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How Harper Lee's life and childhood influenced her writing of "To Kill A Mockingbird"

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HARPER LEE'S VIEW OF THE 1930'S AS A CHILD Harper Lee is well known for her great contributions towards modern society through her astounding book, To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel is read world-wide, in high schools and colleges because of its in-depth look at the social classes in the south during the 1930's. The book was influenced by society, in particular the social order of the south during her childhood. Lee grew up during this time of controversy which is why she writes so passionately about the topic. Lee wrote the novel to make a point about race while basing much of the plot off a trial from her young age, her own father, and the society she grew up in. Harper Lee lived in the small southern town, of Monroeville, in Alabama. …show more content…

Scout Finch, who is the narrator, has a brother named Jem, and a father names Atticus. Atticus is widowed; however the family is still fairly well off because of his job as a prominent lawyer in the town. Because the story takes place in the south during the 30s, discrimination of Blacks is a major theme of the novel. Because it is during the depression, everyone is poor, which leads to the blacks population to receive extraordinary low wages; which also puts lots of pressure on their community. Scout Finch is the narrator of the book; she is very mature in her opinions and actions. She is a tomboy, which leads her to be very competitive and to get in fights with her male classmates. However, Scout is a very good kid; she always has the best intentions for her actions. Scout's primary role model is her father, Atticus who's main concerns while raising her was for her to become an intelligent, conscientious, individual while also being innocent to the social pressures of her town as a child. Harper Lee's childhood was troubled with many of society's racial issues especially a trial in Alabama referred to as the Scottsboro trial of 1931. Lee was only five years old when the trial occurred but she was deeply affected by the trial. Amasa Lee was a lawyer and so he became very interested in the trial like many other people in the community, which lead to Lee being interested. The trial in the book, Tom Robinson's rape case, is a reflection of

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