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Views on Tolerance: Batman and To Kill a Mockingbird

Tolerance, one of the many words whose meanings have been altered and are now different from what they once were. Through slang or simple misuse, these words are now changed forever. Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, has converted the meaning of tolerance back to its original definition. She uses many characters to reinstate the meaning of tolerance, some of which are Scout, Mrs. Dubose, and Heck Tate.

The first character Lee uses is Jean-Louise Finch or Scout. Scout is a young, learned girl who plays the role of the narrator in this story. Scout is very much like Robin from Batman. They both are very curious, eager cadet like sidekicks to their partners (Atticus and Batman). Scout constantly wonders about various things while Robin wonders if his parents are still alive. They are both very defensive when it comes to either of their parents. Neither of them could get through life very easily if they didn’t have, for Scout, Atticus and Batman for Robin.

Lee’s next character is Mrs. Dubose, a seemingly wretched old woman dislike by both Jem and Scout. Everyday Jem and Scout walk by her house everyday. She usually heckles them about either the way Scout dresses or about Atticus being a “nigger-lover.” Mrs. Dubose is the first person Jem has to really try to tolerate. A great example of what Jem goes through with her is from Star Wars; Chancellor Palpatine, the Emperor, pulls Anakin to the Dark side, in this instance tolerance, since their first encounter. Without Mrs. Dubose the purpose of the first chapters is meaningless.

Lee uses a number of characters to pose as symbols of tolerance, one of which is Heck Tate. To the well educated reader, the author uses Mr. Tate as a symbol that keeps tolerance in the minds of the citizens of Maycomb. If one was to compare him to Batman, he would be the CP (Chief of Police) of Gotham City. He dislikes what Batman, once again Atticus, does but knows that if Batman didn’t do it no one would. Then people would get hurt without good reason.

Tolerance is the overall theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. It pulls the story together, teaching the reader the importance of tolerance. Atticus brings up his kids in a way that someday they too will b heroes like Batman; heroes of tolerance.