"We change through conversations, not through censorship”. That’s a problem, which faces modern day society. Parents, guardians and community members globally, enforce strict rules, which prevent the youth from gaining access to explicit material in hopes that their minds will not be effected by the harsh and real themes which litter modern day arts. To kill a mocking bird has been in the firing line of censorship, since it made itself on the shelves of book stores globally back in the 60’s. Since, schools internationally have researched the novel to learn lessons and skill that will aid in the development of their thoughts, beliefs and skills. But now I’m standing in front of you, a simple member of the Springfield community, in hopes to solidify …show more content…
Some believe that having strong themes like this, have a negative impact on a youths mind. These are strong and powerful themes that have a great significance in society. Think about from this perspective. Who reads to kill a mocking bird and leaves promoting rape, promoting lynching, believing racism is fair. The answer is no one. Harper Lee positioned the reader to see a serious situation through the eyes of a young girl. All she knows in life is what she’s read, what her father has told her and what those around her have said. This has positioned lee in an offensive position against the justification of these themes. Harper Lee didn’t promote rape, she addressed the problem it has on society, in order to combat it. We can’t just act like it never happened. The same way we can’t shun Anne Frank’s diary for talking about the holocaust, or the crucible for addressing witch trials. These were serious events that shaped society. If we blocked out any information of the actions of Hitler, how can we be sure another person wont follow in his footsteps. These novels don’t tell the reader what to believe, rather show them the impact events like this have on us. If student were never exposed to the impact of racism and profanity in novels like this how can we know that the next generation will not believe that white supremacy is the right thing to believe in. These books are a gateway to a better tomorrow, and aren’t taught to students because they are fun and exciting, because they certainly aren’t, but to educate the bulk of society what is morally
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper lee in 1960. The novel tells the story of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer, and Tom Robinson, a black servant, accused of raping a white female. Finch defends Robinson in court arguing lack of evidence as his main point. However, the judge and jury still believe the woman’s testimony and orders Robinson to be killed. The novel has been praised for its outstanding literature since its publication. However, it remains a banned book by the American Library Association for its use of racial slurs and profanity. Due to it being banned, many high schools have reconsidered the notion of teaching it to their students. Two prominent authors wrote articles pertaining to this piece of literature: Angela Shaw-Thornburg wrote an article on her re-reading of the novel and her opinions on it; while Malcom Gladwell wrote an article comparing Atticus Finch to a state governor liberalist, James Folsom, and the restraints of liberalism in the south. In addition, Rebecca Best contributes her thought on how the novel should be taught by introducing the idea of “the other.” Regardless of the modern day political arguments surrounding this piece of literature, this novel contains a large insight into the time period of the 1960s which is an influential topic that should be taught to young high school students.
Why should this novel be banned from use in schools? Students should be able to hear these words and talk about them and not use them offensively. Racial content, tension, and slurs are used in people’s everyday lives. If people can use these words outside of school why would they not be allowed to be talked about in school? It is important for everyone to be informed about these racial tensions. This book also shows the reader what is was like to be growing up in this time period. Although this book uses the n-word, it uses it in a historical way. Using these racist words explains the way of thinking of the south in the 1930s. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is appropriate to use and read in school.
Throughout the novel Harper Lee explores the racism, prejudice, and the innocence that occurs throughout the book. She shows these themes through her strong use of symbolism throughout the story. Even though To Kill a Mockingbird was written in the 1960’s, the powerful symbolism this book contributes to our society is tremendous. This attribute is racist (Smykowski). To Kill a Mockingbird reveals a story about Scout’s childhood growing up with her father and brother, in an accustomed southern town that believed heavily in ethnological morals (Shackelford).
As children we are oblivious to the influence of those who surround us . We chose to see the greater good in humanity rather than the obvious truth. We are influenced by our environment and choose to abide to the morals presented to us. This applies directly to the novel to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, which moves along with the lives of two young children ;Scout and Jem. Along with the obstacles they face and the exposure they have to the ideas of racism, gender roles, and degenerate morals. Throughout the novel it is evident that Scout and Jem go from naïveté to maturity due to their surroundings, influence of family members, and the arising controversy of the Tom Robinson case. They both develop
Has evil always been around, or did man create it? One could trace evil all the way back to Adam and Eve; however, evil came to them, but it was not in them. When did evil become part of a person? No one knows, but evil has been around for a long time and unfortunately is discovered by everyone. In many great classics in literature evil is at the heart or the theme of the novel, including Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. This classic book demonstrates the growing up of two children in the South and illustrates the theme of evil by showing how they discover, how they deal, and how they reconcile themselves to the evils they experience.
