In chapter one, the readers of To Kill A Mockingbird are introduced to Maycomb County and its inhabitants, many of which have very particular attitudes. Here are some sentences that illustrate the main themes of chapter one of To Kill A Mockingbird:
Pride in ancestry and tradition-"If General Jackson hadn't run the Creeks up the Creek, Simon Finch would never have paddled up the Alabama, and where would we be if he hadn't?"
Pride in conformity and distrust of those who are different-"Simon would have regarded, with impotent fury, the disturbance between the North and the South, as it left his descendants stripped of everything but their land..."
Awareness of difference in social classes-"There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy, and no money to buy it with..."
Almost no interest in the world outside Maycomb-"...nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County"
This powerful tale about Maycomb County and it's wild atmosphere begins a couple years into the Great Depression, circa 1933. It is a hot and sticky summer, and with "Nowhere to go, nothing to buy, and no money to buy it with", the children had to find ways to pass time, without disturbing their cook/housekeeper Calpurnia, and leaving their boundary lines. The children meet Charles Baker Harris, also known as Dill, who is visiting his aunt for the summer from Meridan, Mississippi, and together they make long days go by quickly acting out dramas.
ANY WRITING BEYOND THIS POINT IS SIMPLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FULFILLING THE UNREASONABLE CHARACTER
REQUIREMENTS FOR A SET OF CLASS NOTES ON 11 PAGES OF THE INGENIOUS (THANK YOU HARPER LEE) WRITING
OF CHAPTER ONE OF TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in rural south Alabama in a town called Maycomb during the Great Depression, in a time when many Southerners both accepted and expected discrimination toward minorities. Atticus Finch, a widowed father of two, trying to raise his children well, teaches them to see things from another’s perspective. Lee incorporates the crucial quality of empathy in the feelings of the characters and expresses the empathetic theme with the influence of racism and prejudice in Maycomb society within the main characters Scout, Jem, and Atticus.…
- 814 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
This book takes place in a small community in the rural South during the 1940.…
- 1538 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
4. Being Southerners, it was a source of shame to some members of the family that we had no recorded ancestors on either side of the Battle of Hastings. pg 1…
- 309 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
1. Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop . . . [s]omehow it was hotter then . . . bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum. . . . There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people: Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but…
- 1167 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
In To Kill a Mockingbird, many different themes can be identified. This may be through character’s actions, thoughts, or what they say. Many different scenes throughout the novel are parallels and symbolize main themes. One example of symbolization is in chapter ten when Tim Johnson walks down the street. In this chapter, the characters actions symbolize the themes of racism and courage.…
- 504 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel that is artistically written. Through the situations the “mockingbirds” go through living in Maycomb County, many important life lessons are taught not only to the characters but also to the reader. The dilemmas at hand are creative ways of teaching these lessons. Scout’s growth throughout the novel is symbolic of the growth of the town in many issues surrounding racial prejudice, sexism, and the usage of pigeon…
- 75 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Books filled with controversy rarely get recognition for shaping people’s lives; however, To Kill a Mockingbird overcomes this stereotype by showing the good in an otherwise not so good community. This community, known as Maycomb, exemplified traditional racial views that southerners held during the 1930’s. Most of the community, and most of Southern America, shared these same racial views, but Atticus Finch’s beliefs differ from those around him. Throughout the book, Atticus stands up for people of all races despite what those around him think. The courage shown by Atticus has greatly impacted all aspects of my life, including my faith, and demonstrates the determination that I wish to possess.…
- 567 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Chapter 1Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. . . . There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people: Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself.…
- 982 Words
- 4 Pages
Powerful Essays -
The book To Kill a Mockingbird is based out of the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The residents in Maycomb are extremely racist and see minor inequalities as major differences and reasons to segregate. The families of Maycomb have their own hereditary social classes and are pretty much stuck in their class based on occupation and race. People in Maycomb are born into significance or are born into less fortunate situations. Many of the characters use these social classes to boost their self esteem. Due to the social classes and stigmas surrounding these classes the citizens have limited their ability to develop fully as humans.…
- 799 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel set in Maycomb County, Alabama in the 1930’s. Throughout the book, many conflicts happen and the setting plays a major part in the conflicts. During this time period, racial discrimination is coming into full swing and the character Atticus unfortunately gets in the middle of all of it. With everything revolving around Atticus, his character develops the theme of the book. Throughout the novel, Atticus reveals the theme of the book as “Always do the right thing, even if it is the hard thing to do.”…
- 651 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee). In the Maycomb County there is a lot of whites, blacks and even some mixed. There are some that are wealthy and some that are not. Some get along and others do not. Even in a small town, they all live so differently. Throughout Harper lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, hypocrisy, injustice and evil is envisioned in an adult society. Miss Gates and Lula contradict themselves. Atticus is harassed, Tom Robinson gets accused for a crime he did not commit. Bob Ewell tries to kill Scout and Jem and Maycomb is loaded with rumours of Boo Radley,…
- 681 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The setting of To Kill a Mockingbird, in a small Alabama community is constructed from the contradictions of Christianity and prejudice. Through prejudice and bigotry, the Southern society builds a strong sense of integrity that masks their immoral prejudice. The Southern culture of Maycomb derives from the antebellum culture of Christianity and slavery. The morals of slavery greatly clashed with the morals of Christianity. While Southerners desperately needed slavery, they also needed to maintain their Christian sense of integrity that stated all of humankind must be…
- 942 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The events of the book took place in Maycomb; a small old town known for its prejudicing environment. In the begging of the book “to kill a mockingbird,” we are given an insight of how Maycomb’s society works. Maycomb is not really known for multiculturalism,…
- 549 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
“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.…
- 665 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
This refers to the stock market crash that led to the Great Depression; People lost most of their life savings during that time. In Maycomb, there really is nothing to do but talk to the townspeople, go to school, and attend church. The townspeople are mostly poor and wouldn't waste their money on unnecessary items.…
- 614 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays