ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: DoubleZo7 on September 03, 2018, 08:52:50 pm

Title: EMERGENCY! HELP! Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird
Post by: DoubleZo7 on September 03, 2018, 08:52:50 pm

What are the differences between Lennie in Of Mice and Men and Tom Robinson & Boo in To Kill a Mockingbird?


Also, any tips on writing a body paragraph comparing Lennie and Tom & Boo as "mockingbirds"?

Just for reference, my topic is Power and its abuse is at the heart of both texts. Discuss

Thanks so much!

Title: Re: EMERGENCY! HELP! Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird
Post by: OZLexico on September 05, 2018, 04:49:29 pm

I'm not sure if my comments actually answer the question but here goes ... trying to focus on that idea of "power", Lennie is dependent on George's power over him. This "power" is in the form of George's protection of Lennie (though they both benefit from a combination of George's persuasion and Lennie's brute strength for work). There's also that idea of the "power" of the dream of their shared future on a little farm of their own. At the end of the novel George has "power" over Lennie's life and death. Tom Robinson, I think, relies on the "power" of his good reputation as a hardworking man and good husband as well as in the kindness he shows to Mayella Ewell.  However, that's not enough to save him from being convicted of rape and becoming the victim of a deeply prejudiced society.  Atticus' view is that it is Tom's access to the law that's important - that the power of the legal system must be available to him - regardless of whether Atticus wins the case.  It is the prejudiced attitudes that have the power in Maycombe.  As for Boo Radley, he's totally in the power of his family and his reclusive habits as an adult give him a kind of power as the resident bogey man. This has a contradictory effect as it excludes him from the community through (the "power" of) fear. He also uses his physical power to overcome Bob Ewell when he attacks Gem and Scout (is this an abuse of power?).  Not sure what the comparison about "mockingbirds" is about - do you mean that these characters all have a kind of innocence and naivete about them that makes them vulnerable to the use/abuse of power?