To Kill A Mockingbird Banned

460 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Problems with racism in literature

To Allow To Kill A Mockingbird Schools should not ban Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird because it teaches readers valuable morals as well as acts as an accurate example of life in the 1930s. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee PAGE #). When Atticus says this to Scout after she has trouble judging others, it has much more of an effect than just to teach Scout a lesson. This quote addresses all types of discrimination in the world and how people should never judge others without knowing their story first. Renditions of this quote appear constantly throughout the work, so therefore Harper Lee aims to open readers eyes to the reality

Show More
Related

  • Teaching To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

    1491 Words  | 3 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper lee in 1960. The novel tells the story of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer, and Tom Robinson, a black servant, accused of raping a white female. Finch defends Robinson in court arguing lack of evidence as his main point. However, the judge and jury still believe the woman’s testimony and orders Robinson to be killed. The novel has been praised for its outstanding literature since its publication. However, it remains a banned book by the American Library Association for its use of racial slurs and profanity. Due to it being banned, many high schools have reconsidered the notion of teaching it to their students. Two prominent authors wrote articles pertaining to this piece of literature: Angela Shaw-Thornburg wrote an article on her re-reading of the novel and her opinions on it; while Malcom Gladwell wrote an article comparing Atticus Finch to a state governor liberalist, James Folsom, and the restraints of liberalism in the south. In addition, Rebecca Best contributes her thought on how the novel should be taught by introducing the idea of “the other.” Regardless of the modern day political arguments surrounding this piece of literature, this novel contains a large insight into the time period of the 1960s which is an influential topic that should be taught to young high school students.

    Read More

  • Is Scout a Reliable Narrator in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    1231 Words  | 3 Pages

    Paul Simon, the musician, once said, “If you can get humor and seriousness at the same time, you've created a special little thing, and that's what I'm looking for, because if you get pompous, you lose everything” (Simon 1). Racism in the 1930s and until the 1960s was a very serious issue. As stated, authors have taken this serious issue and turned it into great pieces of literature. Many of them have truly shown the seriousness of racism in society. Even though, criticism continues. Some critics have argued that Scout, in To Kill A Mockingbird, is an unreliable narrator. This is simply because Scout is a child. They suspect she is too innocent, naïve, and has an unbiased view. However, Scout as the narrator is a reliable choice because she allows the reader to concentrate more on the exterior of situations, she allows the reader to make his/her opinion, and she gives the reader direction of how to cover events and certain actions in the novel. Scout, as a child narrator, helps the reader ‘read between the lines’.

    Read More

  • Analysis: Should To Kill A Mockingbird Be Taught In Schools?

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    In my opinion, I agree that To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee should be taught in schools. It should be taught for a variety of reasons, some in which the article we read covered and some it did not. I think it should be taught in schools because it tells us real life examples of what our history used to be like and the book could also teach all of us a lesson in life. Some points in the article we read that I will be talking about is what the book is about, how it is important for American history, and finally why I disagree with the statement of only adults should be able to read this.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Should Be Banned In Schools Essay

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    Why should this novel be banned from use in schools? Students should be able to hear these words and talk about them and not use them offensively. Racial content, tension, and slurs are used in people’s everyday lives. If people can use these words outside of school why would they not be allowed to be talked about in school? It is important for everyone to be informed about these racial tensions. This book also shows the reader what is was like to be growing up in this time period. Although this book uses the n-word, it uses it in a historical way. Using these racist words explains the way of thinking of the south in the 1930s. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is appropriate to use and read in school.

    Read More

  • Themes In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, may appear to be a simple story about childhood and life in a Southern town, but upon close examination it is a complex novel dealing with themes of education, moral courage, and tolerance. Through the eyes of Scout Finch, the young protagonist, novelist Harper Lee educates the reader about the importance of a moral education, as opposed to a formal education, the difference between traditional bravery and moral courage, and prejudice vs. tolerance.

    Read More

  • Why Not to Ban Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

    997 Words  | 2 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been challenged/banned countless times since it’s original publication in 1960. The reasoning people could have behind banning it is that they feel that the racism, language and subject matter in the book is offensive, inappropriate, immoral and that it encourages and condones such things. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, a small town in Alabama, during the depression from 1935-1937, and is told from the perspective of a little girl named Scout. In the book Scout’s father Atticus teaches her and her brother Jem many valuable lessons. The things Atticus teaches Scout and Jem are things we all need to know. To Kill a Mockingbird is an inspirational book that teaches valuable moral values, and should not be banned.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Education In To Kill A Mockingbird

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    Miss. Gates, Scout’s third grade teacher, tries to teach Scout about prejudice through Hitler and his hate of the Jewish, but Scout notices that Miss. Gates displays prejudice in her own community against Tom Robinson and other African-Americans. When describing Hitler’s actions, she states “Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced.” (Lee, 329). When describing her confusion to Jem, Scout later recalls that “I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson, they were getting way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us” (Lee 331). Miss. Gates’ contradiction draws parallels with that of society at the time, since she realizes the problem of prejudice, but refuses to admit that she has become prejudiced. Likewise, society recognizes the problems that African-Americans face, but is continuing to refuse to acknowledge or do anything about them. Atticus, one of the only people who recognizes the struggles that those facing prejudice live with, instructs his children that “It’s not okay to hate anybody” (Lee, 330), and tells them “I do my best to love everybody” (Lee, 144). He doesn’t want his children to be infected by the prejudice of the society they inhabit, but instead teaches them to love and respect everyone they come

    Read More

  • How Does Atticus Change In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird occurs in the 1930’s when discrimination was at its high points. The novel follows Atticus Finch as he defends a black man who has been accused of a certain crime. Atticus strives to be a good role-model for Jem and Scout by proving one should not judge others. The acts of prejudice towards the society influence the behavior of the main characters in the novel and show how society is conformed.

