To Kill a Mockingbird vs a Raisin in the Sun

The first influence on Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is the Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws were a set of rules that perpetuated racism and segregation. These rules were sickening and appalling. The Jim Crow laws were made to keep Blacks from interacting with Whites. For example, if a white woman were to fall a black man could not offer her, his hand to help her up because it was considered rape (Pilgrim 2). Many scientists and religious leaders justified these laws. One reason was that scientist thought that black peoples brains were inferior to those of white people. Also, many religious leaders believed that Whites were the chosen people and Blacks were just there to serve them (Pilgrim 2). If you were not following these laws, there were sever consequences. People believed these punishments were necessary to “keep Blacks in their place”. One example is mass lynching. This punishment is when a mob of people would take a black person, accused of breaking a rule, and beat them, torture them, and kill them. The police didn’t just not stop these rampages, often they would participate. The Jim Crow laws can be seen in To Kill a Mockingbird in many ways. One of the laws was that a black person could not say that a white person was lying (Pilgrim). This is shown in the book when Tom is accused of calling Mayella a liar, by Mr. Gilmer (Lee 224).

Racism, Segregation and ill-treatment of coloured is major theme explored in the text by Harper Lee. This problem in the little town of Maycomb is just a tiny reflection in the corner of the mirror, of America at the time. And even the world, with references to Nazi Russia in the novel also bringing to light segregation in other parts of the world. She comes right out to say that the world is a racist world, with this novel and she writes to show others what is happening and that it is actually not right. And she does so in a great way by highlighting one great injustice rather than the many and bringing to a realization how irrational and unfair the entire American Justice system was. But we also see a development in the white characters which a representative of the entire America in a sense (and the world) as thoughts and ideas change and people’s views about coloured people change, not abruptly but slow of course. The black characters in To Kill A Mockingbird contribute to the development of the white characters rather than appearing as individuals in their own right. Racism is learnt, and with this we can see that Racism can

Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun opened in a New York theater March 11, 1951. This play, although based on Hansberry’s own life and personal experiences was also inspired by Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem”. Hansberry used this play to tell the story of a 1950’s African American family trying to better themselves. She also used this play to shine a light on the issue of racism that were prominent during this time frame. This highly successful play “ran for 530 performances and was nominated for the 1960 Tony Award for best play”, and has had several adaptations made in its honor(Aurora). Despite the fact that these adaptations were made to equal the original play there are many differences between them and their predecessor.

It is believed, that there are many pieces to the story of To Kill a Mocking Bird left out of the film version of the novel. I agree with this statement, and I am here today to show you four select scenes and/or characters that (in my opinion) were significant to the story. To Kill a Mocking Bird is a coming of age story for two young children, as well as a story that shows that people are not always what they seem to be. The scenes that I have chosen are very important role in supporting to these themes.

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird portray prejudicial parameters that properly represent the social issues of the early twentieth century. Both authors use issues of race, gender roles, and social status to connect their work to the nonfictional events occurring in their own lives. The characters in both novels experience personal judgement, as well as the ability to witness its effect on those around them. Racial inequality is presented throughout history by rulings of the court. Gender roles also negatively presented society with the problem of the inability of some to aspire to their greatest potential. Social status presents as another problem in the time period of the novel, being that those of the lower class were forced to adapt to a new lifestyle. In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, prejudice sets figurative lines that imprison some of the characters due to race, sex, and social status which reign true in the time period surrounding the settings of the novels.

It is an unimaginable thought that something so similar can be missing so much. They can be both so unique and incomparable. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the main character, Scout and her brother Jem fight prejudice through a young person perspective. The main characters go on a journey against Bob Ewell throughout the sleepy town of Maycomb, at the 1930’s. Bob Ewell has falsely accused Tom Robinson of a crime. On the process the characters grow a lot and find things that spark their curiosity. This makes an interesting plot with many turns. The movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, has many differences from its book, many plots and characters are missing which greatly impacts the movie directed by Robert Mulligan.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, American Denial, and A Raisin in the Sun, the authors reveal how we as humans value our power in society. Power in society is a very common theme seen throughout many books, and I also found it very prominent in To Kill A Mockingbird, A Raisin in the Sun, and American Denial. People could have different amounts of power for various reasons, often times due to race or money. Both of these are shown in all three works.

