The poem by Rudyard Kipling “If” relates to a few characters in the novel of The Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, including; Bob Ewell, Tom Robinson, and Atticus Finch. The book poem starts off as a stabled life when it is not. Tom Robinson is an African- American man who is segregated by the whites of 1933. Of course it is a hard life for Tom, being told what to do without many choices. Comparing the novel to the poem, we see a similarity.

The poem is about someone being a scapegoat; everyone is blaming problems in it, however life can still go on, as long as your head is up and the big goal is there. Just like Tom Robinson; he has been a scapegoat his whole life, since he came to Alabama. In the poem “If” it states, “But make allowance for their doubting too.” Make allowance refers to a reward that you get from working hard however; it also says “their doubting” which is negative attitude. If anyone could make allowance from a doubting, I would consider that an achievement of gold statue, just like how Tom Robinson has.

In second stanzas, you get a toxic, evil and negative feeling. It says, “If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same.” Getting from this, you see that Bob Ewell is in the same position. What he has done has gone through is both triumph in an evil way, and of course disaster. When put together, you get Bob Ewell. It also states, “Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools.” Relating this, we see a connection of Bob’s plans are twisted in such a way making it a trap for the creator; also known as himself. Bob’s plan is to frame Tom Robinson for the rape of his daughter; but in reality, he was just a fool that cannot come across himself.

Like it says in the poem, “If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,” it is Atticus the man of virtue; fighting for what is right. It is in no hope and faith that Tom Robinson will win against a white man, Bob Ewell, due to Tom’s state. However, Atticus still goes on; fighting against his society, his community, his race, and his righteousness. The whole poem comes to this last sentence, “And- which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!” This poem is about the raging lions fighting, defending, and solving what is right and logical. It is for all fathers to show their sons what it is like to live a true life. Atticus and his son Jem will be that generation of lions.

Rudyard Kipling stresses the word “If” in the beginning of every stanza. The whole poem is about if faith, if evil, if perseverance and if fighting for what is right is like. This is what every human being is as well; no matter what color, what race, what age or what gender someone is. Everybody is the same inside and out.