To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

1. by Harper Lee

   • Setting
     • We are introduced to the setting from the viewpoint of six year old Scout Finch growing up in the segregated town of Maycomb Alabama in the 1950s. Scout was brought up in a middle class white family under the influence of her father, Atticus finch who is considered the best lawyer in town. In Maycomb, white people are considered superior over the black community who typically serve as help and maids under the white person's rule. Everybody in Maycomb conforms to this racial social idea that it is not acceptable to treat black people like they are anything more that "trash", due to their racial differences.
   • Themes
     • Justice Doesn't Always Prevail
       • Atticus Finch, despite living amongst the social expectations in the racially prejudice town of Maycomb, takes on the trial to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus is fighting against accusations of the rape and beating of Mayella Ewell, a white women whose word is believed by the entire town aside from Atticus. He stands by his own moral beliefs of innocent until proven guilty overcoming the racial segregation that surrounds him. As we understand the nature of the trial it soon becomes clear that Mr. Robinson is in fact not guilty of Mayella Ewell's rape or beating. In contrast to how Mr. Robinson is perceived, he was manipulated and forced into compromising circumstances which lead to the misunderstanding of Mayella's father, a 'witness' of the crime. Tom was charged with the assault of Ms Ewell despite the outstanding evidence that Atticus brought up in his favour. The result of the trial illustrates the racial inequality present in Maycomb. Tom was not given a fair chance in court, even t
         • Appearance often masks reality and in a small town like Maycomb where gossip and rumours are spread quickly, the pre conceived ideas about Tom overshadowed the underlying truth of his innocence. To this Day we continue to place judgement upon social preconceived ideas. Instead of promoting equality, we are often blinded by our society standards and social values. We often grow up conforming to the beliefs of those around us which are often shaped by influences from the media, sculpting our mindset before we can form our own judgements based on our own experiences, not the attitudes that surround us. In this case,Tom was convicted of a crime that he didn't commit due to the colour of his skin because he didn't conform to the norm - a middle class white lifestyle, he was treated with less respect and understanding.
     • Importance of Moral Education & Social Class
       • Protagonist Scout learns the reality of Maycomb's social flaws as a result of his father's actions to defend a man of colour in this racially segregated town. Atticus's courage to break free from the norm is deemed unacceptable and cursed upon by the town. Jem and Scout develop as they have to learn to overcome the conflict they face - harassment on a daily bases a consequence of their fathers decisions. Scout and Jem are frequently reminded of their neighbourhoods disapproval as they are referred to as the poor children of a "nigger lover". Maycomb citizens believe that Atticus is a father not capable of setting a model example for his children. They fear that Atticus's actions, which encourage the acceptance of other races in society will cause his children to do the same. Therefore Atticus is a threat to Maycomb's structured society, provoking change in they way that white people have superiority over people of colour.
         • At the beginning of the novel to Scout's solution everything is violence and fighting against anybody who gets in her way. As she matures and gains more respect for her father she begins to learn from his lessons, "Just hold your head high and keep those fists down, no matter what anybody says to you, don't let 'em get your goat." Atticus teaches them to restrain their urges to retaliate, and instead they are to acknowledge and dismiss any negative comments they receive, no matter how insulting. "A person only beats you when you loose your temper, then the other party has won", he re-enforces. Atticus also shows his children - leading by example with his own interactions with people - that in order to understand somebody you have to consider things from their point of view. That we shouldn't pass judgement until we have put ourselves in their shoes.
           • Atticus highlights his own past failures and by taking on the trial of Tom Robinson and breaking free of racial discrimination, that a factor as little as skin colour should not determine the way one is treated nor determine their fate. "You can 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." Atticus uses Maycomb's societal flaws to his advantage turning unfortunate circumstances - the conflict he has caused for his children - into valuable lessons. The family experienced first hand how it feels to be treated in the same manner as people of colour, therefore Scout and Jem gained immense empathy and understanding about the lives of negroes. Maycomb's closed minded community and intolerance towards negroes influences the next generations of white people, causing them to grow up with the same values and idea of superiority amongst people of colour.
             • Scout and Jem are lucky to be brought up by Atticus who protects them from continuing the trend of inequality. He helps them to see the racial injustice by educating them from a young age to rise above social standards and form your own opinions, not based on the morals of others.