To Kill a Mockingbird
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a novel of great sweetness, humour, compassion, and of a mystery carefully sustained. It is memorable, vivid, has a gentle persuasive humor, and a glowing goodness. Harper Lee has carefully crafted a timeless classic of growing up and the human dignity that unites us all. The story has been told from the viewpoint of a young Alabama girl Jean Louise Finch or rather “Scout” as she was called. The main characters are Scout, her brother Jem, their playmate Dill, Calpurnia the cook and of course… Atticus Finch their father and the novel’s hero. This touching story mainly deals with the racial discrimination that existed in Alabama in those times through the eyes of an eight year old girl. Scout, Jem and Dill amuse themselves in various ways by imagining and fantasizing about their reclusive neighbors…..the Radleys. The story goes on as Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who is wrongly accused of raping Mayella Ewell. The whole society turns against Atticus due to this, as the racial hierarchy in Alabama in those times was very rigid. But Jem, Scout, Dill, Calpurnia and Miss Maudie Atkinson continue to remain unflinchingly loyal to Atticus. Throughout the entire story Arthur Radley, their neighbor remains a source of amusement to Jem, Scout and Dill; He is like a phantom to them. And when at last Scout comes face to face with him Scout understands his reason for remaining reclusive. The title is to signify that it is a great sin to kill a mockingbird. They do not trouble us in any way and only creates sweet music for our ears. We should not harm such selfless creatures. This book is an automatic page turner, which leaves us feeling warm and good when last page is turned. It deals about the human character and behavior in great depth and helps us realize and see our fellow human beings in a different way. This book is a guaranteed heart warmer and will continue to remain the reader’s evergreen favourite.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
To Kill a Mockingbird is a great book and a must read for all children. It had symbolism throughout the story that helped the readers know and understand the characters. Also, Scout and Jem Finch grow throughout the novel and they begin to realize what a cruel and unjust place the world really is. To Kill a Mockingbird shows the innocence of children and the troubles they are faced with in their daily…
- 425 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel that is artistically written. Through the situations the “mockingbirds” go through living in Maycomb County, many important life lessons are taught not only to the characters but also to the reader. The dilemmas at hand are creative ways of teaching these lessons. Scout’s growth throughout the novel is symbolic of the growth of the town in many issues surrounding racial prejudice, sexism, and the usage of pigeon…
- 75 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
One of the major conflicts of the story is the case of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a black man accused of raping Mayella, the daughter of Bob Ewell. The Ewell’s are viewed as the poorest people in town. During the trial Atticus portrays convincing evidence in a professional manner. He ends up losing the trial which, from the beginning, Atticus knew what was to happen. Atticus realized that “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed”(205). Atticus shows that he understand the inequality of race because he knew that just because Mayella accused Tom, he would be convicted. During the actuation of the trial, Jem is there to experience it. He feels hopeful even when Reverend warns him “Now don’t you be so confident, Mr. Jem, I ain’t ever seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man”(177). Reverend has seen how no colored man has ever won over a white man. Lee uses this to show the social injustices of the courtroom. Soon after Reverend says this, the verdict is revealed. The verdict causes Jem to become upset saying how “how could they do it, how could they”(180). Jem is a child but feels empathy towards Tom, he knows the accusations were unjust. Jem’s disapproval of the verdict emphasizes Lee’s feelings about racial injustice. Lee believes that everyone should be treated…
- 1000 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Over a three year span, the novel follows Atticus’s and especially his children’s reticule before the trial for defending a black man. Even though the community of Maycomb is racist, Atticus stands by his choice to defend the black man, Tom Robinson. His kids stand by him as well, even sitting in the colored balcony to watch the trial. Atticus makes a great case proving Robinson not guilty; yet, the white jury convicts him. He is later shot trying to escape. Even after the trial Atticus and his family still face problems for defending Robinson. At the end, Scout, one of Atticus’s children, truly realizes that the barrios between blacks and whites need to come down.…
- 928 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel threaded with many powerful themes, morals and ethics. These controversial themes resonate with the setting of the American South in the 1930’s. The most prominent themes in the novel are cowardice, courage and prejudice. These themes recur consistently and are highlighted through context in the novel.…
- 887 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
To kill a mockingbird is an insightful novel that effectively educates its reader about the discrimination and prejudice against African Americans that was occurring at the time. Through the pity and intensity of Tom Robinson’s trial the reader learns how the rights of African Americans were very different than the white Americans at the time. To kill a mockingbird highlights the pure injustice that Tom Robinson faces, when accused of a crime that he didn’t commit. Due to these accusations Tom’s fate is put on the line and his dignity is robbed from him as the whole of Maycomb assumes that Mayella Ewell is right. Immediately the town people build a sense of hate and anger towards Tom Robinson and attempt to act on their thoughts and opinions. Throughout this text one will learn how not only Negro’s were affected by this prejudice and discrimination but how innocent white Americans, such as the finch family were too.…
