To Kill a Mockingbird Analysis

The act of prejudice is one that everyone experiences. Whether it be, a person who is distributing hate, or a person who is receiving hate, everyone has contact with it. Although it is present all over the globe, it is prominent in the United States. Both in the present and the past, endless acts of discrimination have taken place and left a monumental impact on the country. The effect that it leaves can be seen in the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. In this story, sexism, racism, and isolation, are demonstrated in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930’s. As the story progresses, Lee compares these concepts to one another and uses them to make a statement about the problematic nature in America.

Prejudice is one of the world’s greatest struggles. It does not only hold society back, but is harmful to the people who do good .In Harper Lee’s book To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout and Jem live through and witness prejudice and racism in the small town of Maycomb. They see someone wrongly accused of a crime because of his race. Scout and Jem also witness and take part in prejudice against a man no one knows anything about. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee uses characterization to show the negative effects of prejudice and racism.

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a complex literary work exploring several aspects of the human condition. Lee’s story is one based in the 1930’s, shortly before the Civil Rights Movement. Her novel ventures into the societal issues, such as racism and gender stereotyping, in their fictional town, Maycomb. One recurring theme throughout the narrative is the social adjustment of the citizens of Maycomb and the human race as a whole. Lee showcases the progress in social justice matters by using symbolism and motifs.

The first evidence of the gender role battle became prominent when Atticus, Jem and Scout visited Finch Landing, where their Aunt Alexandra lived. Referring to Scouts attire, Aunt Alexandra said that she must wear a dress and behave like a lady to “be a ray of sunshine in [her] father’s lonely life”. Comments about

In Harper Lee’s To Kill A MockingBird, Atticus states that, “‘[y]ou 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 39). The literature Harper Lee presents to society touches many universal themes of society mechanics from the past and still connects to the present. Throughout the novel there are various forms of prejudice that evoke in the presence of social inequality, racism and loss of innocence.

Through the use of Scout’s innocent nature and the words and actions carried out by the townspeople, Harper Lee’s critical tone regarding prejudice is revealed.

She begins to understand the underlying racism issues in her community. Scout comprehends the severity and injustice around the black community and the trial. Her stances and morals often differ from those in Maycomb. She begins to question the ethnicty of her own family ‘ “ Well how do you know we ain’t negroes” “ Uncle Jack Finch says we really don’t know. He says as far as he can trace back the finches ain’t but for all he knows we mighta come straight out of Ethiopia” ’(216). As Scout grows, she becomes intrigued with learning about the minority in Maycomb. Compartitvely, Scout displays maturity when she increasingly begins to develop and interest in no longer wearing her boyish overalls but preferably, joining her aunt in a more lady-like environment. “ I carefully picked up the tray and watched myself walk to Mrs. Merriweather, with my best company manners, I asked her if she would have some. After all if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I” (318). The arrangements that Scout had previously deemed boring, soon became absorbing and engaging. Scout begins to paint an ideal image of a young

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the author establishes an argument against the immoral idea of prejudice. Due to the setting, people are especially discriminatory towards each other depending on uncontrollable or unreasonable factors. Throughout the novel, various characters and scenes reflect the argument Lee is addressing.

“The state had not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross-examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant. The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is.”(271) The reader can easily determine that Tom Robinson is innocent, but he looses because he is African American the reader can clearly see how much this benefits Mayella Ewell. Lee uses culture to portray the cons of being African American and how being African American would effect people negatively. Furthermore Tom Robinson was a hard working respectful African American and he still was segregated because of his

Throughout our reading, To Kill a Mockingbird, substance can be found within the reading. This substance consists of various literary elements that are used to formulate a story, to serve the author’s purpose. In this case, Harper Lee forms a commentary about the injustices faced by colored people, long after the abolishment of slavery. From Lee’s use of allusion, to her personal writing style, each element is used to tell a story. While there are many prominent literary elements at play within the reading, there are also subtle ones, which greatly affect the storytelling. Lee carefully use setting to s

Millions of humans have suffered at the hands of racism and discriminatory events throughout history. The majority of these racial and discriminatory events are the basis of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel references Jim Crow laws, mob mentality, as well as the issues of racism and discrimination in that period of time.

In the riveting coming-of-age novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee projects the idea of acceptance of all people, through the eyes of a child. Harper Lee combats the prejudice of social standing when she proves that some of the poorest people have the best of character traits. While racism of African Americans is first and foremost in this novel, the acceptance of white people into the African American community shows racism can be beaten from both point of views. Finally, the disabilities that Arthur Radley portrays, is forgotten, when his actions help him soar above the bigotry of the people of Maycomb County. The most obvious topic is the overt racism based on a person's skin color, however, Harper Lee takes us beneath the skin to show that discrimination occurs in other ways.

Mrs.Dubose yells at Scout for having on overalls instead of a dress. She addresses this in the worst way possible. “What are you doing with those overalls? You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady!”(Lee 135) She is stereotyping women, saying that all women should wear a dress and camisole. Overalls cannot be for women? Scout starts to learn what a girl “should” act like after Jem yelled at her to grow up acting like a girl. “She [Calpurnia] seemed glad to see me when I appeared in the kitchen, and by watching her I began to think that there was some skill involved in being a girl”(Lee, 154). Calpurnia is slowly showing Scout what she is supposed to live up to. Aunt Alexandra stays with the Finch’s to push Scout to be a lady! “We [Aunt Alexandra and Atticus] decided it was best for you to have some feminine influence. It won’t be many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys” (Lee 170). Aunt Alexandra is trying too hard to change Scout’s life by making her wear dresses and stereotyping her to be a “little lady” instead of taking it one day at a time. “When I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing anything that required pants” (Lee 108). Aunt Alexandra wishes Scout would play with “ small stoves” and “tea sets” because that is how little ladies are supposed to act. Scout does not care what Aunt

Social Inequality: Alexandria 's assertion that children need a "feminine influence" in their lives is outdated, but not for the time period. Her assumptions that Scout will become interested in stereotypical

Harpers Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is a literary classic that talks about racism as well as femininity in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The story told from the perspective of Jean Louise Finch, who also goes by Scout, although she is only eight years old. Throughout the book, Scout realizes that her beloved hometown of Maycomb is not that great as it seems. While realizing this, Scout has a change of mindset. She is constantly told to "act like a lady" but she does not want to become something she is not. Scout initially has a negative opinion on being a lady but the women in Maycomb are essentially what grows Scout's opinion. The roles of Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Aunt Alexandria are the key influences to changing Scout's mindset.