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The Importance Of The NovelTo Kill A Mockingbird?

Decent Essays

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

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