preview

To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis

Good Essays

To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee, 1960), an insightful and gripping novel composed by Harper Lee in 1960. Originating in Alabama South America, based during The Great Depression. This didactic novel highlights the controversy of racism, dominant discourses and social inequality through the storyline of young ‘Scout’ who has grown up with these prominent social issues in her everyday life. Scout finds herself having to find a new perspective as her father takes on the risky case of defending a wrongly accused African American man of rape.

Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee, 1960) racism is a significant matter at hand that is indisputably demonstrated through different characters. Lee carefully and skilfully shows the timeless value of equality in today’s modern society through her writing which composes the audience to reflect on the current sociological issue of dominant discourses such as age, gender and race and marginalization of those in an unimportant and powerless position in society. This novel validates the urgency to end these dominant discourses and racism as it damages how little humanity we have.

http://www.logo-designer.co/anti-racism-poster/
Despite believing we have moved past our narrow-minded thinking we are still pulling the trigger on prejudice.

The contrast of characters in To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee,1960) are brought together by one similarity, Tom Robinson the African American and Boo Radley the recluse are both marginalised. Boo Radley is portrayed as uncivilised and insane. The town rumours and accusations made of Boo leads the audience to believe Boo is a psychopath since no other characters can shed any light on him. Tom Robinson is portrayed as a kind, gentle and caring person whose character has been taken advantage of. The towns prejudice and ignorance towards Tom Robinson cause the children to realise that Boo Radley has chosen to stay inside by act of free will to escape the towns judgement “’It’s because he wants to stay inside’”(Lee 1960 p.251). Lee’s use of juxtapositioning these characters highlights that human kindness and justice is above prejudice and racism. Our modern society can change; we must end marginalisation as it is an unjust approach to life. If we want to

Get Access