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Stylistic analysis to kill a mockingbird
Reflections on to kill a mocking bird
Reflections on to kill a mocking bird
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Harper Lee’s novel is considered to be an American Classic. Set during the 1930s, at the time of the Great Depression, in the US it was a time of excess poverty and a daily struggle for many. The book tells the story of the early life of Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and her Brother Jeremy Finch (Jem) as they grow up in Maycomb County, Alabama. Told in first person narrative from the perspective of Scout it is an excellent way to convey the feelings that she battles with as well as beautifully conveying the events unfolding. Set over a 3 year period the book addresses many of the issues children have growing up, including their inquisitive drive for information and lust for knowledge. In addition Lee intertwines the story of Scout and Jem with many of the wider issues of the time such as violence, prejudice and social inequality. This review will first of all target the story and provide a summary of the major events and turning points before moving on to examine the themes and deeper meaning behind the book and the messages, if any, that Lee was trying to convey to the reader. The novel is wonderfully constructed into two parts. The first of these deals with introducing the characters to the reader and setting them in context. The two children live with their lawyer father Atticus who receives help bringing them up and with household chores from their maid Calpurnia, a coloured woman. The sleepy street that Scout and Jem inhabit with their father Atticus has a number of residents who are described to us individually. The most important of these is the Radley family who live a couple of doors down from the Finch’s. The Radley’s are a family shrouded in mystery as they seem to live an eccentric life. They make no effort to engage in th... ... middle of paper ... ...ays, Nome, just a lady.” This shows the pressure Scout is put under by the arrival of Aunt Alexandra and how she begins to conform to the gender role he aunt wishes her to fulfil. Scout is not permitted to have her own dreams if they don’t fit into the structured life of a Southern Lady. The character of Atticus is probably the most important in the novel with regard to the themes. He is surrounded by prejudice in every day life whether it be watching his daughter being told she must fulfil her gender role or trying to defend Tom Robinson from accusations arising because of his race. However it is through the character of Atticus that Lee presents another of the novels major theme’s, the inherent goodness of man. Final theme; Loss of childhood innocence, displayed through narrative and signalled by scouts understanding of boo radley being let off with the crime.
To Kill a Mockingbird novel is a warm and humorous piece of writing though it deals with critical issues such as racial inequality and rape. The novel was published in 1960 by Harper Lee and it gained immediate popularity and success becoming a modern literature in American. The plot of the novel and characters are based on Harper’s perception of her neighbors and her immediate family. Also, it is based on her observation of events that took place near her home area in 1936 at the age of ten years. To Kill a Mockingbird symbolizes killing harmless and innocent people. Tom Robinson is an example of an innocent man falsely accused of raping a White girl known as Mayella Ewell (Lee 169). Another example is Boo who is misunderstood by the society
one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it is a sin to
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.
The novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, is an American classic, narrated by the young Scout Finch, the most engrossing character in the book. The novel is about the adventures of two siblings over the time of about three years. Jem and Jean Louise (Scout) Finch were two young siblings who one day met another young boy named Dill. Over time, Jem and Scout grow up under the careful watch of their father and friends, learning how to be adults. They play games, they sneak into a courthouse, and they learn a valuable life lesson. Scout was an intriguing character. As the narrator, you learn more about Scout’s feelings towards the events in the book and soon learn to love her. Let me introduce you to Scout Finch.
In Celia, A Slave, a slave named Celia was sent to court because she committed homicide. However, the murder was justified, because she was trying to defend herself from her slave owner, Robert Newsom, who was attempting to rape her once again. This time around, Celia attempted to protect herself by striking Newsom, just in order to daze him for a bit. She did not intend to kill the man, but simply keep him away from her. Unfortunately, in Missouri in 1850, the only person that would be protected by law would be the slave owner, when it came to the rape of a slave. The slave owner would be allowed to immediately punish a rapist for trespassing on their property, which in this case, would be the slave. Celia, A Slave is a story that
The way in which humans come to be understanding, compassionate individuals is a process demonstrated constantly throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, a famous novel written by Harper Lee, taking place in the 1930’s during the Great Depression in Maycomb County, Alabama. The story is told from the young Jean Louise “Scout” Finch’s perspective, and tracks the development of her and her older brother Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch, from innocent to understanding. The negative influences which Jem and Scout experience, including the racially charged case of Tom Robinson, lead the children to have a new, more experienced perspective on human nature. People like Atticus Finch, Jem and Scout’s father, help the children to make sense of this part of human
Through the three children in the story’s development, the author realistically portrays the coming of age in a world distraught with prejudice and racism. The three characters start out the start as naïve, ingenuous children, but grow up to be smart and mature by the end of the novel. Jem learns about true courage and who Boo Radley really is, a person completely contrary to his original misconceptions. Scout learns about the complacence with which a person can ignore injustices and that people are not always what the populace holds them to be. Dill learns that prevarication can lead into a very inauspicious life that can cost a human being’s life. As the characters grow up, they obtain new knowledge, learn new lessons, or understand the different aspects of life and society.
