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To Kill A Mockingbird Character Analysis

Decent Essays

Harper Lee’s award-winning novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ has remained a classic publication since 1960. Recalling her experiences as a six-year-old from an adult perspective, Jean Louise Finch, nicknamed “Scout,” describes the circumstances involving her widowed father, Atticus, and his legal defence of Tom Robinson, a local black man mistakenly accused of raping a white woman. Throughout the three-year trial, Scout and her older brother, Jem, witness the unjust consequences of prejudice while at the same time witnessing the values of courage and integrity through their father's example. To Kill a Mockingbird was published during the Civil Rights movement.

To start with, Harper Lee influenced readers by interoperating different themes within the novel. Four of the major themes that run throughout are childhood, bravery, education and most importantly prejudice. Atticus is a man of equal rights and is one of the only men in Maycomb County that doesn’t judge anyone by their socioeconomic status race. Throughout Tom Robinson’s case, he deals with prejudice and racism head on. Black people are seen as the lowest class level of Maycomb society, with Atticus realising he has no chance to defend and win the case for Tom, as he is black, offers the most explicit sign of racism. To the reader, it is clear that cultural prejudice is wrong and the way African-Americans are treated is cruel and unfair. Innocent Scout highlights the racial problems when she asks Atticus, ‘Do you defend

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