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To Kill a Mockingbird Themes: Prejudice, Racism and Justice
To Kill a Mockingbird Themes - Introduction
Since its publication in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has sold over 30 million copies. Although set
in the 1930’s in the fictional American town of Maycomb,
the central themes and issues of To Kill a Mockingbird are just as relevant to society
today. So prevalent
are the issues of To Kill a Mockingbird that it was
recently cited by the American Library of Congress
as being second only to the Bible as the book that
had made a difference in people’s lives.
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To Kill a Mockingbird Themes - Main Characters
To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated from the viewpoint of Scout,
a young girl of about six years old who is the
daughter of another central character, Atticus
Finch. Atticus is the voice of justice and
rationalism speaking out in a town full of highly
emotional and ignorantly prejudiced people. A
lawyer, the integrity of Atticus never wavers
throughout To Kill a Mockingbird as we are shown one of the
few figures who truly holds justice and moral
beliefs above the prejudices of society.
To Kill a Mockingbird Themes - The Mockingbird
The main themes of To Kill a Mockingbird are
illustrated through two major subplots running
parallel throughout the novel. One of the major
themes in the novel is the mockingbird motif.
Atticus feels that it is wrong to kill a mockingbird
because all they do is sing beautiful songs and
never harm anyone. This theme is illustrated through
the trial of Tom Robinson.
A black man, Tom Robinson is accused of raping
Mayella Ewell, a white woman. In this
subplot, the racially prejudice nature of Maycomb
is clearly portrayed through such instances as the
fact that Atticus is accused by the town of being a
"nigger lover" for defending Tom’s case and also
through the lynch mob scene outside the jail. It is
in the Tom Robinson trial that the greatest example
of injustice because of prejudice is seen. Although
Atticus actually manages to prove the innocence of
Tom Robinson, the white jury still refuses to
declare the innocence of a black man over a white
resulting in the most blatant testimony to the fact
that the town of Maycomb held racial
discrimination above justice. Through its decision
the town essentially kills a mockingbird. Tom
Robinson was a man who did no harm to others but
instead actually helped others out of kindness - a
mockingbird who becomes victim to a racist
society.
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Atticus and Scout in the film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird
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To Kill a Mockingbird Themes - Another Man's Shoes
The second motif again concerns the nature of
prejudice and is illustrated through the subplot of Boo Radley. Atticus tells his children that we never
really know a man until we stand in his shoes and
walk around in them. This theme is represented
through Boo Radley, a man surrounded by mystery
and rumours and hence prejudices. It is this
prejudice that initially consumes Scout at the
beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird as she imagines Boo to be
some kind of monster. However, Boo’s kindness
towards the children ultimately prevails and he
even ends up saving their lives towards the end of
the novel. In the end Scout even comes to accept
Boo as a friend despite her original prejudice. This
goes to show that we have no right to judge others
since we cannot fully understand their viewpoint.
To Kill a Mockingbird Themes - Conclusion
To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated entirely through
the eyes of Scout who is initially a typically
prejudiced Maycomb child who is quick to turn to
fighting and force as a solution to conflicts.
However, through such scenes as the lynch mob
outside the jail where Scout disperses the entire
mob simply by talking to them rather than by force
and also through the Boo Radley subplot we see her
mature and progress to become a rational and wiser
character. This progression is essentially brought
about by Atticus and shows that views and beliefs are
ultimately passed on from parents and so through
the right upbringing and teaching, children can
overcome the prejudices held by society. For if a
child such as Scout living in a 1930’s society can
learn to overcome such deeply held prejudices and
come to understand the individual worth of a
person then surely people living in today's society can too.
Other Essays:
A Man For All Seasons
Johnny Tremain Summary
Lord Of The Flies Summary
Lord Of The Flies Themes
This Present Darkness
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