a novel that addresses universal themes
connected to the modern world, such as human prejudice,understanding, and race
Introduction
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a timeless masterpiece that delves into universal themes connected to contemporary society, including human prejudice, empathy, and race relations.
Characters
Plot Summary
Review
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a poignant exploration of morality, justice, and compassion in the face of societal prejudice. Harper Lee's masterful storytelling and vivid characterizations bring to life the complexities of human nature and the harsh realities of racial injustice. The novel's enduring relevance lies in its powerful message about the importance of empathy and standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.
Conclusion
"To Kill a Mockingbird" remains a seminal work of literature that continues to resonate with readers worldwide for its profound insights into the human condition and its timeless themes of tolerance, empathy, and social justice.
Introduction
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a story of courage and conviction that explores what it means to be human and shares universal values. It gained immense popularity across the United States immediately after its publication in 1960, earning Harper Lee the honor of the Pulitzer Prize the following year. Translated into 40 languages and selling over 40 million copies to date, it remains a steady bestseller in the United States, with annual sales exceeding one million copies.
Author Harper Lee was born in Alabama in 1926 as the youngest daughter among four siblings. Influenced by her father, who was a lawyer and a state legislator, she studied law in college and began writing gradually during her university years. Although she worked for an airline after graduation, she started writing in earnest and published her first novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," which gained her immediate recognition.
Set against the backdrop of the 1930s Great Depression and the prevalent racial discrimination in the American South, the novel delves into how prejudices against individuals or groups are formed and how dangerous they can be, making its themes particularly relevant in today's world of pervasive bias and hatred.
Characters
The protagonist of this novel is a young girl named Scout Finch. Scout has an older brother named Jem. They are raised by their father, Atticus Finch. Additionally, there is a boy named Dill who becomes an important friend to the siblings.
In the town where they live, there is a man named Boo Radley who remains reclusive and mysterious, often piquing the children's curiosity. Another significant character is Tom Robinson, a man represented by Atticus in a trial where he is accused of raping a white woman.
Plot Summary
The main character, a girl named Scout Finch, is a child who is about to enter school and lives in a small city in the southern United States called Maycomb with a brother named Gem and a lawyer father named Atticus. His mother passed away when Scout was very young and now has three family members. Gem and Scout, as normal siblings, live in a bright manner like children of that age, and become friends with a child named Dill, who visited a relative one summer. At that time, the village children, including Jem and Scout, were most interested in a neighborhood man. He was curious to many children, including Jem and Scout, because he was inconsistent with the tradition of Southern American society that valued relationships with neighbors.
The children made some exaggerated speculation about Burdley, and for Gem and Scout, wealth is imprinted as a kind of goofy creature. As the fall semester begins, Scout enters elementary school and gets to know the child of the Ewing family, which is a poor white man who was ostracized in the village and did not send the children to school. Gem and Scout pass near Boo's house on their way to and from school, and they are afraid of Boo, but they are curious to see him. The following summer vacation, Dylan visits Maycomb again, and they hang around in front of Boo's house and try to pull him out with various jokes. His father's Atticus warns his children not to do that, but Gem is caught by Atticus while trying to send a note to Boo and is stopped. The night before Dill goes home, Gem and other children sneak up on Boo's house and then a surprised Boo shoots a horror bomb, causing a stir in the village.
Dill left for his house and a fire broke out in a neighbor's house that winter, when Gem and Scout were evacuated outside and a man covers the cold children with a blanket. He didn't know who it was because he was busy, but Atticus says it was wealth that covered him with the blanket, and the children are sorry they didn't see him. Atticus, meanwhile, was defending a case that became the biggest issue in the region at the time, in which Tom Robinson, a black man, sexually assaulted the daughter of the Ewing family. As a result, some white communities despise Atticus as a black lover, and even among children, such stories are circulating. Atticus teaches children to never respond, even if people say so, and to act decisively. In fact, Atticus was criticized and concerned not only in white society but also in the family because of his defense of black suspects.
As time goes by, Gem turns 12 and puberty begins, and to Scout, you feel like you have become a different person. One Sunday, Gem and Scout are seen going to a black church service with a California lady who works at their home and raising money for Tom's family in prison.
They meet their aunt Alexandra, who visited their home on the way back from the service. Alexandra, as a typical stranger, was strict with her nephews, who came to stay at his brother Atticus' house for a while. What's even more surprising is that Dill came to Gem and Scout of Maycombe to escape his stepfather, who hates him, and he stays at the maker for a while. The first trial of Atticus' Tom Robinson case is approaching, and tension in the Maycomb community begins to rise. When Tom is transferred to a local prison for trial, a group of white people who hate him rush to the prison at night and Atticus goes out to stop them.
Feeling unusual, the children secretly follow Atticus and step out among the adults, and when they see the children, they eventually retreat. Finally, Tom's trial is held, and whites and blacks flock to the court to watch the trial. Gem, Scout, and Dildo go watch. The issue of the trial was whether Tom actually raped Mayrella, Bob Ewing's daughter. Bob Ewing and his victim Mayella testify to Tom's crime.
