robinson the man accused of rape, Atticus states ‘’ I’m going to defend him to the best of my ability. Every man has the right to a fair trial. No matter race or color’’ (page 55). This shows that Atticus is emotionally involved in the case against Tom Robinson, and that Atticus genuinely wants to make sure that Tom is treated as equal as any other man to go on trial.
During both films, Aibilieen and Atticus true intentions and courage is revealed, easpecially towards the end, where both characters demonstrate courage in the face of adversity. Aibilieen’s actions towards Hilly when standing up for herself and skeeter when agreeing to help write her book even though there are consiquences. Many of the other characters veiw Aibilieen as courages due to the fact that she stood up to a person of colour. When Aibilieen stood up to Hilly for been accused of stealign because she is of different race. Miss Hilly clearly states ‘’Maybe I can't send you to jail for what you wrote, but I can send you for being a thief’’. This is all because Miss Hilly did not agree with the book Aibileen contributed to and did not want her name to look bad. It subtly applies that because of Aibileen’s race she is classed as a thief and can the trusted. Even though the statement was confronting and terrifying for Aibileen it still reassured her to stand up for herself and how courage. The white women characters are written to constantly suit and uphold the black maids as courageous woman. On the other hand, Atticus’s actions towards Tom Robinson validate courage in the face of adversity and in the film his children view him as a courageous man, due to the fact that he stands up for people no matter race or gender. Atticus daughter Scout bluntly ask him why he would choose to represent a man of a different race, he responded with, ‘’For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my head in town’’. This clearly shows that Atticus has true intentions and wants to prove that just because Tom Robinson is of a different race, his life is just as equal as any other man or women in town.
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The Help and To Kill a Mockingbird: Courage in the Face of Adversity.
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