Harper Lee’s “to Kill a Mockingbird Seeks to Focus Upon the Hypocrisy of the ‘American Dream’. Discuss.
Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird seeks to focus upon the hypocrisy of the ‘American Dream’. Discuss.
The American dream can be defined as a national ethos which encourages freedom for all individuals regardless of their race, religion, colour or socioeconomic status. Through the theory of American Exceptionalism and the Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal”, the American Dream presents itself as a system of equal opportunity and prosperity for all citizens. Author, Harper Lee, effectively draws attention to the hypocrisy of the American Dream in her enchanting novel “To kill a mockingbird”. Texts such as the front page of Malcolm X’s novel “By any means necessary” and Tupac’s song “White Man’s World” also reinforce the hypocrisy and propaganda behind such flawed concept. In each medium the black man is deemed to be inferior to the white, as the writers portray the discrimination and segregation faced by the coloured citizens.
Harper Lee’s aggressive tone explores the paradox of the American Dream in “To Kill A Mockingbird”. The composer highlights the discrimination faced by blacks in the South by enforcing legalised racism throughout her novel. Lee achieves this by demonstrating how racism crept its way into the legal system, consequently causing corruption. “In our court, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always win”, the tone which is used suggests the frustration and anger Atticus holds towards the damaged nature of life within that period. The author has successfully emphasised the courts as being bias, reflecting upon the poor state of Justice in America. Overall, although America publicised their country as providing equal opportunity for all, “the white man always wins” was proven to be legally correct in the case of Tom Robinson.
In comparison to Lee’s novel “To kill a mockingbird”, the front cover of Malcolm X’s novel “By any means necessary” also highlights the hypocrisy of the American Dream.
The American dream can be defined as a national ethos which encourages freedom for all individuals regardless of their race, religion, colour or socioeconomic status. Through the theory of American Exceptionalism and the Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal”, the American Dream presents itself as a system of equal opportunity and prosperity for all citizens. Author, Harper Lee, effectively draws attention to the hypocrisy of the American Dream in her enchanting novel “To kill a mockingbird”. Texts such as the front page of Malcolm X’s novel “By any means necessary” and Tupac’s song “White Man’s World” also reinforce the hypocrisy and propaganda behind such flawed concept. In each medium the black man is deemed to be inferior to the white, as the writers portray the discrimination and segregation faced by the coloured citizens.
Harper Lee’s aggressive tone explores the paradox of the American Dream in “To Kill A Mockingbird”. The composer highlights the discrimination faced by blacks in the South by enforcing legalised racism throughout her novel. Lee achieves this by demonstrating how racism crept its way into the legal system, consequently causing corruption. “In our court, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always win”, the tone which is used suggests the frustration and anger Atticus holds towards the damaged nature of life within that period. The author has successfully emphasised the courts as being bias, reflecting upon the poor state of Justice in America. Overall, although America publicised their country as providing equal opportunity for all, “the white man always wins” was proven to be legally correct in the case of Tom Robinson.
In comparison to Lee’s novel “To kill a mockingbird”, the front cover of Malcolm X’s novel “By any means necessary” also highlights the hypocrisy of the American Dream.