Scout Finch, the youngest child of Atticus Finch, narrates the story. It is summer and her cousin Dill and brother Jem are her companions and playmates. They play all summer long until Dill has to go back home to Maridian and Scout and her brother start school. The Atticus’ maid, a black woman by the name of Calpurnia, is like a mother to the children. While playing, Scout and Jem discover small trinkets in a knothole in an old oak tree on the Radley property. Summer rolls around again and Dill comes back to visit. A sence of discrimination develops towards the Radley’s because of their race. Scout forms a friendship with her neighbor Miss Maudie, whose house is later burnt down. She tells Scout to respect Boo Radley and treat him like a person. Treasures keep appearing in the knothole until it is filled with cement to prevent decay. As winter comes it snows for the first time in a century. Boo gives scout a blanket and she finally understands her father’s and Miss Maudie’s point of view and treats him respectfully. Scout and Jem receive air guns for Christmas, and promise Atticus never to shoot a mockingbird, for they are peaceful and don’t deserve to die in that manner. Atticus then takes a case defending a black man accused of rape. He knows that such a case will bring trouble for his family but he takes it anyways. This is the sense of courage he tries to instill in his son Jem.
Harper Lee’s only book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is the stereotypical tale of childhood and innocence, yet it successfully incorporates mature themes, like the racism in the South at the time, to create a masterpiece of a work that has enraptured people’s minds and hearts for generations. According to esteemed novelist Wally Lamb, “It was the first time in my life that a book had sort of captured me. That was exciting; I didn’t realize that literature could do that” (111). Scout’s witty narration and brash actions make her the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for, and the events that take place in Maycomb County are small-scale versions of the dilemmas that face our world today. Mockingbird is a fantastically written novel that belongs on the shelves of classic literature that everyone should take the time to read and appreciate for its execution of style and the importance of its content.
Keeping a mouth shut doesn't hold the world shut out, it opens up new doors to things that would never be expected. In To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, there is are two character that is are an eternal mystery for the readers. Boo Radley, though the reader nor Scout and Jem know anything about the character all they want is to learn about him. Boo becomes a mysterious figure that many see as creepy, ghostly, but also reasonably wise. The one-time Boo appears the readers learn he is a sagacious, powerful man. Little do Scout and Jem know is that their father is also a rational being as well. The two crucial character in the story helps support the
Harper Lee published this novel during a rough period in American history, also known as the Civil Rights Movement. This plot dives into the social issues faced by African-Americans, like Tom Robinson, in the south. She felt that the unfair treatment towards blacks was persisting and not coming to an end anytime soon. This drove her to publish this novel in hopes that it would help society realize that these harsh ways must stop. She effectively uses the characters to help drive this point. Atticus Finch, and his children, Scout and Jem, play a large role in this story. Atticus makes a very honorable name for himself, while Scout and Jem innocence is exposed to the real world and how much bad there is throughout society. Lee utilizes her best abilities to show that in the end, good will overcome evil.
Atticus Finch is a very essential character in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. He is not only the father on Jem and Scout, but he is also defending Tom Robinson. Along with all of the obstacles and challenges that Atticus faces he is still an exceptional role model for the children. He also overcomes the diversity of Negroes and whites that is displayed during his time by standing up and fighting for Tom Robinson and his triumph in court against Bob Ewell. Lee presents Atticus Finch as understanding of Tom Robinson, caring with the children, and calm throughout the Tom Robinson trial.
All things considered, many conflicts come across the story of Harper Lee leading to the theme of the book. When you look at the town of Maycomb, you see confused people. The theme can be whether people are essentially good or essentially evil. I agree with this theme because you’re either like Atticus (Good) or like Mr. Ewell (Bad). Atticus Finch tries to understand that most people have both good and bad qualities. After all, the important thing is to appreciate the good qualities and understand the bad ones by treating them with sympathy and seeing through their perspective of
Many of the ladies take turns talking about the people in Africa and the poor conditions they live in. They talk about their willingness to donate and help support the cause but yet talk badly upon their neighbors of the same decent. Mrs. Merriweather gripes about having to pay her maid so much because she has been sulking around. Scout doesn’t really understand how these ladies could be so two-sided, especially Miss Gates. Miss Gates, Scout’s third grade teacher, taught a lesson on Adolf Hitler and the persecution of the Jews. She explained how he was an evil man for killing the helpless Jews. This really confused Scout because later she tells Jem about a conversation she overhears between Miss Gates and Miss Stephanie Crawford. “‘I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ’em a lesson, they were gettin‘ way above themselves, an‘
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. You know Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was misperceived at first. All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names, but after he led Santa’s sleigh, they loved him. Misperceptions like this happen all throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. As you read the novel you see original judgments made about characters transform into new conceptions and new understandings. Some characters twist your views of them on purpose, others do it involuntarily. To Kill a Mockingbird shows this happening over and over again. All you have to do is look for it.