To Kill a Mockingbird and How it is Relevant Today

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To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel about all different kinds of stereotypes. It takes place during the 30’s in the depression. It uses a young girl’s perspective to show how these stereotypes were so abundant, and how terrible they were. The novel has many themes about racism and sexism, which the author portrays in creative ways. I believe that To Kill a Mockingbird is very much still relevant today. An important reason why To Kill a Mockingbird is relevant today is the ever growing resurgence of racism throughout the country. Events such as the ones in Jena, Louisiana seem to become more common each day. Recently, a black professor at Columbia University had a noose placed on her door. The novel, which was an attempt to spread knowledge of the racism in the south, was trying to stop the very things that happen everyday now. As racism becomes more and more prevalent, this novel will be a good tool to help teach the next generation about racism, and about how it is wrong. Another good reason that To Kill a Mockingbird is relevant today, is how that we need more ordinary people being heroes, like Boo Radley. Boo, who saves the kids from Bob Ewell’s drunken attack, is thought of as a “ghost” by the kids. In reality, Boo is a good person who has not led a normal life. If more people would step up and help people, we would have a much better society then we have right now. We should also learn not to judge people by legends and stories, but actually talk to the person and find out who they are. One of the main reasons this novel is relevant today is the theme of tolerance in the book. Tolerance is still something we have a large problem with today. In the novel women, blacks and even Boo Radley are not thought as equals or are just not accepted into mainstream society. Today, we have the same issue. One simple example is how you will see blacks sit at one lunch table and whites sit at another. This is not serious, but is an example of the tolerance we have for others or outsiders. Women are still facing many stereotypes today, and still do not have near as much power as men. Though the stereotypes are less serious than in the novel, they still exist widely today.

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