How does Harper Lee convey one or more of the following ideas in her novel?
• law and justice/ injustice
• education – moral and/or formal
• class prejudice
The bildungsroman novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper lee explores many key ideas focusing on the main aspects of racial classism within a small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. Throughout Harper Lee’s novel she condemns the injustice of the court, however, presents the law and the court system as necessary for justice. Lee also criticises the lack of education provided by the Alabama public schools but praises the moral education of Scout and Jem receive by Atticus. The themes of racism and cruelty amongst the Maycomb community explore the central ideas of
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moral and formal education and justice and injustice of law demonstrated throughout the novel. Harper Lee’s novel seeks reason for justice, however, through the law and court system presents the injustice within the Maycomb community.
Tom Robinson is a prime example of victim of injustice. His character portrays kindness and loyalty throughout the novel, however, on the basis of his skin colour, being a negro, he is simply accused in the court of law, and therefore, convicted of rape. Issues upraise in Maycomb, especially within the law, court rooms, trials and sentencing showing discrimination amongst the black community. Despite the fact that all people within the court trail knew that Tom Robinson was innocent, it was known that he was "licked before it even began" due to the racial perspectives of the court jury. Indicated in the emotive word “licked”, readers are introduced to the inflicting harsh white judicial system. However, through Atticus’ belief in equality, justice is upheld and represented within the court system. During this time, it wasn’t ideal for a white to defend a Negro. In this situation, Atticus defends Tom Robinson stating that ‘every lawyer gets…one case…that affects [them] personally’ admitting that ‘this one's [his]’, conveying justice within the court system, implying that despite the subjections to insults that may occur, Atticus’s obligations he presents show that everyone is to be seen as equal and should all have a right to seek for …show more content…
justice. Lee presents the education within the Maycomb society as being very rigid and contradictorily.
Alabama public schools provides many faults within the educational system, evident when Scout’s teacher rebukes her from learning outside of school, as well as notifying her that her “father does not know how to teach.” Instead of facilitating the skills and understanding Scout is embraced with, she is restricted from utilising her knowledge, not gaining the education she’d hoped for when starting school. Scout metaphorically describes her school days as an ‘endless project’ suggesting her disapproval for the teaching methods and restrictive education received within the educational system. Before Scout attended school, Jem described school as being equivalent to the “Dewey Decimal System”, without having an indication as to what he was actually referring to, using developed language, making Scout eager and excited to commence school. However, after starting school, Scout comes to the conclusion that school is not what she had intended it on being like. The alliteration of “Dewey Decimal” implies the repetitiveness that occurs within school, in which Scout denounces within the Maycomb public
education. Despite the hatred amongst the school education within the Maycomb community, both scout and Jem gain endless moral education taught by Atticus. Atticus devotes himself as he gives the children an insight of the controversial issues of racism, discrimination and cruelty amongst society within Maycomb and how to address them. It is through Atticus’s different dynamic, that Jem and scout learn the most valuable life lessons, gained from his conversations with the children and highly moral behaviour he demonstrates in a number of situations. As both Scout and Jem receive their air rifles Atticus explains what they can and cannot shoot whilst using them. Atticus states that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” This metaphor reinforces the moral lesson of innocence imparted to the children. Mockingbirds are known to provide harmless music to our ears, however, many find it imitating and consequently, often killed due to the sound they make. Similarly, in society, in many situations people are often victimised based on the ideas and behaviours they make, without being fully understood. This provided Scout and Jem with an essential understanding to not judge a book by its cover following the central theme of racism and classism within the novel. The injustice in the court system and lack of public school education demonstrated throughout the novel contribute to the faults associated within the Maycomb community. Although, based on the beliefs of Atticus, both Jem and Scout are embraced to the Justice and moral education of what a society, such as Maycomb, should have. In Harper Lee’s novel, we realise through the central themes of racism, classism, discrimination and cruelty, that those who find it necessary to show kindness and sympathy are those who are overall, negatively impacted and to any extent, are often seen as guilty involving in an unfair result.
In the novel, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee some characters suffer in the hands of justice and fairness more than others. Many characters in the novel are discriminated against such as Calpurnia, Dolphus Raymond, Helen Robinson, Burris Ewell and more. However I will be focusing on the discrimination against Tom Robinson for his race, Walter Cunningham for his low socioeconomic status and Boo Radley for the rumors and supposed mental instability he holds. I chose those three because they are the most prominent and I will discuss how the discrimination against the characters therefore leads to their injustice or unfairness.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
Scout wants to be able to read and write with out being told that she can not. As Jem explains that Miss Caroline has a new way of teaching and it is by not using books.
