TKAM In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, has created a complex story about racism, prejudice and family. Many have argued about the main, underlying message,but the message that resonates with me is about the necessity of character development and change influenced by society. Harper Lee shows us this through the eyes of a young girl who doesn't know much about the world and her views are ever changing. The author’s message is delivered to us through a mixture symbols, metaphors and a wide array of diction. At the start of the book the protagonist, Scout, is innocent and naive. She is not old enough to go to school and so her social interaction where limited “within the calling distance of Calpurnia (7).” This is a major impediment …show more content…
Atticus, Scout’s father became a man that is considered as a role model, is shown as a moral and just citizen, who is even now quotes by the leader of the free-world, Pres. Obama. But Atticus has fatal mistake in his character, he is too righteous, and thinks people are good from the beginning. This mistake almost leads to the murder of his children. But at the very end of the book is seems as if Atticus understands him mistake and finally gives in. For the greater good he steps down from his moral high grounds and accepts the lie of “Mr. Ewell [falling] on his knife (371).” This is a lie but it is a lie that will save Boo Radley from a lot of unwanted attention. The only reason Atticus still has children at the end of the story is because of the coincides that Boo Radley was also protecting the children that one night. If Boo Radley hadn't been there Atticus’s kindness would have killed his children. Harper Lee here shows that change may be good but not adapting and change can be fatal. Harper Lee re-enforces this theme with two other example. Mr.Cunningham who is comes one night to kill Tom Robinson changes his minds and goes away. Harper Lee makes it look like this saved Tom’s life. But she later reveals that Mr. Underwood was standing out of his balconing with a shotgun and would have mowed Mr. Cunningham down if he did not change his mind. The next example is …show more content…
Harper Lee demonstrates how change is in the right direction is good but even more, it is vital for survival.People might just think that this is just a fictional story that has no real meaning in life, whose anecdotes are made up. But what they forget is that Maycomb might be a fictional name but, Morinville, the town Harper Lee grew up in has a striking resemblance to Maycomb and Scout finch might just as well be another name for “Harper
Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a realistic story that deeply discusses issues involved with the 1930’s that still resonate today. The struggles of life are evident within the believable characters of Maycomb County which is a microcosm, reflective of universal issues. Along with the authentic characters, setting and style also helps to convey Lee’s controversial notions of racial and gender prejudice, and persecution of the innocent, discussing many other ideas within.
To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of the trial of a black man, Tom Robinson for the raping of a white woman, Mayella Ewell, in racist Alabama in the 1990’s.
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.
The novel To Kill A Mockingbird is successful in delivering the story in a manner that captivates the audience. The story began by setting the scene, mood and also by introducing each character, which familiarized the reader with the environment. The author wrote the story in a manner that flowed with real life events of a time relative to the story, such as the segregation, racism and any financial struggles. It also did well to give each character a realistic mindset and reactions based on each person’s respective characterization. In a similar way, the story was written from the perspective of Scout, and the story was effectively narrated with the innocence and a lesser knowledge coming from someone of her age. Additionally, the story did a particularly good job at introducing details that were important to the story as it progressed so there were no surprises based on a sudden law change, for example. This aided in building the story to its climax, and other peaks of action. Each element to the story worked in sync to maneuver easily through the plot in a well thought out and executed story.
Is Mayella Powerful? In the past, we lived in a large racial society where many White Americans did not accept African Americans as their equals. In Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, the novel focuses on the story of a rape trial located in a non-existent town of Maycomb, Alabama. It’s about a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a poor white woman, Mayella Ewell.
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. Discuss this quote from Atticus in relation to 3 characters from the novel.
Through the use of Scout’s innocent nature and the words and actions carried out by the townspeople, Harper Lee’s critical tone regarding prejudice is revealed.
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird a major theme is the loss of innocence. Whether from emotional abuse, racial prejudice or learning, Boo, Tom, and Scout all lose their innocence in one sense or another. The prejudice that each character endures leads to their loss. Through the responses of Boo, Tom, and Scout, Harper Lee shows how each character responded differently to their loss of innocence.
