Blog 4: Chapters 19-24:
→ Consider and write why people fail to do the right thing, even though their consciences clearly tell them what to do. Which influences would you be likely to personally resist, and which might overrule your conscience?
People fail to do the right thing for many various reasons which include peer pressure, the effect of society’s opinions, or the fear of people going against them. Friends, family, and the entire society have a huge impact on the rights and wrongs of people. These people (friends, family, and society) are the factors that overrule other people’s consciences. They are the ones that can really control what people do. For instance, friendship is one of the most important things in life that people cherish. But conflicts occur between friends when it comes to peer pressure. It really makes you question whether or not they are really are your friends. It’s at times like this when people decide what is right and what is wrong. Because it’s their friends, they often want to be like them since they’re afraid of getting judged or laughed at. Also, the society’s opinion has such a huge impact on people, that people often lose sight of reality and just jump on the bandwagon to be like everyone else. In To Kill a Mockingbird, although everyone knew that Tom Robinson was innocent, they still said he was guilty just because he was an African American. Although, their consciences told them that he wasn't guilty, and they knew it… the society already determined their answer. The society believed that “ you gentleman would go along with them on the assumption- the evil assumption-that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that one associates with minds of their caliber” (Lee 273). The society had already pasted it into people’s minds. But in reality “ [they] know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin” (273).
Influences I would be likely to personally resist is peer pressure. Ever since I was young, I've been influenced and educated on peer pressure and the causes as well as effects of it. My school has always taught us to say “NO” to peer pressure such as alcohol, smoking, and drugs. Every year, in order to educate us on how bad they are, our school would create this week called “Red Ribbon Week”. At this age, I understand how easy it is to fall to peer pressure just to simply fit in or be cool. Thanks to being influenced by a good environment, I will be able to resist it.
Some things that might overrule my conscience is if everyone else is against me. I don’t think I would've been able to have done what Atticus did when he defended Tom Robinson. I don't think I would be able to handle the hate directed towards me. Even though I realize I would be doing the right thing, it would feel as though I wasn't. Personally, if I had been handed the case, I would've rejected it although I knew it was the right thing. I probably would've just kept quiet. I wouldn't have jumped on the bandwagon of racism nor be that one individual to stand up against racism.
