Comparing the Works of Harper Lee

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Recommended: Comparative essay to kill a mockingbird and of mice and men

Both To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck are classic novels in literature that portray major topics such as early Southern life, racial injustice, and the importance of innocence and compassion. The unique and successful authors Steinbeck and Lee both share common characteristics in their most famous and well recognized books. The setting, major themes and symbols to personify innocence are literary similarities between the two stories.

Although Of Mice and Men takes place in California, it is in the southern part of the state. To Kill a Mockingbird occurs in the south, specifically Georgia in Maycomb County. Both of these authors focus their novels during the 1930’s and also “the hardships of life during the Great Depression” (Attell, 1998).

Race is a major theme in both of the novels, as exemplified in the characters Tom Robinson and Crooks. Both authors use their characters and put them in situations during the time that is symbolizes people who are undervalued and segregated against. Crooks works on the farm, but he is isolated in a separ...

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