ISU: To Kill A Mockingbird Isabella Campbell
Setting
This story takes place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930's. Maycomb is a very small town that is known for being very racially prejudiced and small minded.
Motifs/Symbols
i) Mockingbirds: In this novel, the motif of the mockingbird is used to represent innocence. Mockingbirds are harmless and innocent birds that do nothing but mimic the songs of other songbirds. Therefore, to kill a mockingbird is to kill innocence, and it is seen as a sin. Tom Robinson is compared to a mockingbird since he is innocent and harmless, yet is being condemned due to the community's prejudice. Boo Radley is also a mockingbird in this novel since he does nothing but shower the children with gifts and save their lives when they are attacked by Bob Ewell, yet he is often the victim of the town's prejudice and false rumours. ii) The Knothole: This is how Boo is able to communicate with the outside world. He leaves gifts in the knothole for Jem and Scout as a way of showing that he cares for them. iii) The racist white community: These people symbolize the evil in Maycomb and help to develop the theme of good vs. evil. iv) Atticus Finch: He symbolizes the good in Maycomb by portraying characteristics such as honesty, courage, kindness, intelligence, and strength. He also helps to develop the theme of good vs. evil. v) The Roly Poly bug: This also symbolizes innocence in this novel. When Scout wants to kill the bug, Jem tells her not to, acting like Atticus in this situation. This occurs right after Tom Robinson has been shot. The bug also symbolizes Tom Robinson since, eventually the bug is killed, no matter how hard Jem tries to stop it.
Point of View
This story told in the first person. It is unique since the story is told both by a young Scout and an older, wiser Scout, who reflects back on the events that occurred during this time in her life.
Characters
i) Atticus Finch: Single father of Jem and Scout, a lawyer who defends Tom Robinson, and a man who believes very strongly in his morals.
ii) Boo Radley: The villain of most of Maycomb's stories, is believed to be violent and cruel, but is actually peaceful and kind. He was hidden for many years until he finally revealed himself when he saved Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell.
iii) Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch: The narrator of the story; a young girl who is very curious and attentive. She is involved in the Tom Robinson trial due to her father's implication and is very curious about the mysterious Boo Radley. The novel is told by an adult Scout, who recalls the story, and explains her thoughts as a child. The novel takes place over, three years, and throughout this time, Scout learns a lifetimes worth of important lessons.
iv) Jem Finch: Scout's older brother who portrays the theme of "coming of age" throughout this novel. Throughout the story, Jem gains maturity and begins to show how his fathers lessons have made him a good person.
v) Tom Robinson: The man who is tried for raping a woman, Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson is innocent, but due to the prejudice behaviour of the white community of Maywell, is believed by many to be guilty of this crime. Tom Robinson is a mockingbird figure in this novel since he causes no harm to anyone, yet he is condemned for a crime he did not commit.
Themes
i) Isolation: Boo Radley is isolated from the community due to rumours that were spread about him which caused everyone to fear him (i.e. his appearance, that he bit off his mothers finger, and that he stabbed one of his family members with a pair of scissors). ii) Stereotypes: Stereotypes play a large role in this novel. The stereotypes that the white community of Maywell has created about the black community has caused them to become racially prejudice. Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell because the white community has created the stereotype that black men commit rape, and that is why they automatically think Tom Robinson is guilty. Stereotypes in this novel cloud the judgements of many characters and cause them to become cruel and unjust. iii) Society and Class: In this novel, there is a clear separation between the white community and the black community. The white community often thinks of themselves as better and discriminates against the black community without just reasoning. iv) Love: In this novel, there is much love shared between Atticus Finch and his two children, Scout and Jem. There is also the love that Mayella Ewell feels for Tom Robinson, but is ashamed of (in order to hide this she claims that he raped her). v) Morality: Throughout this novel, many different characters portray many different morals. Atticus shows how he believes no innocent man should be condemned for a crime he did not commit, when he defends Tom Robinson in court and ignores the racial prejudice of others. He also teaches his morals to his children, Jem and Scout. Other characters in this novel, such as Bob Ewell, have very different morals. Bob Ewell is a racist white man who tries to kill Jem and Scout as a way to punish Atticus for defending a black man. vi) The Role of Hope: Throughout this novel, Atticus hopes to teach his children to be good people. He tolerates the torment of the other people in Maywell for defending a black man, with the hope that the lesson he is teaching his children will outweigh the difficult time they must endure.
