In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the story derived from the author's own childhood memories in Maycomb, Alabama. The story is told by Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch, both through her age of a young tomboy and her adult years. As the story progresses, she learns to understand her community and the kinds people who exist. However, the novel reads constant racism and harassment towards African-Americans. Although some believe another book could teach the same lesson, To Kill a Mockingbird is a valuable resource for all because it teaches the ability to surpass discrimination and inequality through the characters from the novel. Inequality and fortitude are two strong terms in which Lee and other readers reveal in Mockingbird. In an article written by Karen Nelson, called “Why did Biloxi pull ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ from the 8th grade lesson plan?”, she too provides valuable information to why schools should preserve the book. As she talks about a concerned reader who’s worried the novel would be taken out of the curriculum, she says, “The reader said, ‘I think it is one of the most disturbing examples of censorship I have ever heard, in that the themes in the story humanize all people regardless of their social status, education level, intellect, and of course, race. It would be difficult to find a time when it was more relevant than in days like these’” (Nelson 1). The school should not refrain from reading the novel and sharing its valuable lessons. The novel refines humans beyond their race, social class, and much more. There is not a time during American history where signs of discrimination and inequality were shown because of their race, education level, intellect, and social status were more frequently seen. Signs of valuable lessons also reflect from characters in Mockingbird, like Atticus Finch. While in court, Atticus gives his last speech pleading for Tom Robinson's innocence and to break the white on white bond which discriminates all others. Standing in front of the jury, Atticus emotionally says, “...the evil assumption-that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds
Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch is the main character in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and is the narrator of the story. She starts the novel at the age of six, and over the course of the novel, grows to be nine. Racism affects Scout throughout the story mainly because of her father, Atticus Finch, being involved with defending a black man in court that was accused of raping a white woman. Scout also resides in a small Alabama town called Maycomb. This also leads to much prejudice throughout the book.
Although some people think that the problems of civil rights is gone, it is more present than ever. Racial discrimination is occurring in many ways and prejudice is a huge contributing factor which many people don’t realize. In her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows a family in the South during the 1930’s, experience prejudice at the extreme. Young Scout, who is the narrator, lives in Maycomb, Alabama where there is a lot of racism. Because of this, many problems erupt when people try to change the towns ways. Scout grows throughout the book as she experiences many events that test her strength. In the novel, Lee uses the characterization of Scout to demonstrate that innocent children who witness cruelty, often question
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.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Nelle Harper Lee, was narrated by six-year-old Jean Louise (Scout) Finch and is influenced by her young age. Harper Lee created a book about deep topics and lightened them through Scout’s childhood memories. The book describes a racist situation through the eyes of a child, and Scout’s journey to see right from wrong. Scout sees throughout the story that African Americans deserve freedom as much as anyone. The book is affected by its narrator’s age because of its innocence, Scouts ignorance, and the adult ideas put into a child's life.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, there are many characters that demonstrate heroic qualities. The story is narrated by a young girl named Scout Finch who lives in Maycomb County Alabama in the 1930’s. There is a lot of racial prejudice in Maycomb County and Scout’s father, Atticus, is a lawyer defending a black man named Tom Robinson. In the novel, Atticus, Scout, and Scout’s brother Jem have to overcome many insults and bullying because Atticus is defending a black man. While the trial is going on, Scout and Jem befriend their mysterious neighbor whom they have never even seen. Through this friendship and the trial Scout and Jem are able to open their eyes to the injustices and prejudices of the people of Maycomb. Scout, Atticus, and Tom Robinson are all heroes in the small town of Maycomb.
Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a study in the way people’s view of the world changes as they grow older. To Kill a Mockingbird is from the point of view of a six year old girl, Scout, the daughter of a lawyer. She is forced to grow up quickly when Atticus defends an innocent black man in the South, much to the dismay of most of the white citizens. Lee uses similes and personification in To Kill a Mockingbird to show the challenges and discoveries that children make while transitioning from a child to an adult.
