Essay, Research Paper
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee. It was published in 1960
by J.B. Lippincott Company in Philadelphia & New York. This is the only book that
Harper Lee has ever written. It is also one of the best-loved novels in American
literature, winning the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Lee is a very private person who doesn t
grant interviews, although her literary agent says she divides her time between her
hometown of Monroeville, Alabama and New York. She also enjoys reading, and her
favorite authors are Jane Austen, Charles Lamb, and Robert Louis Stevenson. She has
said that her novel about a white southern lawyer defending an innocent black man is not
autobiographical. But her father was a lawyer, and the inspiration for the character
Atticus Finch.
To Kill a Mockingbird is about a young girl named Jean-Louise Finch, who they
call Scout, her brother Jeremy, nick-named Jem, and many other characters. Their
father Atticus, who is a lawyer, had been given a case to handle and did not have a choice
but to receive it and work his best for his client. The case was about an African man,
named Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping a white woman. This case causes
many problems that they have to deal with everyday. The entire town turns against them
saying that Atticus is a nigger-lover. Even Atticus family turned against them, which
really hurts Scout, especially when her cousin Francis says I guess it ain t your fault if
Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I m here to tell you it certainly does mortify
the rest of the family- (Harper 91).
Racism is a major theme in this story along with growing up. Throughout the
story the reader sees how Scout and Jem are afraid of Boo Radley because they think he
is a monster and try to tease him. Later in the novel they are no longer afraid of him and
no longer interested in teasing him. Another example of their maturity is how they view
people. When Scout and Jem see how Tom Robinson is treated just because he is black,
they begin to understand the meaning of prejudice. Throughout the trial Scout watched
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disappointment in the verdict makes Scout question the idea of justice. Scout and Jem
also think that their dad isn t like any other fathers in school, but as the book goes on,
their attitude towards their father has changed, which is another sign of maturity. Scout
also overheard her teacher saying that it is a good thing that Tom was convicted because
the black were getting too high and mighty. This disturbs Scout very much because the
teacher is always telling them about democracy and the persecution of Jews, yet she says
it is all right to persecute the blacks. All of this makes Scout wonder how her teacher
could be so contradictory. The last incident which brings Scout to adulthood is when she
and Jem are brought safely home from their attacker by Boo. She finally has the courage
to stand on the Radley porch and the kids are no longer afraid of Boo Radley.
I think that this story has a very good plot to it. It tells an interesting story about
racism and growing up. The plot wasn t the least bit boring either. There never seemed
to be a dull moment throughout the story. The themes were also portrayed very well. It
really showed how so many people can become so racist over issues that are
uncontrollable. Eventhough this was written in the 1950 s, I think that it still has the
same relevancy now as it did then because racism is still a big issue. The theme on
growing up was also shown very well throughout the book. At the beginning of the story
Scout is only about six years old, which is the age when children start really figuring
things out. I think Harper Lee did a very nice job showing all the signs of maturity that
Scout and Jem face throughout the story, especially since they had no mother; just
Calpurnia, who was their housekeeper, and their father who wasn t home as much as he
should have been when Scout and Jem are at such young ages.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone high school age or older.
I think it teaches a lot of things that everyone has gone through or everyone will have to
go through someday.