Many students believe that Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird displays social issues in early America. In this time standing against common customs was unacceptable, a violation of society. People believe that today courage has overcome adversity that was displayed in early America. Courage is the common subject of To Kill a Mockingbird, which allows Lee’s novel to defy the changing times of humanity. These morals are bound to the “impartiality” and “fairness” taught to people as children, but become unavoidably invisible though selfish actions. The characters in To Kill a Mockingbird express audacity along with resilience in the face of cowardice.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a heartbreaking, timeless novel that examines stereotyping and its consequences. The novel shadows Atticus Finch, a small-town lawyer, as he defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman in racist Maycomb, Alabama. Frequently, To Kill a Mockingbird has been banned for use in many schools because of the racial content in it. In the novel, racial tension and slurs are used frequently. Although the novel does contain these things, To Kill a Mockingbird should definitely be taught in schools because it represents accurately what it was like before blacks received their civil right, it teaches valuable life lessons, and it shows how novels like To Kill a Mockingbird helped the civil rights movement.
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird shows so many characteristics of today’s society. Among thes...
Symbolism. Why is it important in a novel? Why do authors incorporate symbols into their writing? Symbolism aids the reader in understanding what the author wants to portray. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, she writes about the racism in a small town in Alabama named Maycomb set in the 1930’s and about two children growing up and learning that their town is not as perfect as they thought. The theme topic appearance versus reality helps to get a better understanding of the symbols used in the novel and that you should not judge something by their appearance, you should judge by the reality of what it is. “As Atticus once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it.” (Scout page 77) In her novel, there are many symbols throughout the narrative that relate to the theme topic appearance versus reality. Harper Lee writes symbols into her novel, such as the snowman, Mrs. Dubose’s Camellia flower and Dolphus Raymond’s Coca-Cola bottle to help reinforce the theme topic of appearance versus reality throughout the novel.
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest” Ellie Wiesel. Readers may find the amount of injustice in Harper lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird a little shocking. This could be why it’s such a popular book. People like the suspense of knowing someone’s right, but still being found guilty for something they did not do. There are many times throughout the book when people are powerless to prevent injustice but they still protest it. This shows that even when people unjustly punish there should always be someone to protest it. The theme of injustice is a common one in harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, whether it be through racism, misinformation, or Arrogance.
Everyone knows that teamwork makes the dream work, but who formed the team? Who inspired the people in it? Behind every successful team, whether it be a project in school, a business, or a social movement, there lies a passionate leader who initiates the group, motivates the group, and works beside the people in it. Without this leader, the goal of the group cannot be achieved. In social activism, the leader takes the role of speaking out for people along with providing an example to follow, which makes them the most crucial aspect of creating social justice. Atticus Finch demonstrates this in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, as well as Nelson Mandela in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, and Steve Biko in the film Cry Freedom. Social activists acting as strong leaders are the most important element to enact social change because leaders take the initiative to publicly speak out for what is morally right, which motivates people to follow their example.
The author behind the renowned novel To Kill A Mockingbird is a woman by the name of Harper Lee. This ingenious woman made magic with only her inventive mind, innovative imagination, passion for kindness and equality, and her own past experiences. She was born and raised in a time of prejudice and racism, but she always found a way to keep her benevolence intact. She never let herself get corrupted or influenced by frivolous and uneducated people. Harper Lee’s influences as a child and views of society as an adult inspired her to fight against the world’s prejudice outlook on life by writing To Kill A Mockingbird, a novel that argues against society’s biased views and racist attitudes.
Black and white, right and wrong; do decisions that simple and clear even exist? Does a decision ever mean gaining everything without giving anything up? Many characters in To Kill A Mockingbird are forced to make difficult, heart wrenching decisions that have no clear right answer. Harper Lee presents many of these important decisions in To Kill A Mockingbird as ethical dilemmas, or situations that require a choice between two difficult alternatives. Both of these alternatives have unpleasant aspects and question morals and ethics. A person is put in an awkward position, with their mind saying contradicting things. These dilemmas are presented in many different ways. The decisions in the beginning of the book are simple and can be solved quite easily, yet they are symbolic of later decisions. Other dilemmas place adult-like decisions in the lap of a child. One dilemma concerned a man burdened with the strict traditions of the South. Then there are the two biggest dilemmas, Atticus' decision to take the case and Heck Tate's choice between truth and the emotional well being of a man. Lee's ingenious storyline is established by these crucial and mentally arduous choices faced by the characters.
Despite cultures and conflicts, the fundamental bonds remain: We all belong to a common family. The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a timeless classic about coming of age in a small southern town in the 1930’s. The book follows Jem and Scout, two siblings, who must face the harsh realities of life. Hypocrisy and racism together make the two most important themes.
Censorship should not be allowed because in the Constitution, rights are guaranteed to the American people, such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the freedom to petition. Also, these rights demonstrate that the American people live in country which has long been established for its people. Therefore, censorship should not be allowed to occur because the rights of Americans are assured in the Constitution. In addition, past presidents such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson instituted the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the freedom to petition so that the people would realize that they do indeed matter and that they are the core of America. Allowing Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” to become censored would make the rights granted by the Constitution worthless, Americans would no longer be able to freely choose to read or not read “To Kill a Mockingbird”, and the government would be ignoring its duty to defend the Constitution.