To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been challenged/banned countless times since it’s original publication in 1960. The reasoning people could have behind banning it is that they feel that the racism, language and subject matter in the book is offensive, inappropriate, immoral and that it encourages and condones such things. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, a small town in Alabama, during the depression from 1935-1937, and is told from the perspective of a little girl named Scout. In the book Scout’s father Atticus teaches her and her brother Jem many valuable lessons. The things Atticus teaches Scout and Jem are things we all need to know. To Kill a Mockingbird is an inspirational book that teaches valuable moral values, and should not be banned. It can be argued that To Kill a Mockingbird should be banned because of the foul language used in the book; for example damn, hell, whore-lady, goddamn whore and nigger ( Lee 90, 94, 221). Some might argue that it encourages cursing and portrays it as an acceptable thing, but in truth it does the complete opposite. When Scout asks Atticus if he defends niggers, he discourages her from using words like nigger (Lee 85). Scout stops using the term nigger but starts using words like damn hell and whore-lady. She think if she talks way than Atticus will stop sending her to school, because that where she learned those words. Atticus knows what she’s trying to do, so he decides to ignore it thinking that when she realizes it’s not going to work she’ll stop. When Scout says to her uncle Jack things like “That’s a damn story.” and “Pass the damn ham, please.” he doesn’t just ignore her (Lee 90). He sits her down and tells her that he doesn’t like words like damn and hell, and tha... ... middle of paper ... ...s like with the mob that was after Tom Robinson. To Kill a Mockingbird is full of many truths that people need to know; Harper Lee has done an amazing job bring those truths to light through the eyes of a child. To Kill a Mockingbird does not need to be banned. people need to open their eyes to the truth, there is evil all around us. Harper Lee shows us that evil through the eyes of a little girl and teaches us how to respond to that evil. To kill a mockingbird is wrong because they don’t do us any harm, they just share their music with us. To ban To Kill a Mockingbird is wrong because it doesn’t harm anyone, it simply opens up our eyes to truths we need to know. Works Cited Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. 1960. New York. First Perennial Classics. 2002. Print Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird. Dir. Mary Murphy. First Run Features. 2011. Netflix
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.
It is so important to read books like these. Not only to teach what is was like back in the 1930s, but to get an understanding on what racism was like. If we read books like these today, we have a chance of getting kids to get a better understanding on why racism is so wrong. every child should read To Kill A Mockingbird because it will get them to realize how wrong segregation was back then Why should we ban this book when it’s only teaching kids more about
Think of it like this, a book is like a piece of art, without certain details how will the art be portrayed? If the author did not include things such as racial slurs how will you be able to understand important parts of the book such as when the character Dill was crying during the court case on page 226. A specific piece of evidence showing this detail would be when Dill said: “I know all that Scout. It was the way he said it made me sick, plain sick.” From using details explained above you are able to fully understand why this character would have felt that certain way. Also included in the article To Kill A Mockingbird removed from Virginia schools for racist language It states in the text that, “ The NCAC slammed the action in a post on its Kids Right To Read website, writing: “By avoiding discussion of controversial issues such as racism, schools do a great disservice to their students.” This is able to prove my point that it would be depriving the students of learning about our history of racism not to allow them to read this
To Kill A Mockingbird reinforced my opinion that one should always stand up for what one believes, despite what anyone else may think. Furthermore, it emphasized my belief of “not everyone seems as they appear”. This was cemented through the case of Boo Radley. Moreover, it reiterated my belief of not believing in gossip, or, in the words of Marcus Aurelius, “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is perspective, not the truth”. This was again highlighted through the case of Boo Radley and the gossip the children heard and originally believed about
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has become a mainstay in American high-schools. This is a classic novel that has inspired many people of all ages. It had a big impact on how people viewed and treated each other. This is a story that teaches everyone about the value of honesty, love, friendship and trust. Every word written in this book has a truly deep meaning to it. The time period that the book was written in was during the Great Depression in the 1930’s. This setting was in a small town in Maycomb, Alabama with people who did not get along. During this time there was a lot of segregation within America and different races. To Kill a Mockingbird is about a family who believes in doing the right thing and being honest. There was a court case that had gone viral about a black man who raped a white woman. A white lawyer named Atticus Finch gave his all to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. There was no evidence that showed that Tom raped Mayella Ewell and he was convicted guilty because of his color. When a black folk was accused of something they are immediately accused guilty. To Kill a Mockingbird should be taught in American high-schools because it teaches students about segregation/racism, right from wrong, and courage.
