novels

Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" takes place in Maycomb, Alabama in the early 1930's. The setting plays a major key role in the development of the story. Maycomb, Alabama is a small town with obvious class and racial segregation. The majority of the townspeople are very prejudiced and closed-minded, but one exception to this trend is Atticus Finch. He is a white, middle-class lawyer who defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman. The trial causes a great controversy among the townspeople and reveals the true opinions and values of the citizens of Maycomb, Alabama.
Lee uses the characters in his book to convey different views on the topic of discrimination. Specifically, he uses Finch's children, Jem and Scout, to show an innocent and naive perspective on the topic. The children have a hard time understanding why a man is being persecuted because he is of a different race. Jem and Scout's thoughts continue to play a significant role throughout the book to represent the idealistic views. Mayella Ewell, the woman who accuses Tom Robinson of raping her, is used by Lee to show the white race's common view of the black race during the 1930's. Ewell is willing to have a man put to death just to save her reputation. Her act of indiscretion points out the views of how black men were rarely viewed as human beings and certainly were not treated as if they were human beings.
In my opinion, Lee does a wonderful job in expressing his views through the use of his diverse characters. The language that he uses in his book really makes the words jump off the page. Also, the lessons learned in this book are applicable to everyday life. He brings you along for a most influential ride filled with love, hate, anger, and such starvation for wanting to know what is going to happen next in the story, that you just cannot put the book down. After reading this book, I appreciated the struggles of the black race more than ever, and I really respect all they had to go through.

To Kill A Mockingbird deals with the theme of racism in a prejudice society. The main conflict in this book is the trial of a black man, Tom Robinson, for the alleged rape of a Miss. Mayella Ewell a white girl. The dilemma throught this book is whether or not the fair trial of a black man is possible in the deep South, and if justice truly does prevail. The novel is narrated through the eyes of Scout, a seven year old tomboy who is quickly learning of the existance of prejudice in the society she lives. Her father, Atticus Finch is a well-respected lawyer who takes on the case of Tom Robinson.

Aside, from the obvious theme of prejudice the author has also created a mysterious character that is the center of intrigue to the population Maycomb. The purpose of this character, who is Boo Radley, is unknown to the reader and to both Scout and her brother Jem. They become obsessed with him and won't give up their struggle to discover his true identity, aluckily for the reader they do. This mysterious character ends up playing a very important role in the outcome of the novel.

Regardless of age, this novel will touch people on a personal level. It will make the reader think and xplore the ramifications of hate and discrimination. At least this will be the case if there is to remian the hope that racism, predjudice and discrimination will someday be irradicated. This is a nvael that has a lot to teach if only the reader is willing to listen.

Only growing up in the south would enable Harper Lee to capture the vicious sweetness that pervails there. Not only to capture it but then be able to transfer that on to the reader. You can smell the sweetness of the talcum through the sticky of the hot summer days. Sickly sweet. The church group women are vicious in their sweetness. Ardently praying for the savages in Africa while embracing the savage mores of the south. And in the midst of all of this she tells one of the greatest coming of age stories ever written. Fabulous. One I read every summer.