Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

Nelle Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama, in 1926. She grew up in a small southern town and his father, Amasa Coleman Lee, was a lawyer and the inspiration for the novel's beloved character, Atticus Finch. Her mother, Frances Cunningham Finch, had mental problem, a fact that influenced Lee's understanding of human weakness and complexity. As a child, Harper Lee was highly interested in literature. She formed a close friendship with Truman Capote, who would later become a prominent author. Lee attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery and the University of Alabama. She started to study law, but her passion for writing led her to shift to pursue literature. Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960, which led to winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. Illustrating Scout Finch's childhood and the commitment of her father, Atticus Finch to justice, the novel addresses themes such as racial injustice and moral growth. Lee used to live in isolation even though her masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird, was a considered a success. She published her second novel, Go Set a Watchman, in 2015, one year before her death, which portrays the fictional town of Maycomb from a different perspective. Harper Lee died on February 19, 2016, at the age of 89. Presenting its author’s ability to draw on human nature and societal problems, To Kill a Mockingbird is being taught in schools and endorsed by many readers around the world.

To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, in 1930s. The narrator, Scout Finch, is a young girl whose father, Atticus Finch, is a well-known lawyer, and makes the reader aware of the ups and downs of growing up in a highly polarized society. Tom Robinson is a black man, who is incorrectly accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, and Atticus Finch is going to defend him. Tom is convicted even though there is no proof that shows he is guilty. This injustice, which is implemented by the all-white jury, represents the established racism of the society, as the main plot of the novel. Scout Finch is a young girl with an adventurous nature. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a committed lawyer to justice and morality. Scout shares her experiences with her older brother, Jem. Scout and Jem are inspired by their father’s commitment to justice. They are also fascinated by Boo Radley, their neighbor, who symbolizes kindness and support for them. Lee’s characterization of Boo gets highlighted while rumors about him contrasts his sincerity. Their housekeeper, Calpurnia, plays a mother-like role for the children.

How Harper Lee lays out the structure of To Kill a Mockingbird reinforces the themes of social injustice and moral growth, aligned with the narrative, layered meaning and emotional dimension. The first part of the novel takes readers to the Finch family and their life in Maycomb. Harper Lee supplies a straightforward picture of the town and its residents, as narrated by the Scout Finch. The second part deals mainly with the trial of Tom Robinson, the black man, considered as the primary plot of the novel. Atticus Finch's defense of Tom Robinson is a pivotal moment in the novel, which leads to Tom’s conviction by the all-white jury, representing racism within the judicial system. The final part of the novel engages the aftermath of the trial, profoundly affecting Scout and Jem, leading to a loss of innocence and a deeper understanding of human nature. Boo Radley emerges as a protector in the final part of the novel. His intervention at a critical moment depicts his true character and demonstrates the theme of not judging others based on predetermined impulses. The novel ends with a reflection on the minor themes of prejudice, courage, and empathy.

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is rich with themes that explores the depths of human nature and societal issues. Some of the major themes are prejudice and racism, courage and moral integrity, empathy and understanding, loss of innocence, and the co-existence of good and evil. Lee’s use of Tom’s trial depicts the established racial injustices and the moral failings of society. Also, Atticus Finch represents the theme of moral integrity and courage, and his commitment to justice and equality. Moreover, the novel primarily conveys the message of empathy and understanding. Scout and Jem learns from their father to consider things from others' perspectives, famously advising Scout that “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” Additionally, the journey from innocence to experience is an important novel theme in the novel. Scout and Jem's experiences lead to loss of innocence. Furthermore, Lee addresses the coexistence of good and evil within individuals and society. Characters such as Atticus Finch and Boo Radley represent the good, while others, like Bob Ewell, portray evil.

Various literary approaches can be applied to To Kill a Mockingbird. The historical approach examines the novel in the context of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the 1930s and underscores the significance of the trial of Tom Robinson as a reflection of the systemic racism and injustices dominant in the South in the1930s. The feminist approach can analyze characters such as Scout Finch, who defies traditional gender norms with her masculine behavior, Mayella Ewell, who reflects the vulnerabilities and limited options available to women in her social position, and Calpurnia and Miss Maudie, who challenge conventional expectations and demonstrate strength and independence. The psychoanalytic approach can be applied to understand the complexities of characters like Boo Radley, whose past traumas and psychological state have been addressed, and Atticus Finch's approaches to morality and parenting. The Marxist approach focuses on how economic status influences the characters' perspectives and actions, and how the intersections of race and class contribute to the injustices faced by Tom Robinson. This analysis also explores the power dynamics and social hierarchies that perpetuate inequality and oppression. The structuralist approach can function for examining the narrative structure, symbolism, and recurring motifs. For instance, the symbol of the mockingbird represents innocence and the unjust persecution of those who do no harm, such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. The reader-response approach suggests how readers identify with characters like Scout and Atticus, and how the novel's exploration of moral integrity, empathy, and social justice resonates on a personal level.

