At the start, he retains a boyish enthusiasm, viewing everything as a game and a lighthearted adventure. Jem’s transformation is even more dramatic. She realizes not all people are as principled and virtuous as Atticus, and that evil prejudices and corruption deeply stain her town and era. She had remained oblivious to the numerous racial injustices and prejudices while growing up, but witnessing her father’s courageous yet unsuccessful defense of Tom Robinson strips away her childhood blindness. As the story progresses, each child undergoes an awakening that strips away their naivete and leaves them disillusioned.įor Scout, who narrates the novel, her innocence is shattered through exposure to the unethical behavior and intolerance of many Maycomb adults. Loss of InnocenceĪnother core theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is the loss of innocence as the children Jem, Scout, and Dill come of age and confront harsh realities about their community and the wider world they had been sheltered from in childhood. Harper Lee explored themes of racism and injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird through the story of Tom Robinson’s railroading and illuminated how laws can be unjust on their face and in practice and shone a light on the long way still to go toward achieving true equality and justice for all. She powerfully depicted a society where racism so thoroughly saturated all aspects of life that black citizens were systematically denied the most basic rights and fairness under the law that were supposedly guaranteed to Americans. Lee took aim at exposing the ugliness of racism still prevalent in the South despite the end of slavery decades earlier. The novel highlights how the racist power structure routinely failed to protect innocent black people from violence and false accusations, instead often treating them as inherently criminal due to the color of their skin. His treatment forms a stark parallel with the light punishment given to Bob Ewell, the white man who actually committed the crime. Tom did not even receive a fair chance at an appeal. No matter how competently Atticus argues or how obvious Tom’s innocence is, the immutable force of racism overrides justice and reason.Īfter Tom is shot while attempting to flee from prison, presumably because authorities wanted to cover up their miscarriage of justice, the racism and corruption are brought into even starker relief. By setting up Atticus to heroically but futilely defend Tom, Lee emphasizes the hopelessness of the situation and how the system was stacked against black people. Lee makes it clear the conviction had nothing to do with the facts of the case and everything to do with Tom’s race-the jury was unwilling to believe the word of a black man over a white woman. Through the trial of Tom Robinson, an innocent black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, Lee powerfully illustrates how widespread racism corrupted the legal system and prevented blacks from receiving fair treatment.ĭespite a complete lack of evidence against Tom and credible evidence that the racist Ewell family fabricated the story, an all-white jury still finds Tom guilty. Harper Lee set the story in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, to highlight the systemic racism and injustice prevalent in this time period, particularly under the Jim Crow laws that legalized racial segregation. To Kill a Mockingbird directly confronts the issue of racism in the American South during the 1930s. Racism and Injustice in the American South Specifically, it will explore the themes of racism, loss of innocence, moral courage, conformity, false accusations, and the parent-child relationship through a close examination of passages and events from the novel. This article will delve into an in-depth analysis of the major themes that have cemented To Kill a Mockingbird as an unforgettable story for the ages. Through layered portraits of characters like Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and the children, Lee brings forth resonant messages about overcoming prejudice, defending basic human rights, and upholding integrity even when alone in that cause. Beyond telling a compelling narrative, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee illuminates timeless human themes that have resonated with readers of all backgrounds for over 60 years.Īt its core, To Kill a Mockingbird is a highly philosophical work that contemplates the complexities of ethnicity, justice, individualism, family, and the growing pains of societal change. Published in 1960, the story delves into profound issues of racial injustice, loss of innocence, and moral courage through the eyes of young Scout Finch growing up in 1930s Alabama. Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird is widely considered an American literary masterpiece.
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