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, the main protagonist Jean Louise “Scout” Finch from Maycomb County, Alabama, goes on a strenuous moral journey thats problems will shape her to be the character she is. Throughout the story, Scout and her family face many challenges that test, but also prove, her ruling personality trait of compassion and the potential to not judge others. She also displays her ability to be perceptive of people and see life from their point of view when her father Atticus takes on the job of defending Tom Robinson, a black man, who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. When he gets called on to do this, he opens his family up to harassment and ridicule by the townsfolk. Scout doesn’t quite understand why he decides to take on a case like that, but he explains to her that,
In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird , she recalls her experiences as a six-year-old child from an adult perspective. Scout describes the circumstances of her widowed father, Atticus, and his legal defense of Tom Robinson. Robinson was a local black man accused of raping a white woman, which arose many ethics between society. Throughout the three years surrounding the trial, Scout and Jem, witnessed the unjust consequences of prejudice and hate. Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird was published during the Civil Rights movement, and was used to implicate a Southern racist society by using rhetorical appeals and devices. Throughout the book , Harper Lee reveals her ideas concerning racial prejudice, faith in justice, and the goodness of
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 To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout’s childish perception of the world throughout the novel reveals her lack of understanding and unawareness to her surroundings. Through the events in the small town of Maycomb Scout develops higher levels of maturity in interpreting the events occurring to influence her character. With racism being prevalent in the South, Scout’s exposition of the complexity of interracial relationships challenges her and the community’s views toward. Lee having Scout narrate the story filters the way characters evolve into the novel.
To Kill A Mockingbird is a classic story of growing up, racial discrimination, and symbolism. Harper Lee has written a story that has gone down in history and will never be forgotten. In To Kill A Mockingbird, a six-year-old girl Jean Louise Finch, better known as Scout, narrates a story about her young life in sleepy Maycomb, Alabama. Her brother Jem Finch and friend Dill try to meet the secluded and mysterious neighbor. Meanwhile, her father, Atticus Finch is a lawyer that takes on a case in hopes of claiming the innocence of a young black man accused of rape. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses symbolism as a literary device to compare Tom Robinson and Boo Radley to a Mockingbird.
Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, is about a young girl named Scout Finch and her brother named Jem. They are joined by their friend Dill into the journey of growing up in Maycomb, Alabama in 1933. Their father is defending for a colored man named Tom Robinson, who was undergoing rape charges against a teenage girl, Mayella Ewell. This case makes the Finch’s social outcasts, as if they weren’t already. Even though Mayella lied in her testimony, she should still deserve sympathy because she is pressured by her father and society, beat by her drunk father, and has a lonely life.
In the widely known novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores the idea of how easily innocence can be destroyed by evil and how things aren’t always how they seem. The story takes place in a small southern town known as Maycomb in Alabama. It is set in the time period prior to the Civil Rights Movement, therefore racism and discrimination are as clear as day. The narrator of the novel is a six year old girl named Jean Louise Finch, or “Scout”, who defies the standards for a girl in the 1930s by wearing overalls and hanging with the boys. Her brother, Jeremy, also known as Jem, is just ten years old.
The American novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a reforming book that teaches new generations the negative effects of racism and prejudice. The story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama where racism is common in almost every household, so when a sensitive rape case is brought to court between a respectable black man named Tom Robinson and a low maintenance white family, it is up to Atticus Finch to get justice for Tom Robinson. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the power of education is strongly demonstrated through Scout Finch, the story's narrator and the daughter of Atticus. Scout is used to portray how education can change and mature a person and save oneself from racism, prejudice, and hatred.
Harper Lee uses her novel to teach us important lessons from the characters presented in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus, a fair and moral character, whose parenting style is unique, lined with honest and example, teaches us to follow his ways. Scout, an innocent girl who teaches us what’s important in life. Tom Robinson, someone who is ostracized for being African American, can teach us the importance of equal treatment and awakens us to our surrounding society. Lee’s construction of characters gives us perspective to issues in our society today, how they still matter and what we can learn from the novel such as compassion, justice and understanding.