In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the story is told by a young girl called Jean-Louise Finch but also known as Scout aged five at the start of the book almost turning six who in the book is quite unique as she could read at the age of six and understand her fathers profession as a lawyer. The story is about Scout growing up in the southern state of Alabama in a small town called Maycomb with her brother Jem and her father called Atticus who is the lawyer. The main theme of the book is about Atticus defending a black man called Tom Robinson and he is accused of raping a white girl called Mayella Ewell and how it affects her, in the book she learns about racism and prejudice and the struggle of black men in life and she also learns about the ways of life and family traditions. The book is set in the late 1930’s so racial discrimination is at its peak in the southern states of America.
Throughout history, there are many influential pieces of literature. They shape the way that human society as a whole view various matters, such as politics, religion, and justice. Still, one book stands apart in the volumes of history, and continues to impact generations of readers to this day. It is an endless source of discussion for scholars, and provides both historical and moral value to students of all ages. This famed work is none other than Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird; a timeless story detailing the childhood of tomboy Scout Finch and her adventures in Maycomb county. While the book is fictitious, this does not take away from the very real effects it has on readers. How does Harper Lee accomplish such
Harper Lee’s only book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is the stereotypical tale of childhood and innocence, yet it successfully incorporates mature themes, like the racism in the South at the time, to create a masterpiece of a work that has enraptured people’s minds and hearts for generations. According to esteemed novelist Wally Lamb, “It was the first time in my life that a book had sort of captured me. That was exciting; I didn’t realize that literature could do that” (111). Scout’s witty narration and brash actions make her the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for, and the events that take place in Maycomb County are small-scale versions of the dilemmas that face our world today. Mockingbird is a fantastically written novel that belongs on the shelves of classic literature that everyone should take the time to read and appreciate for its execution of style and the importance of its content.
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, many things are repeated and emphasized. Harper Lee does this for a reason, she wants her reader to centralize their thoughts on certain themes. After reading and analyzing this novel, we discovered that the theme of “justice and injustice” was the most relevant theme. Many scenarios in this book, such as: death, the court system, racism, and the Finch children depicted this. Harper Lee uses this plot so her readers understand the difference between justice and injustice, and its consequences.
Throughout History, men have looked down on blacks and women. But this does not justify the view that blacks and women are below white men. When people look down on blacks and women, they preform injustice. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is full of injustice. During this time period, everyone looked down on blacks and women, which makes Maycomb one in the same with the discriminators. In particular, the people in Maycomb looked down on Tom Robinson, and many others looked down on Scout. Around the Finch household, Aunt Alexandria always tries to do away with Calpurnia, the black housekeeper and cook as Alexandria says, “We don’t need her (Calpurnia) now.” (182). Injustices in Maycomb include the case of Tom Robinson, the way Aunt Alexandra treats Calpurnia, and the way people treat Scout.
Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird sets place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the prominent period of racial inequality in the mid-twentieth century. To Kill a Mockingbird explores the transformations that follow one’s coming-of-age alongside the ambivalent morals of the 1950s. Changing the setting would affect the character development, conflict and atmosphere developing a new theme.
Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, focuses on the maturation of a brother and sister in the "tired old town(Lee 3)" of Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930ís. Maycomb, a classic southern town full of gossip, tradition and burdened with a legacy of racism, seems a strange place to stage a drama which encourages equal treatment and non prejudice. However, the narratorís fresh outlook on the sleepy town furnishes the reader with a multitude of viewpoints on civil rights. The traditional Southern racism of Maycomb is looked at through the eyes of our young narrator, Scout Finch. Scoutís innocent perspective compels her to ask questions about why whites treat blacks the way they do. These questions are crucial in Scoutís search for her own identity. Scout must come to terms with the racism of her town and how it affects the people in her life. She must find her own position and what role she will play in the whole racial game. A number of people greatly influence Scout. The two major role models in her life, her Aunt Alexandria and her father Atticus, pull Scout in two opposing directions. Through their dealings with Calpurnia, the Finch's black housekeeper, both the reader and Scout are able to distinguish what path each individual wants Scout to follow.
Little Scout Finch is not the same young girl she was twenty-eight months ago. As she and the rest of Maycomb County come across the injustice and evildoings of life, she cannot help but see in a different perspective. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird displays how experiencing the hardships of reality while growing up leads to a loss of innocence as shown through Scout’s characterization, her continuous learning, and the imagery of the town as seen through Boo Radley’s eyes.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, law is represented by various people and limited by many factors. The children see the injustice of the case. In addition, insensitivity has a profound effect on the outcome of the case. Ultimately, the justice of the legal system is tarnished by prejudicial hearts.
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest” Ellie Wiesel. Readers may find the amount of injustice in Harper lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird a little shocking. This could be why it’s such a popular book. People like the suspense of knowing someone’s right, but still being found guilty for something they did not do. There are many times throughout the book when people are powerless to prevent injustice but they still protest it. This shows that even when people unjustly punish there should always be someone to protest it. The theme of injustice is a common one in harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, whether it be through racism, misinformation, or Arrogance.
"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee there are very important themes. Including justice, don’t judge a book by its cover, and loss of innocence.