An Unfortunate Truth: To Kill a Mockingbird

In the classic novel of To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee in the 1960’s, irony has been used to reveal Maycomb’s true intentions of racism, prejudice and hypocrisy. As described by the author, “small old town” seems ideal and peaceful on the surface, but as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the town is biased and racist. The irony helps the reader understand the actual hypocritical views of the story’s characters. Few novels have had an impact on American culture but Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is an exception. One of the most influential read works of American fiction, and perhaps one of the most beloved, it reached its 50th anniversary of its publication. The novel has sold over 30 million copies in 40 languages

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic novel, composed by Harper Lee in the early 1960’s, during the Great Depression. The novel presents White superiority to Black people, gender inequality and social classes as three dominant cultural assumptions that governed America, especially the Deep South, in the 20th century. These assumptions have been presented through the use of language, structure, characterisation and themes. The presence of the cultural assumptions and how they have been presented by the author has made the novel one of the most controversial stories of all time.

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird events and conflicts take place causing changes in characters. Some of the characters that are changed include Mrs. Dubose, Jem, Scout, and even Mr. Arthur Radley. Each of these events has a background to help change the characters. Mrs. Dubose is helped to change her charter in the novel by Jem reading to her, Aunt Alexandra comes to live with Atticus, Jem, and Scout changing Scout’s character, and Arthur Radley’s character is changed by the event of Jem and Scout being attacked by Bob Ewell.

Characterize Miss Maudie Atkinson (characterization = personality traits, actions, thoughts/feelings, other people’s points of view). How typical is she of Maycomb’s women? What do the children think of her?

The intriguing novel, To Kill A Mockingbird is written by the prestigious author Harper Lee. Lee has utilised the lifestyle and attitudes towards ‘African-Americans" in the 1930's to create a novel which presents the reader with Lee's attitudes and values. The dominant reading of the novel is focused on the issues of racial prejudice, but there are also a number of other alternative and oppositional readings. Examples of this are the Marxist and feminist readings which can be applied to the text.

Atticus Finch belongs to a very, very small minority. He is one of the very few human beings who does not hate Hitler. Of course, he does not like the universally hated historical figure, but merely dislikes him. This is a major theme of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird. One can never, without exception, hate a man. Harper Lee promotes the idea that hatred is never acceptable by creating situations with literary devices like characters, settings, and plots that demand empathy.

As the United States “progresses” in economic, educational and technological advancements we still are fighting for racial equality. With more than 50 years since the brown vs. board of education case there is still incidents like Ferguson, Baton Rouge, and Phiando Castile where many questions are still unanswered. However, Harper Lee dealt with these same problems in 1960 when she wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee created an emotionally confronting story. Lee writes through the eyes of “Scout” a lawyer’s daughter in a small sleepy town of Maycomb in Alabama during the great depression. Throughout the book “Scout” learns coming of age lessons from Atticus and her own experiences. But when Atticus takes on a case defending a black man (Tom Robinson) convicted for rapping a white woman (Mayella Ewell) and is found guilty. “Scout” her brother Jem begin to understand the effects of the prejudices in society. Therefore, Lee applies the literary concepts of diction and tone to revel the truth that prejudices in society negatively affect the way people treat each other in To Kill a Mocking Bird.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird incorporates historically accurate material into an otherwise fictional story. Drawing upon current events, social conditions, and attitudes prevalent in the United States during the 1930s, the novel’s setting, characters and themes depict a realistic interpretation of life in a southern town during the Depression.

society. Its themes may have been a little more sensitive in 1960, on the cusp

The novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee explores how characters demonstrate social inequalities and how characters in the novel defeats them with acts of courage whether public or private. Harper Lee explores the need for courage to bring societal change by Atticus’ decision to defend Tom Robinson and how he challenged society as the book was set in the early 1930s and racial prejudice was a big issue and was normal in society, Mrs Duboses’ courage to defeat her addiction demonstrating private courage to fix her own issues as well as gaining a new perspective and Scout’s courage by establishing public courage and challenging. To Kill a Mocking bird is still relevant today, more than 50 years later because racism is still an issue and

Discrimination and prejudice were very common acts in the early and middle 1900 's. Prejudice in this book is displayed by the acts of hate and misunderstanding because of someone 's color. People of color were the majority that were treated unfairly. During this time in the southern states, black people had to use separate bathrooms, drinking fountains, sections in restaurants, churches, and even go to separate schools. Although much of the discrimination was directed towards blacks, there were plenty of accounts towards impoverished families by those that had money. Some people thought blacks were automatically dumb because of their color.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, published in 1960, is a novel set in the context of the 1930s segregated southern United States. In the novel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author examines the main issue of prejudice in the fictional small southern American town of Maycomb, Alabama. This central idea of prejudice is explored through Lee’s use of symbolism in reflecting the innocence of the characters who are treated unfairly by the community. In this process of reflection, racial injustice is conveyed through the false accusation of an African-American raping a white woman. In addition, the use of symbolism represents the community’s

It seems remarkable that such sexism can pervade the very churches where women seem to be the staunchest supporters. After all, it’s not pure coincidence that every small town seems to need both a church and a bar, now is it?

“... they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us” (119). Said Miss Maudie to Jem. “That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119). Lately, there has been a lot of discussion deciding if To Kill A Mockingbird should be taught in school. Based on its incredible morality and true life stories the book should still be taught in schools. For 56 years Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird has been an inescapable fixture of America’s civic religion. Critics Stephen Metcalf and Thomas Mallon continue to argue with traditional views of this beloved novel, arguing that is pompous, irrational, and abhorrent. While Metcalf and Mallon contribute valid criticisms, they underestimate

1. To Kill a Mockingbird is a very well-written novel and it has definitely made an impact on me. I am going to remember reading this novel when I get older, because it is the way that Harper Lee wrote it and which choices she made. Harper Lee made it so memorable that even my mom remembers reading it in High School. To Kill a Mockingbird has been talked about by some other famous people too, such as Oprah Winfrey. From Scout, Atticus, and Boo by Mary McDonagh Murphy, Oprah Winfrey talks about getting to have lunch with Harper Lee. During the lunch, Harper Lee says that she is like Boo Radley and does not like interviews. Overall, the lasting impact of To Kill a Mockingbird is a reminder of the United States’ past.