To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis

As children grow up, they open their eyes to the harsh truths in the world around them that they once did not understand or question. This is experienced by the main characters of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is of a girl called Scout and her older brother, Jem, who go through the trials of growing up in the fictional small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. Racism is rampant in the mindset of the townspeople, shown when the children’s lawyer father, Atticus, takes the case of an obviously innocent African-American man and they convict him in their hearts before the trial even starts. Through this all, we can see the theme of loss of innocence in the children. Lee uses characterization to portray

Lee implies that people learn lessons through life experiences that school can ever teach. Throughout this novel, Atticus taught his kids many lessons that was hard for them to hear at times, but it later on helped them in the story. Or it helped them grow up and mature. On page 40 of To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus was explaining to Scout that Miss.Caroline was new and didn’t know anyone, and she especially didn’t know the Cunningham’s story, Atticus states, “Atticus said… but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part” (40). This quote by Atticus is meant to explain to Scout that Miss. Caroline just made an honest human mistake. He tried to get Scout to realize that if he put herself in Miss.Caroline’s shoes then she might better understand the confusion. Obviously you can’t really be in her shoes, but he said it figuratively to show her why it was important to give her another chance, or at least try to be nice and listen. Atticus taught this to Scout at home later on that night. At her school after that she tried to just get by in her class. Lee also shows mainly throughout that the school system doesn’t help when it comes to teaching children life lessons. As shown in the earlier quote Atticus, had told Scout to jump in Walter’s shoes, and walk around in it. This other quote shows how Scout actually takes into consideration of Atticus’ words, and chooses to not bother Jem because she tried to imagine what it had

“Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you,” stated Bethany Hamilton, an American professional surfer, who survived a shark attack, when she was only 13 years of age. This quote relates to the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, on account that plenty of people in the book had fear, but did not let it stop them from doing what they needed to do. A few of these courageous people were Mrs. Dubose, Atticus, and Boo Radley.

Author uses Atticus teach these lessons through his wise words. Atticus teaches these lessons to not only the audience, but Jem and Scout too. Some of the main things he teaches his kids about are understanding people, using the mind instead of the body, the cruel reality of stereotypes, and true

The ambition of oneself to pursue justice and righteousness may result in prosecution. In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, and movie "A Time to Kill" by Joel Schumacher, each demonstrate one’s open-mindedness and forward thinking leads to penalization through protagonists Atticus Finch and Jake Brigance. Both egalitarians take the position as an attorney for an African American and are prosecuted in the process.

It just takes three kids and their traits to make a difference in a community. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, racism, classism, and sexism are all showcased, through the eyes of children. The children, Dill, Scout, and Jem, try to understand and change the segregated ways of the town of Macomb. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Dill, Scout, and Jem create chaos, causing changes in Macomb County, by not judging people only from their background, speaking out for what is right, and are continually being persistent.

Atticus shows this (when he hires Calpurnia). She is like a mother to the children and her skin color does not matter in their household. Just because she is African-American does not mean she is a bad person or has bad intentions. The rest of the people who live in Maycomb would have treated her with disrespect instead of being kind to her like Atticus is. An example of this is when Aunt Alexandra wants to fire her. Atticus disagrees right away and tells her that he needs her. Jem and Scout are around her all the time so they think it is normal. Scout asks Calpurnia if she can come over and sees no problem with this. Aunt Alexandra thinks it is a bad idea but Scout gets defensive. Also when Atticus chooses to defend Tom Robinson, this shows a lot about who he is as a person. The people in Maycomb are prejudice and racist which is the “...usual disease” p.117 meaning that they would never defend a black person or give them a fair trial. Atticus does not agree and feels he should do his best to defend Tom. When the the children see how Atticus is reacting to the situation it rubs off on them. Jem starts to understand how unfair the trial is and that what the jury ruled is not just or true. Jem gets upset when this happens which shows that he really cares and is not judging Tom because of his race. All in all, the way Atticus acts towards people of

Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee, 1960) racism is a significant matter at hand that is indisputably demonstrated through different characters. Lee carefully and skilfully shows the timeless value of equality in today’s modern society through her writing which composes the audience to reflect on the current sociological issue of dominant discourses such as age, gender and race and marginalization of those in an unimportant and powerless position in society. This novel validates the urgency to end these dominant discourses and racism as it damages how little humanity we have.

Charles Lamb once said, “Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.” The author of To Kill

Mockingbird reflects the struggles and problems that the people in the 1900s had to go through on the daily basis. Problems that have to do with economic and social issues. People had to go through struggles related to the Great Depression and a lot of the black people in the 1900s had to experience racism everyday of their life. Not only did they experience it on the daily but there was also laws that they had to obey, and if they broke them there was consequences. To Kill a Mocking bird does a great job at showing the different situations people had to go through in that time and the time period the book was written in.

“‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’” (Lee 119). The meaning of the quote is mockingbirds don't do anything but, sing for us to enjoy. Mockingbirds only want to bring happiness in the world like some characters in To Kill A Mockingbird. Harper Lee stated this quote in the book to get us thinking about how Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are mockingbirds. Tom Robinson just wanted to help Mayella Ewell but, got accused of raping her when she kissed Tom. Boo Radley was the town’s mystery neighbor. He was known to be crazy, but really he was a caring man. Atticus Finch only does what he needs to do but, he doesn’t mean to harm anyone. He wanted to give Tom a chance at

In both the text “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee and the film “A Time to Kill” directed by Joel Schumacher, similar ideas are presented using language devices and stylistic features in differing ways to appeal to their target audience. Each have very similar storylines in which a white lawyer defends a an African-American in a prejudiced court case. Racism is a key idea presented strongly in each due to the eras they are set in. The era and country set in each story provide a strong base for the prominent issue. With the unpleasant happenings in each text and through the racist acts the idea of compassion shines through. As well as compassion being a significant idea, forgiveness is also presented through the racists acts.

How would you feel if you had done all you could to help someone that you felt sorry for, but they twisted the story and now you are sitting in court waiting to go to jail because no one will believe your side of the story? With this situation, an honest man’s innocence has been lost. As Scout grows up, she realizes there is more to the story than she is told. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is forced to believe other people’s perspectives due to living in the 1930’s. Through the loss of innocence of a respectable African American Tom Robinson, her brother Jem Finch, and the town hermit Boo Radley, Scout is able to understand the reality of what society is all about.

Throughout their lives, individuals learn many valuable lessons that help them to grow and mature as human beings. This also means being cooperative with people. The prominent novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee portrays a story written from a girl named Scout. Scout is in her childhood and faces many hardships, including the trial of Tom Robinson and her dad being the defendant. One prominent theme that Lee includes is how individuals must see different perspectives putting an end to bigotry and the tension between others.

Harper Lee uses her novel to teach us important lessons from the characters presented in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus, a fair and moral character, whose parenting style is unique, lined with honest and example, teaches us to follow his ways. Scout, an innocent girl who teaches us what’s important in life. Tom Robinson, someone who is ostracized for being African American, can teach us the importance of equal treatment and awakens us to our surrounding society. Lee’s construction of characters gives us perspective to issues in our society today, how they still matter and what we can learn from the novel such as compassion, justice and understanding.