“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. The theme of the true meaning of courage is presented in many ways throughout the novel, and its…
Essays on To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
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The novel To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee has several key themes: discrimination, social inequality, courage, and innocence. This book is set in the Southern United States during the 1950s. The novel revolves around the lives of Jem and Scout, two children who…
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird outlines the life of a brother who grew up in a time of racial inequality and conflict, Jem, and sister Scout. Jem Finch is what most would call a typical young kid growing up in Maycomb, Alabama, a tiny…
‘Nelle’ Harper Lee was conceived on April 28, 1926, the most youthful of four offspring of Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Cunningham Finch Lee. She experienced childhood in Monroeville, a community in southwest Alabama. Her dad was a legal advisor who additionally served in the…
We’ve all heard the saying “never judge a book by its cover.” It’s a meaningful lesson that’s been repeated to us all countless times by our parents, grandparents, and teachers. The meaning of the words in the saying is more important than the words themselves….
Introduction Coming-of-age literature addresses the transition phases that a main character undergoes from youth to adulthood. Both Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye novels spell out the basic transitions that the protagonists undergo that build an equitable understanding of the world around…
In July 1960, the book To Kill A Mockingbird came out. The book introduced a lot of interesting characters but the character that really interested me was Arthur “Boo” Radley. Boo Radley was a little interesting because he showed some qualities such as shyness, being…
Throughout the book To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the reader experiences first-hand how a variety of characters branch out their emotions and intellect. The audience gets to see different characters grow, develop, and change due the influence of others. Arthur (Boo) Radley is…
Atticus Finch is a character that has lots of wisdom and experience, which he uses to try to guide his children into the right path. He is also a very gentle man who tries to be the best person he can be. Atticus is a…
Most heroes have capes and superhuman powers. Others are single dads who carry around a briefcase of legal papers. Most heroes save the citizens from malicious villains, but what if the evil was the people around you? Atticus Finch may seem like a simple commoner…
In To Kill a Mockingbird, a strong character that shows envious personality traits is none other than Atticus Finch. Atticus is generally seen as a character that is hard-working, smart, and strict. However, personality wise he is much more than that. First of all, a…
America was founded on July 4, 1776. We celebrate this holiday known as, “the 4th of July”, or as “Independence Day”, every year. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject to the monarch of Britain and were now free….
What does being mature mean? To be mature not only means physically, but also mentally; to stop childishness and “become an adult”. Harper Lee, the author of the novel,To Kill A Mockingbird, has represented mental maturity through two young siblings, Jem and Scout, who live…
Harper lee, the author of “to kill a mockingbird”published in, 1960, is presumably dead but gladly made an extraordinary novel before her time was up. Jean louise (scout) is an amazing girl who is very intelligent and a little curious. This book is about her…
In 2017, the 7th most challenged book in the American Library Association was Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird (1960). In the book a white lawyer, Atticus Finch, defends a black man, Tom Robinson, after he has been accused of rape. In addition to rape,…
Best topics on To Kill a Mockingbird
Date
11 July 1960
Author
Harper Lee
Type
Novel
Genre
Bildungsroman, southern gothic
Major Characters
Atticus Finch, Scout Finch, Jem Finch, Calpurnia, Dill Harris, Arthur Radley, John Finch, Aunt Alexandra
Based On
Lee loosely based the characters on her family and neighbors. She was inspired by an event that occured in 1936 in Monroeville, Alabama.
Symbols/Motives
Racial injustice, southern life, gender roles, class, laws, compassion, loss of innocence.
Influence
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.
Plot
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.
Why Is This Topic Important?
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.
Main Ideas
The book’s most popular theme is the inseparable nature of good and evil in our world and within people themselves.
Key Quotes
- “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.”
Interesting Facts
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.
Arguments For
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.
Arguments Against
The book contains profanity and racial slurs, which make it realistic. However, these parts may be hurtful to some readers.