However, according to Tom's testimony, he has been helping Mayella with the housework, and on the day of the incident, Mayella jumped on him first, shook her off, and ran away. The whole situation was showing Tom's innocence, but the jury convicted Tom, and Atticus and his family returned in grief. After a while, the news that Tom was killed while trying to escape the prison breaks out, and the story that Bob Ewing is sharpening a sword of revenge against Atticus circulates, and the atmosphere becomes chaotic. For Bob, he won the trial, but he was still ostracized in the white community, and he was greatly disgraced by Atticus' argument during the trial. Shortly after the Halloween party, Gem and Scout, who were returning from school late at night, are attacked by a gunman.
Gem is seriously injured by this, but the children return home safely with the help of a man. At this time, it was none other than Boo who helped the children. Scouts realize that he has misunderstood about wealth and walk him home with regret and gratitude. Sheriff Heck discovers Bob Ewing stabbed to death at the scene, and Atticus suspects that his son, Gem, stabbed his opponent after a fight or that Boo killed him while trying to save the children. However, Heck strongly insists that Ewing accidentally stabbed himself. Atticus nurses his son, Gem, who is in bed with serious injuries, and the story ends.
Review
This work effectively demonstrates where prejudice and hatred originate. Comprising two parts, the first delves into the childhood of Scout and Jem, while the second focuses on Tom's trial and the point at which Atticus defends him. Initially, the narrative explores the curiosity and unfounded fear of the children towards Boo, their neighbor. Upon closer examination, it becomes evident how prejudice and hatred towards an individual emerge. Jem and Scout develop biases against Boo Radley because of his reclusive lifestyle, unlike many others in Maycomb who lead more open lives. They find Boo's differences peculiar and consequently develop misguided prejudices against him, even going as far as to speculate that there is poison in everything in his house, believing he has mental issues.
However, towards the end of the story, they realize that Boo Radley, the one who rescues them from Bob Ewell's attack, is the same person they had unjustly prejudged. Another significant thread is the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man. The depiction of Boo Radley as the target of childhood prejudice and the resolution of prejudice towards Boo towards the end parallels the prejudice evident in Tom's trial. The author perhaps wanted to draw parallels between Tom Robinson's trial and Boo Radley's case.
Tom, like Boo, is found guilty despite evidence strongly suggesting his innocence solely because he is black. Even after the jurors become aware of Tom's innocence, they still convict him. This highlights the deep-rooted racial discrimination prevalent in society.
The titular mockingbird symbolizes the innocence that should be protected. Atticus, a compassionate and understanding father, strictly prohibits his children from harming mockingbirds. This instruction is delivered with such intensity that it is almost singular in its severity. Their neighbor, Miss Maudie, explains that Atticus prohibits killing mockingbirds because they do no harm; they only sing.
It's clear that the mockingbird symbolizes Boo Radley and Tom Robinson, innocent individuals who don't harm others. Atticus emphasizes the importance of not harboring prejudices or mistreating such individuals. This also reflects what the author intends to convey, criticizing the immature societal atmosphere akin to witch hunts prevalent at the time, symbolized by the killing of mockingbirds.
Mockingbird Symbolism
Towards the latter part of the novel, the significance of the mockingbird is expanded. Atticus asks Scout if she understands Sheriff Heck's assertion that Bob Ewell accidentally stabbed himself to death. Scout responds that she does understand, likening it to shooting a mockingbird.
Whether Bob Ewell died as a result of the sheriff's claim or in a struggle with Boo or Jem remains uncertain. However, even if he was killed, it would likely be considered self-defense, as Bob posed a threat to Atticus and others in Maycomb. Therefore, delving into the matter further wouldn't serve the community's interests.
In this light, the mockingbird symbolizes societal justice aimed at maintaining the community. However, it's somewhat regrettable that the societal justice applied to Tom Robinson and Boo Radley doesn't seem to apply to Bob Ewell. While Bob posed a threat to the community, it's not justifiable to take his life forcibly. Comparing this to today's strict prohibition against personal revenge, it's disheartening. Bob didn't belong to the white mainstream society nor to the victimized black community, which allows him to be easily ignored or dismissed. This raises questions about whether societal justice should be applied equally to all members, regardless of their social status.
Closing Thoughts
This "To Kill a Mockingbird," is a remarkable piece that encapsulates the aftermath of the Great Depression in the 1930s America, portraying the stark divisions among societal classes and races. It skillfully weaves together nostalgic characters reminiscent of my own childhood, tender moments of everyday life, chilling rumors surrounding reclusive neighbors, and gripping courtroom scenes that balance humor and tension. The substantial exploration of civil rights issues concerning African Americans prompts readers to ponder the concepts of justice, conscience, courage, and belief, providing ample food for thought for society at large.
