To Kill a Mockingbird Theme Essay

In all, the novel emphasizes the need to respect others and avoid abusing anyone based on unfounded negativity. It also teaches the need to persevere with courage and do good in a society where such views are subverted. Since the social hierarchy in Maycomb is so biased, people in Maycomb often live off of their old values. The people in Maycomb are always grouped in this way, with no way to escape their social class. Since the social classes have to do with the family you’re from or the color of your skin, you are forced to live in this social class for the rest of your life.

In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch plays a crucial role in the development of the story by acting as its moral backbone. He is always looked to for his infinite wisdom and to always do what is right. Often, there is no greater power that influences an individual’s development than his or her surroundings. It is one’s society that establishes what is generally accepted and how one comes to act within that society. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription.

Themes In To Kill A Mockingbird

Scout and Dill talk to Mr. Raymond, a white man who married a black woman and now pretends to be an alcoholic just to find an excuse for that. White and black people live in different areas of the town; they are physically separated in the courtroom. The plot commentary in an essay of the book takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the early 1930s, the years of the Great Depression. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates what it was like to be white and black men in the pre-Civil Rights Movement era.

For example, Scout cannot understand why Aunt Alexandra refuses to let her consort with young Walter Cunningham. Lee uses the children’s perplexity at the unpleasant layering of Maycomb society to critique the role of class status and, ultimately, prejudice in human interaction. Published in 1960 and won Pulitzer Prize later, To Kill a Mockingbird is a semi-autobiographical book by Nelle Harper Lee and a classic in American literature. An extraordinary work and probably the most widely read book about racism, it represents the battle of justice and prejudice, goodness and evilness which prevails in humanity from a little girl’s point of view. It covers a span of three years during which both Maycomb, the small town, and people there, especially Scout Finch and her brother Jem underwent significant changes. Jean Louise Finch tells the story of her father Atticus and the family, living in Maycomb, Alabama. The children of the neighborhood are terrified by Arthur Radley, and they tell rumors and stories about his life and appearance.

The Theme of Courage in to Kill a Mocking Bird, a Novel by Harper Lee

To Kill A Mockingbird – Changes in the Characters Thought the Novel In the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” each of the main characters changed quite a bit. Through the experiences each character went through and the natural maturing that occurred in each of them, the characters were altered from the way they were at beginning of the book.

In that humiliating moment I looked beyond myself and into the depths of another person. This was the beginning of compassion, and one cannot have both compassion and innocence” . This is a quote from the short story Marigolds, which is about a young girl, Lizabeth, who loses her innocence when she destroys her neighbor’s valued marigolds. She was able to feel compassion for her neighbor only after losing her innocence. Very much like Lizabeth, Jem and Scout go through a similar process to find compassion.

To Kill a Mockingbird Courage

She has been taught to read and write by Finch back at home and she thus is ahead of her classmates. Normally, such a student should be hailed by her teachers. Surprisingly though, Scout is punished by her teacher who goes on to tell her that she should not learn anything more at home because her father does not know the proper way she should be taught . This shows that in Maycomb, there is a clear conflict between education at home and institutionalized education. Apparently, the “right” education, as per this society, is only the one offered at school. These children are blind to their innocence because they haven’t “stood in someone else’s shoes”. If they had considered Boo Radley’s point of view, they would’ve understood that he wasn’t a bad person at all.

Analyzes how the book is written from the viewpoint of a child. Aunt alexandria shows another form of judgment by preventing the children from playing with the cunningham boys. Analyzes how tom robinson’s character represents a mockingbird, an innocent victim, fueled by the racism that engulfs the county.

Boo Begins Playing a More Active Role in The Childrens Lives

Also, Harper Lee portrays Scout as a tomboy rather than a “proper Southern lady.” She is outraged by the attempts to alter her behavior to fit the social norms. In the 1930s, women were not given the same rights as men. They had to be graceful and delicate, and that’s precisely what Scout abhors.