The contributions of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird to American literature incorporate its narrative techniques, character development, thematic depth, and its enduring influence on modern literary criticism and discourse. The choice of a child's viewpoint gives the story an innocence and straightforwardness, juxtaposed with the complex and often harsh realities of the adults’ world. Lee's use of this narrative technique allows readers to experience the unfolding events with a sense of discovery and moral vividness, making the novel's themes more robust. The novel's storytelling is also marked by its exquisite use of symbolism and motifs. The main symbol of the novel, the mockingbird, represents innocence and the destruction of innocence. Characters like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are associated to mockingbirds, illustrating the novel's criticism of prejudice and injustice. These literary devices not only enhance the narrative but also provide layers of meaning that evoke more insightful analysis and interpretation. Harper Lee's outstanding character development is another major contribution to contemporary American literature. Characters like Atticus Finch, Scout, and Boo Radley are created with psychological depth and complexity, making them highly comprehensible. Atticus Finch reminds a paragon of moral integrity and empathy. His resolute commitment to justice and his role as a father communicate key lessons on ethics and human dignity. The character of Scout, with her curious nature and moral growth, serves as a channel for readers to explore the themes of the novel from a personal and developmental perspective.

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is famous for its insightful social commentary on issues of race, class, and morality. The novel's portrayal of racial injustice, as seen in the wrongful conviction of Tom Robinson, serves as a powerful critique of the systemic racism in American society. It has also significantly influenced modern literary criticism. The applicability of different critical perspectives to the novel has not only deepened our understanding of "To Kill a Mockingbird" but have also confirmed the novel's versatility and richness as a literary work. The novel's ability to be analyzed through multiple lenses underscores its complexity and its enduring relevance in literary studies. The impact of To Kill a Mockingbird extends beyond literary circles to influence contemporary culture and society. The novel has inspired countless readers to reflect on their own beliefs and actions, fostering a greater awareness of social injustices and the importance of empathy and moral courage. Its themes have been incorporated into educational curricula, making it a catalyst for discussions on ethics and social responsibility. Moreover, the novel's adaptation into a highly acclaimed film in 1962 helped to broaden its reach and impact. The film's portrayal of the characters and themes brought the story to a wider audience, solidifying its place in popular culture and further increasing its message of justice and compassion.

Bibliography

·       Baker, Houston A. "Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird': The Rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement." In Black Literature and Humanism in America, 79-98. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1980.

·       Johnson, Claudia D. Understanding To Kill a Mockingbird: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historic Documents. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994.

·       Shackelford, Dean. "The Female Voice and the Contrapuntal Reading of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’." In Southern Literary Journal 27, no. 2 (Spring 1995): 3-21.

·       Bloom, Harold. "Introduction." In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, edited by Harold Bloom, 1-16. New York: Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations, 2007.

·       Chura, Patrick. "Prolepsis and Anachronism: Emmett Till and the Historicity of To Kill a Mockingbird." In The Southern Literary Journal 32, no. 2 (Spring 2000): 1-26.

·       Gwin, Minrose C. "Racialized Femininity and Southern Womanhood in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird." In Mississippi Quarterly 50, no. 2 (1997): 321-338.

·       Rubin, Louis D. "The Mockingbird in the Classroom." In The Alabama Review 52, no. 3 (1999): 163-173.

·       Williams, Dean A. "Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of To Kill a Mockingbird." In Mississippi Quarterly 62, no. 3 (2009): 697-702.

·       Smith, Jennifer. "To Kill a Mockingbird: An Analysis of Its Historical and Cultural Contexts." PhD diss., University of Alabama, 2008.

·       Thompson, Robert R. "Harper Lee's Narrative Strategies in To Kill a Mockingbird." Master's thesis, University of Georgia, 2002.

·       Lee, Harper. "Biography and Works." HarperLee.com.

·       National Endowment for the Arts. "Big Read: To Kill a Mockingbird." NEABigRead.org.

Whether you are interested in learning an essential analysis of To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) like themes, setting, plot, characterization, narrative techniques, symbols or discussing more in-depth, insightful literary approaches like psychoanalysis, historicism, new historicism, cultural materialism, etc, Book Amir for a one-time free 30-minute consultation, or a full tutorial session!