Critical Issues In To Kill A Mockingbird

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

The novel addresses the themes of race relations, justice, the loss of innocence, and small town life. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are viewed as mockingbird characters because they are subjected to suffering yet they are harmless and innocent.
It can be seen, that the language used in To Kill a Mockingbird novel is simple though it deals with critical issues in the society such as racial inequality and rape. Harper Lee bases the story in small town known as Maycomb during Great Depression period. The novel focuses on Jean Finch also known as Scout who lives under the care of her brother Jem and their father Atticus. The children befriends Dill who normally visits his aunt every summer. Scout, Jem and Dill are fascinated and terrified by their neighbor Boo who residents of Maycomb

It is hinted in the novel by Atticus that “He likened Tom 's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children,” (Lee 244). The literal image appears in the end of the book when Tom is shot and killed as he tries to escape from prison. As Atticus Finch doubts himself in how to proceed with the problematic death of the drunk, liar Bob Ewell, Lee decides to use this moment to incorporate her ultimate image of good in the world. “Atticus looked like he needed cheering up. I ran to him and hugged him and kissed him with all my might. ‘Yes sir, I understand,’ I reassured him (Lee 280). This almost playful dialogue between the characters shows that even after innocence appears to be lost, they still hold value for what is good and they are still able to display this kind of affection and concern for one another. The death of Tom Robinson is still an event that readers are trying to cope with almost sixty years since To Kill a Mockingbird’s publication. Tom Robinson seemed to be one of these mockingbirds; a man who did nothing wrong and yet found himself persecuted by those he tried to live innocently