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird presents this idea in multiple passages of her writing. It can be seen in the rough, unknown troubles that people face despite their wrongful actions. As well as the rumours that are untrue and give complete false impressions of people. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird uses these topics to illustrate the dangers of judging others before getting to know them. To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of the trial of a black man, Tom Robinson for the raping of a white woman, Mayella Ewell, in racist Alabama in the 1990’s. Without any doubt, the To Kill Mockingbird theme of racism in the United States is the backbone of the novel and is discussed in essays the most. However, that might be why you should look for something else to cover.

Characteristics of Boo Radley in to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

We see this sort of childhood innocence within the first few pages of the book, with Boo Radley being considered a ghost. Not only are Jem and Scout scared of the Radley place, many of the other children are as well. To Kill a Mockingbird- Critical Analysis There are many themes displayed in To Kill a Mockingbird. The many themes range from poverty, justice, and morality to prejudice, courage, and compassion. The one theme that I really thought was shown the most was morality. One time the theme morality is shown is when Walter Cunningham is invited to the Finch’s house for dinner.

• Dill returns the next summer, and he, Scout, and Jem begin to act out the story of Boo Radley.
• The book To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during a time that seemed unpromising, the great depression.
• The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is an excellent example of proving a point or a theme.
• Both Scout and Jem confront everything from unpleasantness to murderous hostility as they learn how their family’s resistance to racial prejudice has positioned them against the community at large.
• To Kill a Mockingbird is not an easy book to read, yet it quickly became a symbol for the Civil Rights Movement all over the world.

Atticus provides clear proof that the accusers, Mayella Ewell and her father Bob, are lying so, Mayella propositioned Tom Robinson, was caught by her father, then suspect Tom. Yet, although the many proofs inform of Tom’s innocence, the all-white jury convicts him. The innocent Tom later tries to escape from jail and is shot to death. Inside the aftermath of the trial, Jem’s faith in justice is wholly broken. Later on in the book, he even saves Jem and Scout’s lives. If the children had only taken it from both points of view, they would have understood that Boo was a great person. At the end of the novel, Scout finally realized what her father meant by his statement.

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Examples and Topics

Providing an example of defending a black male in the American South shows that one must always keep the faith and seek the truth regardless of the conditions. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee to kill a mockingbird theme essay focuses on the social inequality in a few different forms during her novel. Most of the social inequality that we see throughout Lee’s story is because of the mindset that the people of Maycomb have and…

• “To Kill a Mockingbird main themes.” IvyPanda, 9 July 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/to-kill-a-mockingbird-main-themes/.
• When they do speak it is largely in terms of gratitude for the good white people of town and not in terms of anger, frustration, resistance, or hostility towards the culture of racism.
• Analyzes how the desire to escape is shown throughout the classic book, to kill a mockingbird by harper lee.
• Fire breaks out at the neighbouring house, and through the fire, someone slips a blanket on Scout as she watches the blaze.

Analyzes how harper lee’s to kill a mockingbird illustrates prejudice as an everyday reminder of how uncharitable humans can be. Explains that scout has grown and matured more than any other character in the book. Respect of other people and their feelings develop into a clearer concept. Analyzes how harper lee’s to kill a mockingbird demonstrates that people undergo change due to the outside influences. If you are such a student, you can use our extensive database of written samples to find the inspiration or research you’re looking for.

Character Development in to Kill a Mockingbird

Scout also keeps on thinking about racism, inequality, and unfairness but doesn’t lose hope in humanity’s goodness. Differences in social status are explored largely through the overcomplicated social hierarchy of Maycomb, the ins and outs of which constantly baffle the children.

• The two that stood out boldly to me, however, were Atticus and Calpurnia.
• Despite being published 50 years ago, the stories and lessons…
• Mayella was looked at to be powerless over her own life and others.
• The Pulitzer winning Novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” is one the most popular books of its era.

The story is humorously and innocently told, sometimes the narrator laughing at her own naiveties’ during her childhood. All the characters used in this novel have a role to play in developing the themes, and plots of the story.

Explains that to kill a mockingbird is nelle harper lee’s semi-autobiographical book about racism. It represents the battle of justice and prejudice, goodness and evil, which prevails in humanity. Scout loses her innocence when she realizes the town was wrong about Boo Radley and is finally able to form her own judgment of him. Both children are able to feel true compassion as they mature into young adults.