To Kill A Mockingbird Literary Analysis

To kill a mockingbird can mean many things. It’s the title of a book that has been bought 40 million times. But, it also has a definition. To kill a mockingbird means to destroy innocence. The theme of my literary analysis is mockingbirds. Mockingbirds in TKAM are innocent things tainted by the skewed society of Maycomb. Some of these mockingbirds are Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and the children. To Kill a Mockingbird is a book set in a small Alabama town in the 1930’s. The main character and narrator is Jean Louise Finch, but is almost always called by her nickname, Scout. Scout, her brother, and her summer friend Dill get into all kinds of mischief while living in the racist society of a 1930’s Alabama town. Scout’s dad, Atticus, is a prominent lawyer in Maycomb and is appointed to a controversial case, and is defending a black man. Scout and her brother, Jem go through many troubles and learn many lessons from the days leading up to, and during the trial. The trail makes their family some friends and a lot of enemies. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a story of courage and despair. Throughout TKAM, mockingbirds are used as an example of something innocent being tainted by the skewed society of TKAM. Some great examples of these are Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and the children.

In the country town of Maycomb, people were easily influenced so prejudice was shown by most. The citizens knew that the colour of your skin determined your place in life and that Negroes were to be treated differently. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, there was only one true character that portrayed the true essence of tolerance. Atticus Finch stood on his own two feet, and never formed an opinion unless he had prior knowledge on the particular person or situation. Throughout the entirety of this novel, it was Atticus alone who not only was tolerant, but set an exemplarily example to his children, and the town, of how knowing before judging is not only important, but vital to society. “First of all…if you can learn a simple trick Scout, you’ll get along better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person till you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (p.33). This is a perfect example of how Atticus passes on his knowledge to his children, and educates them on how respect

As Stephen King once said, “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool.” In the book "To Kill a Mockingbird", by Harper Lee, Jean Louise Finch, a young girl who also goes by Scout, experiences many things such as racism, friends, and family. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who is sacrificing his reputation to defend a black man, Tom Robinson. Scout and her friends take it upon themselves to uncover the mystery of Boo Radley. In this book the mockingbirds represent innocence. Many characters take on the role of the “mockingbird". Exploring Lee’s title, to kill a mockingbird is to kill innocence.

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (pg. 119.) Miss Maudie spoke the previous quote with deep thought going into each and every word. She wasn't just trying to teach Scout a lesson, but she wanted there to be a powerful meaning behind it. Miss Maudie's main purpose was to stress that you shouldn't kill something that is doing no harm. Everyday "mockingbirds" are killed, broke down, and mistreated by society.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a multi-faceted novel which explores the principles and morals of people in the South during the 1930s. Mockingbirds are symbolic of the people that society abuse. Lee narrates the events of the novel using Scout’s voice and uses this technique to add emotional context and develop themes. Themes of racial and classist prejudice are developed by Lee to challenge the reader. These techniques are all powerful ways to alter the views of the reader.

    Throughout time authors have used symbolism to express a greater meaning in simple words because it allows readers to connect the real world to what they are reading in an abstract way, like philosophers using the dove to represent peace and fire to represent ferocity; in To Kill A Mockingbird  , Harper Lee uses symbolism to make a point about maturity in particular when Miss Maudie gives Jem cake, when scout tries to learn innocence and when scout tries to learn how to observe a situation from someone else's perspective.

Harper Lee wrote in To Kill A Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” His words explain how you can not judge or make a conclusion about a person until you look at a situation from their point of view, or perspective. This can lead to striking opinions, creating conflict and tension between two people. Similarly, in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, the narrator, Ponyboy has never felt much of a connection with his oldest brother Darry, as S.E. Hinton portrays their relationship as strain. After their parents died, Darry was left to raise his two brothers by himself. Since he had to play the roles of a mother, father, and big brother; he had a lot on his

Harper Lee's “To Kill a Mockingbird” explores key ideas exposing the human condition and the difficulties faced when one is forced to challenge their morality. “To Kill a Mockingbird” remains relevant in today's society as this novel effectively addresses preconceived issues of religion, racism and, the overriding theme of bigotry in our world, no matter the era in which we are living. Lee uses a variety of techniques to convey the social injustices and inequalities of the world in the 1930’s, whilst remaining timeless through the use of character and addressing the cruel fact that heinous things happen to innocent people, such as that of Tom Robinson. “To Kill a Mockingbird” not only remains relevant due to the covering of the sensitive

Harpers Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is a literary classic that talks about racism as well as femininity in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The story told from the perspective of Jean Louise Finch, who also goes by Scout, although she is only eight years old. Throughout the book, Scout realizes that her beloved hometown of Maycomb is not that great as it seems. While realizing this, Scout has a change of mindset. She is constantly told to "act like a lady" but she does not want to become something she is not. Scout initially has a negative opinion on being a lady but the women in Maycomb are essentially what grows Scout's opinion. The roles of Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Aunt Alexandria are the key influences to changing Scout's mindset.

Many times, can read the tittle of the book and able to know what to expect from the story but ‘to kill a mockingbird’ is different. It is little confusing to indicate which characters are indicating the tittle of the book. At one point, Ms. Maudie explains, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee,98). The title refers to innocent people like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. But the tittle especially refers on Atticus who, is like the mockingbird. His characters of strong believing in justice, compassion and forgiveness toward others, and how he raised his children by his example has shown that Atticus only wish to bring a little happiness into a harsh world.

To Kill A Mockingbird remains one of the most produced and distributed political commentaries in America, despite its publishing over 50 years ago. The reason the book grosses such a high distribution rate can be attributed to its relevance even today

It just takes three kids and their traits to make a difference in a community. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, racism, classism, and sexism are all showcased, through the eyes of children. The children, Dill, Scout, and Jem, try to understand and change the segregated ways of the town of Macomb. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Dill, Scout, and Jem create chaos, causing changes in Macomb County, by not judging people only from their background, speaking out for what is right, and are continually being persistent.

There are forgotten people at every turn—the barista at Starbucks, the gas station attendant, a receptionist at the dentist’s office. They seemingly go unnoticed, but serve as an integral part of society, the grease that enables the wheels to keep moving. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses such characters to progress her ideas about innocence and hope forward. Lee uses characters such as Miss Gates, Dill, and Miss Maudie to draw further attention and emphasis to the destructive nature of prejudice—how that injustice strips away the purity from children, and ultimately leads the reader to grasp the critical nature of acting as a beacon of truth.

“Remember, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” (Lee 119). In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, this is the quote that Atticus, one of the main characters, says to his kids. Atticus is a lawyer who takes on a tough case in his town, Maycomb. His kids are Scout, and Jem. Throughout the book, they grow and mature. They don’t mess around with their neighbor, Boo, as much as they used to. But, luckily because of him, they live to see the next day. In To Kill a Mockingbird, it shows that because of prejudice, innocent people can be harmed. This is shown through Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Jem.

One of the most pivotal and revolutionary literary works in the American classroom has stemmed from the 20th century and continues to influence the youth in modern times—Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Though the infamous novel exemplifies within it themes of race relations and justice, the overall elements that depict Southern society during this era are core factors in labeling this novel as “controversial.” Controversial enough that in his article, “If To Kill a Mockingbird’ makes you squirm, good!” Leonard Pitts utilizes the three Aristotle proofs to criticize the act of using discomfort as a ploy to disregard racism; he executes this by his use of indignant satire and several references to crucial events in the past and occurring history that were fueled by prejudice, bigotry, and ethnocentrism.