- 571 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Atticus shows that his words are not empty, and he practices what he has taught his children. Atticus conveys empathy for the minorities around him, such as the Ewell family and the Negroes. Tom Robinson, a black man, is being represented in court by Atticus. Atticus empathizes for Tom who is wrongly accused of taking advantage of Mayella Ewell, a poor white women, and tries his hardest to win the case for Tom. After losing the trial and humiliating the Ewells in the process, Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, spits in Atticus’ face and threatens to get even with him. Atticus, feeling sorry for Mayella, takes this incident and uses it as a lesson of empathy for his children. Atticus says, “ Jem see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed every thread of credibility at that trial, if he he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always do. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there” (292-293). The lesson of empathy is supported largely through Atticus, and his ways with Tom and the Ewells. To sum up, Atticus’ inspirational experiences convey greatly to his children, and help to better them for the rest of the…
- 814 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
To Kill A Mockingbird, authored by Harper Lee, is an American novel of growth and maturation because it focuses on the character development of Scout as she comes to understand the world. This classic novel is set in a racially charged southern town during the Great Depression. The main character and narrator, a young girl named Scout, develops and changes from the conversations and actions that happen in the book. Scout’s direct maturation and learning of life lessons develops by witnessing the hypocrisy of her hometown Maycomb, Alabama, and her father, Atticus, being a major influence in her development.…
- 985 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In a span of a child’s lifetime there are a variety of adults who reflect on child’s maturity. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” the author, Harper Lee provides countless examples of grown –ups that expose the adolescents to mature life morals. She explains how the loss of innocence between the youth makes them recognize the problems that lie within society. Several of the characters are faced with the racial discrimination. Near the end of the book the author shows the children finally accepting others as they are not for whom they want them to be. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, there are many influential figures that help Scout and Jem mature…
- 962 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The title comes from Atticus stating to his children “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 94). The symbolism of the mockingbird represents the sin of the unfair trial and death of Tom Robinson. It was a wrongful conviction because not only was the verdict based on the color of his skin, but also due to the fact the jury did not want to believe a black man would ever feel bad for a white woman. Having this novel in the point of view of six year old Scout Finch allows the reader to experience the innocence of children and how it highlights that one is not born with preconceived ideas, but is rather…
- 476 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Scout learns that certain people in town are feared, distrusted or hated because of their skin color, personal decisions, or rank on the social hierarchy, also known as class warfare. Colored people don’t receive as much respect as white people because they are lower in the social hierarchy than the white people who are on the top. By stepping into the shoes of Boo Radley, Walter Cunningham, and Dolphus Raymond, Scout learns a lot about class warfare. Tom Robinson is a black man who is falsely accused of beating and raping Mayella Ewell. The jury finds him guilty, and Scout knows that it was wrong. Her father, Atticus, was Tom’s lawyer, so she was able to experience each step of the trial. Arthur “Boo” Radley was feared by all of Maycomb because he stabbed his father with a pair of scissors when he was younger. Scout constantly wonders what it would feel like to be trapped in your house for so many years and be all alone to understand why Boo does not have great social skills and is quite shy. He left many things for the children in the hole of a tree, but expected nothing in return. Scout and Jem both recognized that he was not a bad man, and just needed some friends. Dolphus Raymond was the town dunk. Actually, he wasn’t. He drank Coca-Cola out of a paper bag to make everyone think that he was drunk. Dill and Scout got the opportunity to talk to him during the trail, when they decided to take a…
- 1211 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
"To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee is renowned as a great text because of the important moral values it displays. The themes of the text such as growing up, courage and prejudice were particularly significant issues during the authors time, yet have never lost their importance Harper Lee highlights these themes through the use of language techniques, structure and symbolism.…
- 1035 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Mockingbirds are a symbol of sheer innocence; their existence causes no harm to others and the sole purpose of its life is to make mellifluous music for all to enjoy. The mockingbird’s sweet chorus is destroyed and disregarded in to kill a mockingbird, as the harmless characters of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are exiled and imprisoned despite their altruism. The use of the mockingbird in the title provides distinction and coincides through characters and events during the novel.…
- 543 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Jodi Picoult said, “Kids think with their brains cracked wide open; becoming an adult, I've decided, is only a slow sewing shut.” In the town of Maycomb, Alabama, in the middle of the Great Depression, six-year-old Scout Finch lives with her older brother Jem, and her father Atticus who is a lawyer. One year a boy named Dill spends the summer with his aunt. The three children become friends and soon become obsessed with a nearby house. The next year, Atticus is appointed by the court to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a poor, notoriously vicious white man named Bob Ewell. Atticus presents a powerful defense of Tom and makes it clear that Ewell is lying. Jem is convinced Atticus will win the case, but the all-white jury still convicts Tom. Jem…
- 625 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
To Kill a Mockingbird is a popular story written by Harper Lee and is considered, “of rare excellence...a novel of strong and contemporary national significance,” (Chicago Tribune). The book tells a story from the view of a young girl who…
- 743 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays