The role of the setting in To Kill a Mockingbird is to set the mood or tone for the novel. In To Kill a Mockingbird the setting is Maycomb, Alabama in the early 1930s, during the years of the Great Depression. The whole story grows out of this particular background. From the description of the setting, the reader can gain a sense of what is going on and where it is occurring. Since the novel takes place during the Great Depression, readers can assume that many in the town are poor or struggling financially. Also, since the story is occurring during the early 1930s, readers can tell that segregation is still present along with racism. In the novel, the different places that Harper Lee describes, helps establish the atmosphere of that specific…
Stereotyping is an act that many might do out of ignorance or intentionally. It plagues society today, for it causes many individuals to hate others based on a personal opinions. In Webster’s New World Dictionary, the word “stereotype” is defined as “a way of thinking about a person, group, etc. that follows a fixed, common pattern, paying no attention to individual differences”. In “To Kill A Mockingbird” there are many examples of stereotyping between Whites and Negroes. In the book, Lulu, a fellow negro, says, “You ain't got no business bringin’ white chillun here- they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church ain’t it, Miss Cal?” (136) Certain races might have conflicts between each other, causing them to have a negative thoughts…
Harper Lee, author of the novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird" exploits various textual features which are used to make characters like Aunt Alexandra marginalized. Throughout the novel she is illustrated as a foil to Atticus's attitudes and beliefs; additionally she symbolizes high-class society during the Great Depression. These techniques position the reader to view Aunt Alexandra as an antagonist.…
In our society, there is a lot of mislead or misguided judgement towards others. No one takes the time to verily study someone, and find out who they are. Instead, they base a person’s whole personality strictly on their appearance and what they hear about them. In To Kill A Mockingbird, there are great deals of misjudgment, and inequity particularly against characters like Mrs.Dubose, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. They were all perceived as people they weren't. Everyone didn’t see the truth, the reality. They were so quick to judge they missed the true qualities of these people. Appearance versus reality is a vast issue in the story. Everyone should be against appearance over reality because no one should have to be judged by what's on…
Prejudice, a negative opinion formed without experience or knowledge, is a state of mind as old as humanity itself. Prejudice has been the cause of wars, hatred, and intolerance throughout history. Countless innocent lives have been lost or destroyed all because of prejudices based on things as simple as skin color. In Harper E. Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, prejudice is shown to lead to injustice and inequity.…
One may ask the question "What roles do illusion and reality play in the perception of ourselves and others?". Illusion and reality both play a role in the definition of our perception. Illusion is the stereotype, the racist idea, while reality is the truth that one sees when he/she looks closely and tries to understand. This may be seen in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Once, during Jem, Dill, and Scout's investigation of Boo Radley, or Mr. Arthur Radley, another time, during the whole jury's verdict against clearly innocent Tom Robinson, and yet again, in the illusion that Dolphus Raymond is always drunk and that is why he is in the situation that he is in.…
Harper Lee uses many literary elements and techniques that make her novel appealing to a reader. Foreshadowing, use of setting, many themes (or motifs), and well-developed characters are prevalent in this novel.…
In this passage, Harper Lee uses the elements of character, setting, and tone to describe the theme of recognizing perspectives. As Jem is witnessing the trial of Tom Robinson vs. Mayella Ewell, his character as a whole has changed from being a boy to becoming a man. Also, the setting of both the court and Maycomb County has showed Jem that the world will never be a perfect place, as long as racism will be around. Lastly, the different feelings and emotions Jem feels during the trial and at home with Atticus has shown readers the different ways a boy can experience his coming of age. Therefore, the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, can be understood at a level in which readers are able to experience racism during the Great…
An illusion is defined as: a thing is or is likely to be wrong perceived or interpreted by the senses. Illusions occur everywhere and are unavoidable, however when faced with them, they are likely perceived or told wrong. Illusions are found in the novel through the theme of “Step into another’s skin”/ Appearance vs. Reality. Characters and symbols strongly exemplify this theme in multiple ways. In Harper Lee’s book: To Kill a Mockingbird she effectively uses characters and symbols in both hidden and obvious ways to get the theme through to the reader.…
did not understand Boo, he was not seen outside of his house and people did not…
The 1930s was a time of depression and prejudice. The stock market plumited and a majority of people lost their jobs. For this reason, men predominantly became drunks and abusive. African Americans were treated as second class citizens and their words did not mean as much as a caucation’s words. Anyone who stood up for, or defended an African American was considered a “negro lover”, and also bought shame to his or her family. Usually the truth became distorted and was in favor of whites over blacks. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, the truth versus reality is distorted through three main themes, the three ways are, Tom Robinson being accused of rape, Tom Robinson feeling bad for Mayella Ewell, and Tom Robinson being convicted of the rape of Mayella Ewell.…
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee brings up the topic of equality with court systems in her novel. Atticus Finch, father of the main character states that “our courts are great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal” (274) Atticus is right by saying this. In Lee’s story scout defends her father’s thought by adding more evidence.…
“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience”(Harper Lee). In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee shows many great examples of themes. A lot of life lessons can be taken from the novel. In the 1960s in the south much discrimination against race was happening. Throughout time things have gotten progressively better. In To Kill a Mockingbird relationships for family, the perspective, and racism are all immense themes being portrayed in the novel.…
Perception is the lens through which people view the world around them. Some can see the truth buried beneath the surface, while others shake their heads, their eyes too blinded by hate and fear to see the reality of the situation. In the critically-acclaimed novel To Kill a Mocking Bird, written by the masterful Harper Lee, one of the most prevalent themes incorporated within, is the concept of illusion versus reality. Set in a small town in southern Alabama, To Kill a Mocking Bird tells the enthralling tale of a moralistic lawyer named Atticus Finch and his decision to defend a Negro man being prosecuted for allegedly raping a white girl. During the course of this novel, Lee also depicts the mischievous exploits of his children, Jem and…
To Kill A Mockingbird is a book that tells us about a young child's life and how she sees the world and how she chooses to deal with it. One issue that Scout, the young protagonist, has a hard time understanding is the difference between white and blacks. Scout has a hard time understanding this because she raised to believe everyone is equal and no race is superior compared to another, but the people in her town believe otherwise.…
