Archetypal Criticism In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

To kill a mockingbird can mean many things. It’s the title of a book that has been bought 40 million times. But, it also has a definition. To kill a mockingbird means to destroy innocence. The theme of my literary analysis is mockingbirds. Mockingbirds in TKAM are innocent things tainted by the skewed society of Maycomb. Some of these mockingbirds are Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and the children. To Kill a Mockingbird is a book set in a small Alabama town in the 1930’s. The main character and narrator is Jean Louise Finch, but is almost always called by her nickname, Scout. Scout, her brother, and her summer friend Dill get into all kinds of mischief while living in the racist society of a 1930’s Alabama town. Scout’s dad, Atticus, is a prominent lawyer in Maycomb and is appointed to a controversial case, and is defending a black man. Scout and her brother, Jem go through many troubles and learn many lessons from the days leading up to, and during the trial. The trail makes their family some friends and a lot of enemies. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a story of courage and despair. Throughout TKAM, mockingbirds are used as an example of something innocent being tainted by the skewed society of TKAM. Some great examples of these are Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and the children.

As individuals judge and criticize things, they come to a realization that those actions can have an effect. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses literary elements in order to develop the theme with Mrs. Dubose. Conflict, character, and symbolism develops the theme that criticizing others can have consequence.

Harper Lee uses symbolism extensively throughout To Kill a Mockingbird,, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism and allegory can be seen by studying various examples from the book, namely the actions of the children, of the racist whites, and of Atticus Finch.

    Of all the various approaches to criticism, the Mythological/Archetypal achieves the greatest impact over the entire literary scope, because the themes and patterns unearthed apply universally to all works, yielding results that can be applied to a great many texts. This is because the very nature of the Mythological/Archetypal approach is the exploration of the canon for widespread and pervading symbols, plots, and characters. These are all greatly extant in Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, an extraordinary examination of the Depression-era South through the eyes of a young girl with rare intelligence and insight, living in a small town

Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a realistic story that deeply discusses issues involved with the 1930’s that still resonate today. The struggles of life are evident within the believable characters of Maycomb County which is a microcosm, reflective of universal issues. Along with the authentic characters, setting and style also helps to convey Lee’s controversial notions of racial and gender prejudice, and persecution of the innocent, discussing many other ideas within.

A literary criticism is an informed written analysis or evaluation of a work of literature based on literary theory. The hero archetype type is one common type of character used by an author which displays morality, bravery, and self sacrifice. In the fictitious novel To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the hero archetype is shown in multiple characters. This archetype is used to help characterize the characters and help the reader understand them. Thought the story Lee uses the hero archetype in the characters Atticus, Jem, and Boo Radley.

The book, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, written by Harper Lee, is a very impactful novel that acutely connects an intricate plot and story to American history itself, specifically the time of the Great Depression, where racial oppression was rather common, and sadly, accepted. This novel dives into the harsh times of the Great Depression and gives readers a rather sufficient understanding of what life was like back then. In this novel, there are a plethora of archetypes, those being symbols, motifs, themes, myths, and characters that have a deep impact on the story’s development.

To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of the trial of a black man, Tom Robinson for the raping of a white woman, Mayella Ewell, in racist Alabama in the 1990’s.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a multi-faceted novel which explores the principles and morals of people in the South during the 1930s. Mockingbirds are symbolic of the people that society abuse. Lee narrates the events of the novel using Scout’s voice and uses this technique to add emotional context and develop themes. Themes of racial and classist prejudice are developed by Lee to challenge the reader. These techniques are all powerful ways to alter the views of the reader.

Tom Robinson, who was the main victim of the novel, had been defended by Atticus who had said, “ And so a quiet, respectable, humble negro who had the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry’ for a white woman has had to put his word against two white people’s” (Lee 273). Tom came to be a victim because he suffered from the statements that Bob Ewell said and was cheated. Although he is against white people who have their stories wrong and filled of lies, he is the one who loses the case when this should not have been what occurred. As a result of this, it causes him to be sent to prison where he later kills himself. This is due to the fact that this ruined his emotional state which led to the build up to his death. Similarly, Boo is a victim as his image is ruined by people such as Miss Stephanie Crawford whose rumors say, “As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities” (Lee 13). Boo is a victim because he is deceived. Since not much is known about him, the town of Maycomb spreads rumors, which lead to false impressions about him. Also, he suffers by how he is perceived because this leads for him to not come out and face all of the prejudice within Maycomb. Most importantly he is emotionally hurt because in the beginning of the story Jem and Scout are curious about him and want to see him when he does not want to be with anyone at all. Likewise, Jem is a victim as he was being helped from the encounter with Bob when he was with Scout because it was seen that, “Jem’s arm was dangling crazily in front of him” (Lee 353). As Jem and Scout are coming back, Jem is mainly a victim since he is physically harmed from this event by having his arm broken by Bob Ewell. He was targeted by Ewell due to the actions of Atticus, which caused

Yet Perry’s childhood bliss was taken from him, somehow creating his current disposition, the true purpose is the falling of unity from inside the people of Holcomb, therefore; pinning every person against another. A dark curtain that falls over the children, parents, farmhands, hunting regulars, and police officials. A curtain that keeps them apart from one another because they are lost in the infinite blackness that surrounds them, an evil they let seep into their minds and imaginations.

In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the author explores the issue of justice using the symbol of the mockingbird. Placed in, the 1930s, a time of great depression and inequality, the book presents injustice acts to the most kind yet blamed citizens of the town Maycomb. The symbolism of the mockingbird and the characters are essential for the message of Harper Lees novel because the kind, but African-American Tom Robinson is unfairly put on trial for the “rape” of Mayella Ewell. Also, Arthur “Boo” Radley is victimized by the rumors the towns people have created about him, forcing him to live alone inside his house with his brother, Nathan Radley. Lastly Atticus Finch, is known by the town for being a good human being and sticking

“Hey, Boo” Many people go through a major event in their lives that affects their perspective of certain aspects in the world. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the main character, Scout Finch, goes through many experiences that deeply affect her character’s view of life. The loss of innocence archetype is also shown by Scout in the novel. Scout starts out as a very innocent youngster who believes everything that she hears. She matures very quickly for a child because she went through so many significant experiences.

Chapter nine of Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ begins with Scout fighting a classmate named Cecil Jacobs. It starts when Scout reflects what happens that day at school when she fought Cecil Jacobs at school and her cousin Francis later on. We also learn more information about the family of Atticus and his relatives. Lee’s style of writing is extremely coherent and uses imagery and figurative language in her writing. She uses these writing techniques to demonstrate human action and story development throughout ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. She also uses metaphors as a literary device. Using these writing techniques, she gives the story a unique perspective as the plot develops.

Critical Review of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird is set during the 1930's in a small, isolated