To Kill a Mockingbird: A novel and history lesson in one
- Author Paul Thomson
- Published August 4, 2011
- Word count 499
When studying American history, there’s no way to avoid the subject of slavery. It was a key facet of the American economy in the 16th and 17th centuries, and a major contributing factor to the Civil War. It is, no doubt, a most shameful aspect of American history, and one many would like to gloss over, but it’s crucial to painting a "warts and all" portrait of America.
Equally worth covering are the complex race relations that exist in this country of immigrants. Slavery may have been abolished in the 1860s, but the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t immediately lead to a harmonious relationship between the races in this country, particularly in the South. It may be hard for a student today, particularly one who lives in another part of the country, to really understand events like the Jim Crow laws, the bus boycotts or the March on Washington.
Traditional history studies can familiarize students with the dates, names and facts associated with this time period, but it can be argued that it’s only works of literature like Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird that can really capture the true injustices, horrors, and hopefully, the triumphs of this period of American history. Because, ultimately, history is not about dates and facts, it’s about people.
A quick To Kill a Mockingbird summary: The Finch family, which consists of father Atticus, older son Jem, and six-year-old Jean Louise, better known as Scout. Jem and Scout, along with friend Dill, spend their summer speculating about their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley. While Atticus sagely warns them against making judgments about people they don’t know, he is preparing for the toughest part of his career a lawyer: defending a black man accused of raping a white woman. It’s probably worth mentioning here that To Kill a Mockingbird is set in Alabama in the 1930s.
Atticus never questions his client’s innocence, nor the certainty that he will be convicted regardless, but works his very hardest to create the best possible defense anyway. Though many people in the community respect Atticus for his integrity, there are plenty of others who view his actions as treachery. Scout and Jem are forced to acknowledge the ignorance and cruelty of not just the world, but the people around them, while Atticus attempts to show them that fighting for what’s right is a worthwhile endeavor regardless of the outcomes.
The book is a work of fiction, though generally considered to be largely autobiographical. It was just about an instant classic, and it still one of the few required reading novels that is almost universally beloved by middle and high school aged readers. Harper Lee’s ability to create timeless characters like Atticus and Boo, and write sentences that have become often-cited To Kill a Mockingbird quotes have cemented her as one of the top American writers of the 20th century, even though she never wrote another book after To Kill a Mockingbird.
Paul Thomson is an avid reader of English Literature. His areas of interests include researching on To Kill a Mockingbird and To Kill a Mockingbird summary. In his spare time, he loves to participate in online literature forums and promote reading for youth.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- The Pseudoscience of Reflexology: Fact or Fiction?
- Choosing the Right Wound Dressing: Foam, Hydrocolloid, and Alginate
- Charlie Chaplin: The Silent Genius Who Spoke to the World.
- Custom Domain Landing Page
- Christian Counseling A Unique Approach to Counseling
- Should You Do an Executive MBA After BBA Explained
- BBA Students Who Launched Million-Dollar Startups!
- Avatar: The Cinematic Revolution That Redefined Hollywood.
- How Does the U.S. Black Women’s Chamber of Commerce (USBWCC) Empower Black Women Entrepreneurs?
- Free Test Management Tools: Top Picks for QA 2025
- How to Get Placed FAST After BBA! Must-Know Tips!
- Exploring the Effectiveness of Magnetic Insoles
- The Top 5 Industries That Hire BBA Graduates
- How to Build a Personal Brand as a BBA Student!
- Wellness for Athletes
- Michael Mann: The Architect of Grit and Grandeur.
- Don't Risk A Gray Divorce!
- Mental Toughness Exercises
- No IIT? No Problem! BBA Can Get You Top Corporate Jobs!
- Can BBA Make You a Successful Business Leader?
- The Secret to Climbing the Corporate Ladder with BBA!
- Tyrone Power: The Dashing Leading Man Who Conquered Hollywood.
- Empowering Black Women Entrepreneurs: Inside the United States Black Women’s Chamber of Commerce
- Why Is Fehmi Lights Your Go-To Lighting Store Near Me in Brampton & Mississauga for Stylish Fixtures?
- No CAT? No Problem: Your Guide to MBA/PGDM Colleges in Hyderabad Without a CAT Score
- No CAT? No Problem: Your Guide to MBA/PGDM Colleges in Gurgaon Without a CAT Score
- No CAT? No Problem: Your Guide to MBA/PGDM Colleges in Noida Without a CAT Score
- The Relentless Passion of Al Pacino: From Stage Struggles to Cinematic Greatness.
- Weddings, Wineries, and Waterfronts: The Versatility of a Chauffeur in Victoria
- No CAT? No Problem: You’re Guide to MBA/PGDM Colleges in Mumbai Without a CAT Score