    Read More

  • Boo Radley Stereotypes

    497 Words  | 1 Pages

    Many people say the depravity of telling children about the heavy topics of the world, such as war, gives children biased and stereotyped views of the world and how it works. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, she uses many characters such as Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, and an eccentric man named Arthur “Boo” Radley to show how the stereotypes of people can crush innocence. Harper Lee uses the first person point of view of Scout, a young mischievous girl, and the anomaly of Boo Radley, to convey the idea of the heavy topic of bias and stereotypes to address the harms of destroying the innocence of a person. Through Scout’s and Boo’s experiences, Lee is able to suggest that society has an obligation to look past stereotypes and judge a person not based on things such as appearance.

    Read More

  • How Does Harper Lee Use Racial Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

    561 Words  | 2 Pages

    Despite great strides made by congress in order to pass non-discrimination bills, there are still people that experience racial prejudice. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the author, Harper Lee, makes racial prejudice a central topic. Harper Lee takes her readers back to the 1930’s in the fictional town of Maycomb in which there is a divide between blacks and whites: black people are prejudiced against white people, and white people are prejudiced against black people. She uses characters like Jem and Scout, who are kids, to show how they can become a victim to racial prejudice, and this experience consequently ruins their innocence. Through Jem and Scout’s tumultuous and racially-charged coming of age experience, Harper Lee suggests that racism can destroy a child’s innocence.

    Read More

  • Should To Kill A Mockingbird Be Allowed To Be Read In Every Classroom

    577 Words  | 2 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird is a well known story, and is one that relates to history, equality, and human morals. Although this book is important to these topics, over 300 formal complaints have been made against the book, and the book has been banned in 19 schools from when its been released to 2013. These statistics are frightening because this book shows readers how dark the world can be. I only think it makes sense to share this story with the youth so these events never happen again. I think this book should be allowed to be read everywhere.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Racial Intolerance In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1650 Words  | 4 Pages

    Atticus says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 33). Due to our sinful nature, people are so quick to judge, deciding that they will not be around people who are different. The real truth is that America has become narrow minded, only believing what the world is saying before getting to know the person and placing judgement. The U.S. has a need to learn selflessness, ignoring what society thinks about other people by making what you believe is right the new view on situations. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the narrator, Scout, is surrounded by racial intolerance as she grew up because of her father’s job as an attorney in

    Read More

  • Banning Books Should Be Banned

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    The main characters in To Kill a Mocking Bird Scout and Jem, learn true morals from their father Atticus Finch. Atticus is a lawyer who puts his life on the line to defend Tom Robinson whom was wrongly accused of rape because of his color and location at the time. Scout and Jem see the good in their father trying his best in amidst an evil time. Overlooking the profanity and racial themes, To Kill a Mocking Bird teaches the reader about strong morals and finding the good in trying times therefore, should remain off the banned books list. Unfortunately, in certain works the message is hidden in the profanity and offends people to the point of boycotting class until a book is removed from the curriculum. In Suzanne Pitner’s article she explains the main reason for the large banned book list proclaiming, “Usually the intentions is to protect people especially children, from controversial ideas or opinions.” (Pitner) Parents who are uncomfortable with their child seeing racial terms and sexual references are for the banning of numerous books but unfortunately work to ban the books for a majority not just their child. If a parent does not agree with the book they should be given the choice to hide it for their child not

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Persuasive Speech

    243 Words  | 1 Pages

    Do you ever feel uncomfortable or embarrassed while reading aloud with your class? Many students and parents do not approve of some of the material that the English department desires to teach. Although they most definitely should, sadly , they have no choice. A novel that has started an endless amount of controversy over the years is To Kill a Mockingbird. I am going to prove to you that To Kill a Mockingbird is not a novel that should be taught in schools because it contains triggering discuss of rape, repeadetly states the n-word, and delivers gender roles.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Censorship In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1145 Words  | 3 Pages

    Some believe that having strong themes like this, have a negative impact on a youths mind. These are strong and powerful themes that have a great significance in society. Think about from this perspective. Who reads to kill a mocking bird and leaves promoting rape, promoting lynching, believing racism is fair. The answer is no one. Harper Lee positioned the reader to see a serious situation through the eyes of a young girl. All she knows in life is what she’s read, what her father has told her and what those around her have said. This has positioned lee in an offensive position against the justification of these themes. Harper Lee didn’t promote rape, she addressed the problem it has on society, in order to combat it. We can’t just act like it never happened. The same way we can’t shun Anne Frank’s diary for talking about the holocaust, or the crucible for addressing witch trials. These were serious events that shaped society. If we blocked out any information of the actions of Hitler, how can we be sure another person wont follow in his footsteps. These novels don’t tell the reader what to believe, rather show them the impact events like this have on us. If student were never exposed to the impact of racism and profanity in novels like this how can we know that the next generation will not believe that white supremacy is the right thing to believe in. These books are a gateway to a better tomorrow, and aren’t taught to students because they are fun and exciting, because they certainly aren’t, but to educate the bulk of society what is morally

    Read More

More about To Kill A Mockingbird Banned

Open Document