Harper Lee shows a disregard of social status when compared to the traits of all men. The recognition of efforts made by the Finches towards the African American community makes leaps and bounds of progress repairing the rift between the two races. The change in Heck Tate’s character, influenced by a loss of bias toward Arthur Radley’s disabilities, gives way to redeemable character traits slowly becoming visible in him. Harper Lee shines a light on the narrow-mindedness of Maycomb County and some of its inhabitants but she also highlights the beacon of hope and acceptance that can and should be for all
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that aims to change the reader’s perspective on life. Harper Lee presents controversial issues and ideas through the innocent eyes of a child. Throughout the novel, you are assaulted by the evils in the narrator’s society; chiefly racism and prejudice. With events such as the unjust trial and the revelation of people’s true identities, the reader is forced to see the faults in the public’s opinion. As the child grows up and learns more about the adults in her town, she sees that many of them are deliberately blind to the real problems and truths in society, and she must choose on her own what is right or wrong, true or false. Harper Lee expertly shows the struggles involved in seeking the truth about society,
To Kill a Mockingbird is set up into two major parts. Harper Lee sets up the themes and ideals in part one through the actions of scout and applies those themes through real world examples in part two. In part one she sneaks the themes in through the adventures and experiences that Scout, Jem, and Dill encounter. Then part two, she takes an issue of racial discrimination and shows it how it would be seen by a child. One situation that they encounter is when Jem and Scout get their air rifles, explained in the quote above.
In the course of the story in chapter one of To Kill A Mockingbird there was first person narration from Scout’s perspective. Scout a six year old female from Maycomb county Alabama is a tomboy that has a special relationship with her father Atcis, who is a lawyer. Further, Scout was also influenced by two other characters a boy named Dill who stayed in Maycomb over the summer to visit his Aunt and her brother Jem. Both characters are relatively the same age, about four years older, than scout. However Dill had to return to his home in the conclusion of the summer time. And this leads into Scout going back to school as well as her brother. Unintentionally however when Scout goes to school she finds out that the new first grade teacher Miss.Caroline doesn't like her advanced literacy, which she got from the people surrounding her and reading newspapers.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee displays a variety of themes and topics, such as hatred and labeling by society. Society places malicious labels on people, based on mistakes and actions they do not like. The main characters Scout and her older brother Jem encounter many real monsters and imaginary monsters that society has made up, including their childhood obsession, Boo Radley. Boo Radley is judged by society for one mistake he made when he was younger. A real monster that Scout and Jem encounter is Bob Ewell, who accused an innocent black person of raping his daughter.
“Back in ninth grade when every other American kid read Harper Lee’s novel of racism, moral courage and coming of age in 1930s Alabama.” (Lanham) The story is written from the perspective of a girl named Scout and the conflicts that accrued in this time period. Readers explore the understanding of Scout and her brother Jem and their moral growth. This particular conflict involving a black man “Tom Robison” against the victim “Mayella Ewell” and her bitter father “Bob Ewell” is one of the main topics. “Tom Robison,” defender “Atticus Finch” also Scout and Jems father shows his kids the principled path through life. The Finch’s cook, Calpurnia, treats Jem and Scout as if they were her own. Calpurnia can be harsh at times but is still like a motherly figure. Scout has chosen to follow her father’s advice and in her novel Harper Lee states, “-Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” In the end Scout stands on Boo’s porch and witnesses Maycomb through his eyes. But in reality not all her decisions lead to marvelous outcomes. From all of the above the most important thing to remember is the lesson she learns from it. This particular lesson of Lee’s novel, acquiesce to the books moralists propulsive strength lawyer Atticus Finch, is to put yourself in other people’s skin and walk around in it. Prejudice also plays a serious role in telling the trail
In her book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ ,Harper Lee incorporates many elements of classic literature into the text ,making every reading just as treasured and meaningful as the first . Through her work ,she passes on the essence of her time ,as well as a rather relatable insight into human morals .