For this article, I have read the book “To Kill a Mockingbird”, written by Harper Lee and published 1960. It is a book about a girl growing up in the south in the 1930’s. Overall I can see why the book has been so highly appraised. Like many, I enjoyed reading from the innocence of eight-year-old Scout Finch. The reveal of Boo Radley near to the end of the book satisfied my curiosity. Although most of the book was pleasing to me, I disliked seeing all of the injustice coming from racism and prejudice directed toward people of color and families of the lower class. However, nothing was left to be desired at the end of the novel and although many things were unfair, there would not be much of a story if everything was perfect in the fictitious town of Maycomb, Alabama. The main character in “To Kill a Mockingbird” is the young Scout Finch, a girl of eight years and the daughter of attorney Atticus Finch. I liked reading from Scout’s perspective because she is young and has a pure mind, seeing only the obvious facts unobscured by the social pressures of adults. …show more content…
As the story seems to winding down, Harper Lee reveals the mysterious character of Arthur “Boo” Radley, the Finch family’s eerie recluse neighbor. On the way home from a play one summer night, Scout and her brother, Jem, are attacked by the drunk Bob Ewell but are saved when Boo leaves his house to stab the perpetrator with a kitchen knife. Thanks to him, Scout gets away with minimal injury and Jem escapes with only a broken arm. Atticus invites Boo in to stay for a while for bringing his children home alive and Scout finds that Boo is a kind and quiet man after talking to him. Atticus and the sheriff agree to cover for Boo by saying that Bob fell on top of his own knife. I liked that the author did not leave Boo’s character only to be defined by the stories Scout and her friends made up about him as
The novel “To Kill a Mocking Bird” is based in the fictional small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. When slavery and the Civil War were still present in the people’s way of living and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s are far from close. The novel focuses on the Finches: Scout, her brother Jem, and their father Atticus, and the trial of Tom Robinson and how it affected them and the town. Witnessing the injustice of Tom Robinson’s trial changed Scout Finch in many ways. Scout learns that there is more than one type of courage, she learns about race and its complexity, and she also changes how she views the people around her by putting herself
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.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a complex literary work exploring several aspects of the human condition. Lee’s story is one based in the 1930’s, shortly before the Civil Rights Movement. Her novel ventures into the societal issues, such as racism and gender stereotyping, in their fictional town, Maycomb. One recurring theme throughout the narrative is the social adjustment of the citizens of Maycomb and the human race as a whole. Lee showcases the progress in social justice matters by using symbolism and motifs.
“But now he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again. He’s ruining’ the family, that’s what he’s doing’.” (Lee 110). The power of hatred is one so strong, that it imprisons the Finches and African Americans of Maycomb County. In Alabama of 1920 to 1930, segregation is an established action of the Southerners, it’s a lifestyle. The slurs passed from the mouths of white Southerners and ending with the shooting of a black man, the ways of Maycomb County are ones seen as either shocking or common in today’s eyes. To Kill A Mockingbird is an eminent novel by Harper Lee that illustrates the aspects of discrimination and prejudice, tolerance and courage during a time in America where racial inequality
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.
In Harper Lee's very fruitful novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the creator investigates the issue of equity utilizing the image of the mockingbird. Set in the 1930s Deep South - a period of extraordinary narrow mindedness and racial disparity - the novel unravels as a record of bad form to the most generous yet unreasonably blamed subjects for the town of Maycomb. The kind hearted, however African-American Tom Robinson is unjustifiably put on trial for the charged assault of youthful Mayella Ewell. In spite of racial treacheries, Boo Radley is defrauded by the group taking into account the unfair town legends the Maycombians have made about him, driving him to live in a state of banishment inside his home. Atticus Finch, in spite of the fact that
The highly regarded book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee uses effective metaphors, symbolism and emotive language to represent the writers purpose which is to explore the race relations between African Americans and White Americans in the south of the US (Maycomb, Alabama) in the 1930s from the perspective of a young child. This influential piece of American literature will always have a place as one of the greatest representations of American culture and life in the 1930s.
