Adventures in To Kill a
A child's view of life can seem mysterious, joyful, magical, and at times confusing. This applies to Scout Finch, the narrator of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. At the beginning of the novel the reader is introduced to the characters who inhabit Scout's town; the mysterious Boo Radley who lives a couple of doors away, the poor Cunnighams, and the lowlife Ewells. Although the story starts out that way, it is really about the lessons one must learn throughout life. These lessons are presented in the themes. From the description of the many social classes, the Tom Robinson trial, and the conflict between Scout and Aunt Alexandra, we find that society is often broken into different groups. This is the first major theme of the book. The second major theme refers to the title of the novel. This theme suggests that it is wrong to unjustly persecute a person. Finally the third theme states that you should never give up. These three themes aren't the only themes in To Kill a Mock!ingbird, but they are the most apparent. In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the confrontation between Scout and Aunt Alexandra, the various families of Maycomb County, and the Tom Robinson trial to demonstrate how society is divided into
th their life. The sheriff, Mr. Heck Tate, doesn't charge Boo with the crime. "It'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it"(279)? It would bring too much attention to Boo. He doesn't like a lot of people and likes to stay in his house. Since the whole town hated Bob Ewell (it was partly because of him that Tom died), and Boo killed him, they would be bringing gifts and flowers and thank you letters to his door. Boo doesn't like that so that's why it would be a sin. In conclusion we find that it is wrong to unjustly condemn a person. It is wrong to unjustly condemn a person, just like it is wrong to kill a mockingbird. This theme is established when Atticus buys Scout and Jem air riffles. He tells them that "it is a sin to kill a mockingbird" (94). Miss Maudie talks to the kids and tells them why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Unlike other birds that destroy crops or do any sort of damage to people's property, mockingbirds sing their hearts out for people. We can apply this idea to the Tom Robinson's affair. The truth is that he doesn't harm anyone and actually tries to help. Even after the proof that Tom Robinson didn't rape Mayella Ewell, and that the jury knew she was lying, they still convicted Tom of the crime. This theme also applies to Boo Radley. Because of his earlier history people think some pretty bad things about him. It turns out that really isn't bad anymore and saves the children at the end of the story. Through doing so, he kills Bob Ewell in self-defense who threatens the children wi! insult. The words: "Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict" (115), explains her situation. Mrs. Dubose tried to get rid of her drug. In the end, she di
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1130
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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