“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” Harper Lee uses her novel To Kill a Mockingbird to show what courage really is. This is an example of “To Kill a Mockingbird” essays on courage which delves into the captivating exploration…
To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Examples and Topics
by Harper Lee
11 July 1960
Harper Lee
Novel
Bildungsroman, southern gothic
Atticus Finch, Scout Finch, Jem Finch, Calpurnia, Dill Harris, Arthur Radley, John Finch, Aunt Alexandra
Lee loosely based the characters on her family and neighbors. She was inspired by an event that occured in 1936 in Monroeville, Alabama.
Racial injustice, southern life, gender roles, class, laws, compassion, loss of innocence.
Atticus Finch, the book’s main character, has served as a model of integrity in legal circles. The book was adapted into a popular film in 1962. Gregory Peck played Atticus Finch.
Jean Louise Finch (Scout) 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. They make plans on how to get him outside. Atticus is appointed to the defense of a black man accused of raping a white woman (Tom Robinson). During the trial, Atticus proves that the accusations are false. Nevertheless, Tom is convicted by the jury. In an attempt to escape from prison, Tom is shot and killed. Bob Ewell, the supposed victim’s father, is furious with the trial’s outcome and attacks Atticus’ children in revenge. A mysterious man, who turns out to be Arthur Radley, saves them.
This book teaches us an important lesson of history. It’s based on the author’s actual childhood, when segregation and racism issues were real and harsh.
The book’s most popular theme is the inseparable nature of good and evil in our world and within people themselves.
- “You can choose your friends but you sho’ can’t choose your family, an’ they’re still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge ‘em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don’t.”
- “If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? If they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I’m beginning to understand something. I think I’m beginning to understand why boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time. It’s because he wants to stay inside.”
- “It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you.”
Although the book was extremely well received by the mainstream audience, it hasn’t received much academic attention. Its themes have been discussed for a long time before Lee finally gave some insight in the mid-1960s.
Racial injustice is still a current issue. Looking into its history makes us realize where we stand today on the matter. The book has many strong characters worthy of analyzing.
The book contains profanity and racial slurs, which make it realistic. However, these parts may be hurtful to some readers.