Harper Lee is well known for her great contributions towards modern society through her astounding book, To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel is read world-wide, in high schools and colleges because of its in-depth look at the social classes in the south during the 1930's. The book was influenced by society, in particular the social order of the south during her childhood. Lee grew up during this time of controversy which is why she writes so passionately about the topic. Lee wrote the novel to make a point about race while basing much of the plot off a trial from her young age, her own father, and the society she grew up in.

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee and film 12 Angry Men directed by Sidney Lumet, both touch on similar themes of justice and prejudice. When contrasting the two texts it is evident that there are many foils which display their own strong personal characteristics yet keep those themes at the core of their character. Generally, influence is a result of conformity, when people begin to make change in their actions and heart, others follow suit to feel included. This is the case in the texts, individuals manage to convince groups of people by creating a norm to be followed. It is more so a case of influencing individuals who in turn convince others. This is because people like to feel included, and not as though they are outcasts.

In the book, A Raisin in the Sun and the movie are quite different from each other. For example, the book takes place entirely in the Younger's apartment while the movie has added scenes. The characters are a little different comparing them between the movie and book. For example, when in the movie Walter finds out that Ruth is pregnant, he sounds calmer than a person who just learned they are having a baby would act.

To begin with, Harper Lee bases To Kill a Mockingbird on her own personal experiences of prejudice. “Set in a small Alabama town with characters drawn partly from her own experience, the story centered around the wrongful conviction of a black man for rape” (Funk, Wagnalls, 1). Basing a book on personal experience shows that even though a book is fictional, it can be based on everyday life. Lee shows the hardships that the Finch and Robinson families go through before and after the trial. The novel justifies what prejudice is like in everyday life not just in To Kill a Mockingbird.

To Kill a Mockingbird was written and published in 1960, “in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement” (Carolyn Jones). This time was just a few years after events like the murder of Emmett Till, a fourteen year old boy accused of whistling at a white woman, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the ruling in Alabama that segregation on buses is unconstitutional happened (PBS African American World). This goes to show that the time period had some effect on Harper Lee at the time.

Clearly, then, throughout To Kill a Mockingbird there has been many ubiquitous effects of racism on the citizens of Macomb. The lives of many characters in this novel have been disrupted and deeply affected in many ways because of racism. Throughout this novel, Harper Lee shows that one's race and skin color can change other's opinions about a character, without knowing anything about the character. In the end, no matter the color of your skin or what race you are, we are all equal, and we should all be treated

In chapter 12, there’s a dialogue between Cal-the Finch’s helper and Lula-Cal’s neighbor when they look like they’re fighting and mocking at each other. Lula was kind of racism when Cal brings Scout and Jem-white kids to the church of black people community. You can see the racism from Lula when she asks “I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillum to nigger church”. The word “nigger” and “whit” in one sentence, with the irony attitude Lula gave to Cal can show how much racism she is in this case. And she was mad “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white little chillun here – they got their church, we got our’n.” then she go to the “fact” which is “It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?” All are human yet they act like despite each other and have no respect at all. Not only affect to how people think around but those words also affect to the children. They’re still young and naive. Imagine if they’re not Atticus’ children, not being educated well in Atticus’ way: treating everyone equally, what would happen to them later in the future? There will be more racism people and this thing will keep going on and on, seems like never stop. This situation related a lot to what is happening nowadays. The racism has been decreased and people already treated well between one another, yet it still exists. It’s like an ancient thing running through everyone’s blood. This part is really meaningful and need deeply understanding. Harper Lee has done a great job sharing it down on

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a beloved novel published in 1960. After reading the novel there were some moments and people that I found particularly enjoyable. My favorite part of the novel was when the children went to Boo Radley's house to try to get a look at him. In addition, Atticus Finch was my favorite character in the novel. In my opinion the book was very good. I felt that it really showed the thoughts and actions, both good and bad, of the people in the South during the time of the Great Depression. At some points it was sad and at others it was comical but overall it conveyed the message that it was trying to send and everyone could learn something from it.