Arguably one of the greatest books of it’s time, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird has successfully become a classic and powerful piece of American literature since it’s release in 1960. Connecting loosely to Lee’s life, To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated through the eyes of a young girl nicknamed Scout, similar to young Lee, through which she describes how she sees society and it shows her starting to comprehend what is happening around her. Through Scout’s life it is shown that the main idea prevailing throughout To Kill a Mockingbird is the concepts of racism in society as well as systematic social injustice. While Lee shone
In Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Scout Finch are the characters who faced unfair justice because of prejudice and discrimination that is circulating in the Maycomb community. People judged and marginalized Tom Robinson and Boo Radley because of the rumors people heard about them, whereas Scout is treated unfairly because she is a girl and her Aunt pressurize her to act like a lady. All characters ultimately became a symbol of injustice as shown through the events that occurred in the novel. Furthermore, through Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Scout Finch’s experience of inequity, Harper Lee presents the idea that justice is given unfairly due to the issues of racism, discrimination, and gender roles victimizing innocent people along with facing detrimental consequences that are not meant to
To Kill a Mockingbird is an iconic story that expresses a time period of America that struggled with the idea of racism, sexism, and also the judgment that people hold over one another that leads to segregation and discrimination. This is a book that many students can learn from and help change the ways we did things in the past. Everyone is created equally and To Kill a Mockingbird shows us that no matter your skin color, your race, or your social class, everyone has a part to play in this world. Racism plays a huge role throughout the book as it is set in the southern town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930’s.
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
To kill a mockingbird is mainly about growing up in harsh circumstances during the Great Depression in southern America. The main character name is Atticus, who is a widow, that raises 2 kids on his own. Later on throughout the story Atticus finds out that he is going to representing a African American named Tom Robinson who is being accused of raping and beating a Caucasian woman. While representing Tom Robinson, the word gets around town that Atticus is going to be representing a black man Atticus begins to get calls late at night of people threatening to kill him and getting racial slurs. Later on in the story, Atticus wins the case and proves that Tom Robinson is not guilty.
The book I chose to read over the summer was To Kill a Mockingbird. The main focus of To Kill a Mockingbird is how two children Jem and Scout see the world and how it differs towards the end of the book as they mature and start to experience more. When Jem and Scout were younger they saw the world as a fun and positive place. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird was written in Scout’s point of view. The point of view was 1st person. To Kill a Mockingbird was written to inform the readers because it is teaching us about standing up for what we believe is true despite the people’s differences. Also the book teaches us to not fall easily into peer pressure. I believe that To Kill a Mockingbird made its point. Also, To Kill a Mockingbird is a great
Scout Finch is a young girl who lives in Maycomb County located in Alabama. She lives with her father, Atticus Finch-lawyer and an older brother, Jermey Finch know as Jem. One summer, Jem and Scout form a friendship with a young boy named Dill. Each Summer, Dill visits Maycomb County and stays with his aunt Mrs.Rachel. The three become interested in the Radley house and it's owner, Boo Radley who hardly ever goes outdoors. Dill returns to Maycomb to find Scout and Jem eager to tell him everything he missed while he was gone. Dill's last night in Maycomb arrives and the three decide to sneak onto Mr. Nathan Radley's property resulting in Mr.Nathan shooting at the three if them. Desperately trying to set Scout and Dill free and escape himself,
The chapters 1 and 2 of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the story begins at the beginning of summer, with the introduction of Scout and Jem two kids trying to enjoy to dog-days of summer in the plain and simple town of Maycomb. Their summer stays this way until they meet a boy by the name of Dill; Dill, Scout, and Jim play together by reenacting scenes from famous movies like Dracula. But when Dill hears about the legend of the Radley’s and there abandon estate, he becomes entranced with the Radley’s and wants to find out what really happened to Boo Radley. His interest in the Radley’s goes to such an extent that he dares Jem to get Boo Radley to leave his house by going on his property. After the deed was done summer winds down to an end as Dill leaves for Meridian, bored with nothing to look forward in summer Scout realizes that school is going to start. Jem starts to distance himself from Scout saying “Jem was careful to explain that during the school hour I was not to bother him”. Scouts starts to realize that school is different as she is punished for speaking out of turn and trying to explain why Walter cannot accept money from Miss Caroline. She takes this as an insult against Walter and punishes her, as it turns out school is a lot different than home.