Racism, Morality And Injustice By Harper Lee - 1166 Words

To Kill A Mockingbird To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel that bases itself upon racism, morality and injustice. Written by Harper Lee, the novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961 and has become part of the standard literature curriculum in schools nationwide. The story takes place between 1933-1935 in Maycomb, a small, poor, old town in the grips of the Great Depression. The novel has exceeding amount of content that reflects the notions of conscience, courage and conviction. Conscience is believed to be a persons sense of right and wrong, while courage is the action of facing a fear and conviction is known to be a formal declaration by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law that someone is guilty of a criminal offence but can also be a firmly held belief or opinion. These themes are explored throughout the novel through different characters, shown through quotes and actions. Conscience is said to be a person s moral sense of right and wrong. This concept is evident throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, shown mainly through the character of Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is the father of Jem and Scout and is also a lawyer in Maycomb. The story is set in South Alabama during the 1930s. This was a time and place where racism was a common occurrence and within the story, a black man, Tom Robbinson, was convicted of rape of a white woman. Atticus was the court appointed lawyer to Tom Robbinson, and he chose to defend Tom to the best of hisShow MoreRelatedKill A Mockingbird : Five Paragraph Analysis1288 Words   |  6 PagesMockingbird, by Harper Lee. In short, the novel travels a thin line between a light-hearted narrative of the siblings’ childhood with their single father, a defense attorney named Atticus Finch, and the injustices that arise within their close-knit community. The complexities include extreme racism, a peculiar social hierarchy, and genera l misunderstandings of certain people within the small town. These are all seen as â€Å"Maycomb ways†, almost as if they are considered facts. Through her writing, Lee conveysRead MoreThemes in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee Essay627 Words   |  3 PagesTo kill a mockingbird written by Harper Lee. Themes are the subject of a talk, a piece of writing or a persons thoughts. There are many themes present in this great American classic such as courage, racism, prejudice, morality and of course coming of age. Lee communicates these themes with characters, events that unfold and the scenarios that Jem and Scout have to face. One of many themes that is evidently present throughout the book is prejudice. The main action is of Atticus defending the innocentRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Judgement Essay1406 Words   |  6 Pagesin life. The jury should not laugh at the prisoner because it is only a matter of time before roles can be switched. In Harper Lee s award winning novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, she sets the plot in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression. During this time period, issues like classism, racism, genderism, and general stereotyping were quite prudent. Harper reveals that it is unjust for one person to make the rash decision of placing judgement and stereotyping another, whenRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1752 Words   |  8 Pagesyou consider things from his point of view†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ (Atticus finch, Lee 34). The novel To kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a masterpiece that takes readers to explore how human behave. The feelings, conflicts, meani ngs, reasons, love, cruelty, kindness and humor within the book is what makes the book a necessity to the reader. Harper Lee showed throughout her book how a damage and cruel society looks like. Lee’s view of the word â€Å"morality† is what gives the characters the power to contrast their ownRead MoreHarper Lee s Kill A Mocking Bird1430 Words   |  6 Pagesunable to speak English well. They cannot conjugate verbs. They have a poor grasp of verb tenses. They have a limited vocabulary. They cannot speak without swearing. Many, when they testify, show a complete lack of empathy and are unable to conceal a morality based on the satisfaction of immediate, base needs. Most jurors are white and are appalled by the demeanor of uneducated, criminal blacks . The prevalent attitudes of the American Public in the 1930 s are brazenly conveyed in this quote. BlackRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1547 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† is a classic piece of American literature written by Harper Lee. She illustrates a theme of the intolerance of prejudice and the quick judgments of others. The book takes the reader back to the 1930’s in a small town known as Maycomb. Harper Lee chose to give the reader an innocent, pure view of the different situations in the book through the eyes of a young girl named Jean Louise Finch who is also known as Scout. To Kill a Mockingbird is a pleasurable read for people ofRead MoreLoss Of Innocence Occurs When A Person First Develops An1231 Words   |  5 PagesLoss of innocence occurs when a person first develops an awareness of the suffering, evil and injustice around them. In poignant bildungsroman To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee writes through the eyes of â€Å"Scout † Finch, recounting her experience growing up in the segregated town of Maycomb. Through Scout, you learn about her father Atticus Finch, an attorney who hopelessly strives to prove the innocence of Tom Robinson; a black man unjustly accused of rape, and of the civil rights issues and prejudiceRead MoreRacism and Its Deep Roots in US History1688 Words   |  7 PagesRacism and Its Deep Roots in US History Throughout US history, white Americans often viewed the other races (or coloreds) as inferior. Even though slavery had been abolished, laws and practices inhibited the fundamental rights African Americans were entitled to. Thus the mentality of racism and prejudice thoughts had persisted in people’s minds. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Maycomb County, Alabama during the timeframe of the 1930s. Citizens of Maycomb County abide by aRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1982 Words   |  8 Pagespopulations, remaining conversant with the unspoken laws of the community is not difficult as the knowledge of who is socially acceptable to talk to and who is thought of as more of an outsider than a neighbor is not hard information to come across. Harper Lee highlighted this in her novel To Kill A Mockingbird by telling the story of life in Maycomb County, Alabama, through the eyes of Jean Louise Finch, whom everyone called Scout. While Scout, her father At ticus, and her older brother Jem were consideredRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Essay1505 Words   |  7 Pagesexplores human morality from the perception of a six year old child, providing a different perspective on important issues of this time period. Scout’s understanding of morality develops from her once simple idea of an individual being either good or evil to a much more complete comprehension of its complexity. In retrospect, Scout as the narrator revels in her naivety and child-like innocence throughout her experiences. Through setting, point of view, symbolism, and conflict, author Harper Lee emphasizes