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
- Creating a Profitable Business with PLR Planners and Printables
- How to Spend 48 Hours in Cape Town: A Quick Itinerary
- “Wounds That Time Couldn’t Heal: Watching The Best Years of Our Lives Through the Lens of Memory and Mourning.”
- Understanding an ACL Tear
- Top 5 Funniest Gag Gifts for Your Best Friend
- Why Second Hand Pianos for Sale Are a Smart Investment
- Finding the Right Piano Shop Near Me: A Guide to Second Hand Pianos
- “Mira Sorvino: From Oscar Glory to Hollywood Silence.”
- Ireland Sino Institute Launches 2025 China Internship Program
- “Beyond the Spotlight: The Rise and Fall of Dorothy Dandridge.”
- “Through the Mist of Venice: Revisiting Don’t Look Now and Its Haunting Grip on Grief.”
- The Art of Coaching: Cultivating Growth and Inspiration
- Creating a Holistic Backyard Retreat: Old World Elegance Meets Nature
- Understanding T1 and T2 Transit Documents in EU: Your Complete Guide
- Cryptonews.money: Your Ultimate Guide to Understanding Cryptocurrency
- 15 Basketball Dribbling Games and Passing Drills for Better Ball Handling
- Transdermal Progesterone Cream: Benefits for Hot Flashes and Menopause Symptoms
- Tepezcohuite: The Ancient Skin Health Secret You Need to Know
- Quiet Cars and Busy Calendars: The Overlooked Role of Chauffeurs in Post-July Corporate Travel
- 1031 Exchange
- Breaking Karmic Cycles, Creating a Shiva Altar with Deity Carvings and Sculptures from Mogul Interior
- The Art of Whimsical Carved Wall Art & Eclectic Décor
- “Hellfire and Heresy: Ken Russell’s The Devils and the Fury of Sacred Cinema.”
- Transform Your Bedroom into a Productive Haven: Ultimate Guide to Bedroom Inspirations with Desk
- “Heatwave: When Crime, Character, and Two Legends Collided in Michael Mann’s L.A.”
- Steam Vs. Scrub: The Best Chemical-Free Tools For Cleaning Tile Edges And Grout
- A Smart Solution for Clean Environments: Hygienic PVC Wall Cladding
- Choosing the Right Stainless Steel Panel Adhesive for Durable Wall Cladding Installations
- How to Choose the Right PVC Panel Adhesive for a Professional Finish
- Precision Finishing with Steel Cladding Profiles and Trims