The author behind the influential and famous novel To Kill A Mockingbird is a woman by the name of Harper Lee. This ingenious woman made magic with only her inventive mind, creative imagination, past experiences and passion for kindness and equality. She was born and raised in a time of prejudice and racism but she always found a way to keep her goodness 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 toward racism.
First, I believe that To Kill a Mockingbird should be banned because it has racist themes
The lightly creaking rocking chair sways back and forth under the starry sky. The distant buzz of crickets and mumbled bullfrog croaks are broken by the grating sound of a person trying for stealth in opening the door. This is the scene for a classic book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Set in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, in segregist 1933, it show some of the trials everyday people and children face with racism and understanding life’s cruel lessons. Why is this educative and eye opening novel, however, a banned book in schools around the country?
Schools should not ban Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird because it teaches readers valuable morals as well as acts as an accurate example of life in the 1930s. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee PAGE #). When Atticus says this to Scout after she has trouble judging others, it has much more of an effect than just to teach Scout a lesson. This quote addresses all types of discrimination in the world and how people should never judge others without knowing their story first. Renditions of this quote appear constantly throughout the work, so therefore Harper Lee aims to open readers eyes to the reality
Being banned in states all over the continental united states. Sparking controversy in the youth of america for the past 58 years. Due to its harsh realities of america's past history. And the extreme usage of american “slang” that cause many to remorse at it’s usage. The book covering everything from southern childhood life. Neighborhood relations. The education system. And the extremely tense racial climate. Being incredibly socially aware for it’s time, seems as though it’s written purposely for today events. At first glance To Kill a Mockingbird is all about childhood and realities of growing up. However Lee’s true overarching theme is the subjugation of minorities. With kids in the school yard using minorities as an insult. Minority
To Kill a Mockingbird is a fantastic read for many reasons, but a major reason this story has had and will continue to have an impact on societies is because of the characters and the way you can relate to them. To Kill a Mockingbird not only kept you guessing what was going to happen next it made you truly think about yourself and how you would react in certain situations that you would not always encounter in your daily routine. A major theme in the story that was important when the book was written and continues to be a thought provoking question when you ask yourself, “What would I do if I had to walk around in their shoes/ skin?” The narrator of the story was a major part of everything that went on because of her characteristics and how they were portrayed such as her compassion, curiosity, and coming of age.
To Kill A Mockingbird took place in the 1930’s, a time that was enormously charged with racial tension. One example of this is the existence of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Even though the KKK was in a time of decline in the 1930’s, it had been very prominent in the 1920’s and had still not completely died out. The KKK had rallies and marches. They even marched in Washington D.C. several times. They burned crosses on the lawns of any white person who would show favor towards blacks in an effort to scare them away from helping black folks. The KKK was an extremely violent group. “While African-Americans still bore the brunt of much Klan violence, Jews and Catholics topped the enemy’s list, followed by immigrants and those who transgressed Klan’s vision of morality” (“History”). The KKK showed their violence in several ways. Lynchings occurred very frequently as did raids of people’s homes.
To Kill a Mockingbird, both as a novel and as a film, shows how time can change the way society views the importance of certain issues, such as racism. Because it was written during the civil rights movement, many people protested against it for conveying issues of prejudice between the north and the south. However, after time, the novel gradually became accepted. It is now a world-renowned classic, and it has won the Pulitzer Prize, as well as having made its way to the big screen. The author, Harper Lee, sets the story in a small town in Alabama. The narrator is a 9-year-old tomboy, whose father was a widowed lawyer. Herbert Mitgang wrote in the New York Times on July 13, 1960:
Banning books goes against the First Amendment, it restricts learning, and it discourages creative and critical thinking. Banned books are books that have been censored by an authority – a government, a library, or a school system. Banning a book means having it removed from our libraries and school systems. They say that books are ban to protect people – mostly children – from the difficult ideas and information that are written in them. It seems to be that most of these ideas are too frightening or controversial for others to have to endure. But when you sit to think about it, banning a book often just makes the children want to go and read it and find out exactly why it is banned in the first place.
The fictional novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee displayed a wide variety of characters and their characteristics. It was filled with discrimination and at the same time, kindness. Jean Louise Finch, (Scout), was just a girl starting 1st grade when this story began. Her older brother, Jem, and her best friend, Dill, experience many things together. Her dad’s, Atticus, court case between a colored fella, his defendant, named Tom Robinson and a Mayella Ewell. Harper Lee takes you on all Scout’s adventures from the Boo Radley house to school. But it’s not all fine and dandy. This book is full of discrimination. Well obviously this book is going to discriminate blacks because it took place in the 1930’s where racial segregation was normal