BaronVonKrunk
04/07/05, 10:01 PM
The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a book which addresses many issues of life. It deals with the key elements people encounter as they age and mature. Three of the main being: prejudice, the end of innocence, and justice. These three elements are what make the novel the masterful piece of literature it is.
Prejudice is a important theme in this novel, and affects the evolution of the other two. Through this novel the author shows us the countless ugly faces of prejudice. It allows the reader to see these elements of human nature from a child’s interpretation. The novel teaches you that prejudice is not exclusive to racial tensions. Showing that it can also be seen in the fear of the unknown and the social classification society uses. The book first shows us prejudice people feel against things they do not understand via the towns feelings toward the Radley family. It shows that when people are left with questions they have no answers to they often will invent and accept whatever makes them most comfortable. Another example of this is shown through the storyline surrounding Mr. Dolphus Raymond. His situation contains a slight nuance compared with Boo Radley in the way that he is a willing participant in the towns facade. He willingly reaffirms the towns assumption of his drunkenness, and that this is the reason that he associates with the colored people of the Maycomb community. There is then the obvious racial prejudice between the people of Maycomb and Tom Robinson. This is a classic case of people sticking to what they know and are familiar with when confronted with their fears of change in their everyday existence. This is shown by the fact that the town refused to believe that Tom Robinson a colored man could actually be a better person that white Bob Ewell. Lastly their was the type of prejudice which was personified mainly in this novel by the character of Aunt Alexandra. This being the prejudice people use when determining what social class people are to be a part of. One good example being the way Aunt Alexandra reacted to Scout’s request to play with Walter Cunningham. Alexandra felt this would be wrong of scout due to the fact that Walter was of a lower financial and in turn social class.
The ending of innocence is another resounding theme of this novel. This theme is shown mainly through the ageing and maturing process of Scout and Jem. These two children are forced to do a great deal of growing up over a very short period of time. They are thrust into the many unseemly workings of the world when their father agrees to defend a colored man. This causes and uproar in the towns conservative and in some ways narrow minded community due to the fact that the colored man is charged with the rap of a white woman. The towns adverse reaction often exposes the children to things they do not understand. One of which being the fact that many time you do not truly know a person until them in adverse or un naturally circumstances. Or the fact that people can respect a man or woman on the inside but openly curse their name in public. They are also shown that the right and the easy thing to do are not always the same. I believe these factors lead to the children becoming much more wise to the workings of the world. I believe that Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley represented the end of innocence in their own respective situations and circumstances. The end of innocence I feel could also be called the beginning of experience and life.
Justice is the final of the three themes. I feel this is the vehicle which the author uses to showcase the other larger themes of the prejudice and the end of innocence. Justice is something which can change meanings depending on whom opinion you use. They say justice is blind, well I believe that this thought is incomplete. I believe it should say “Justice is blind, so it uses the eyes of the masses.” (feel free to keep this for when I’m famous) Justice is often molded by the majority. This is shown well by the town of Maycomb, I believe their view was that it would have be unjust for a colored man to be victorious over a white in court. On the contrary though I believe that justice is a true and unwavering principle in the eyes of the innocent whom are not corrupted by the beliefs, thoughts, and traditions of the masses. This was illustrated by the strong contrast between the children and the adult’s views of the courts decision.
As I stated before “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a novel of many themes and intricacies. I believe most everyone stands to learn something about human nature by reading this novel. It may just open your eyes to your own unconscious prejudice, the end of you innocence, and your own views of justice.
Prejudice is a important theme in this novel, and affects the evolution of the other two. Through this novel the author shows us the countless ugly faces of prejudice. It allows the reader to see these elements of human nature from a child’s interpretation. The novel teaches you that prejudice is not exclusive to racial tensions. Showing that it can also be seen in the fear of the unknown and the social classification society uses. The book first shows us prejudice people feel against things they do not understand via the towns feelings toward the Radley family. It shows that when people are left with questions they have no answers to they often will invent and accept whatever makes them most comfortable. Another example of this is shown through the storyline surrounding Mr. Dolphus Raymond. His situation contains a slight nuance compared with Boo Radley in the way that he is a willing participant in the towns facade. He willingly reaffirms the towns assumption of his drunkenness, and that this is the reason that he associates with the colored people of the Maycomb community. There is then the obvious racial prejudice between the people of Maycomb and Tom Robinson. This is a classic case of people sticking to what they know and are familiar with when confronted with their fears of change in their everyday existence. This is shown by the fact that the town refused to believe that Tom Robinson a colored man could actually be a better person that white Bob Ewell. Lastly their was the type of prejudice which was personified mainly in this novel by the character of Aunt Alexandra. This being the prejudice people use when determining what social class people are to be a part of. One good example being the way Aunt Alexandra reacted to Scout’s request to play with Walter Cunningham. Alexandra felt this would be wrong of scout due to the fact that Walter was of a lower financial and in turn social class.
The ending of innocence is another resounding theme of this novel. This theme is shown mainly through the ageing and maturing process of Scout and Jem. These two children are forced to do a great deal of growing up over a very short period of time. They are thrust into the many unseemly workings of the world when their father agrees to defend a colored man. This causes and uproar in the towns conservative and in some ways narrow minded community due to the fact that the colored man is charged with the rap of a white woman. The towns adverse reaction often exposes the children to things they do not understand. One of which being the fact that many time you do not truly know a person until them in adverse or un naturally circumstances. Or the fact that people can respect a man or woman on the inside but openly curse their name in public. They are also shown that the right and the easy thing to do are not always the same. I believe these factors lead to the children becoming much more wise to the workings of the world. I believe that Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley represented the end of innocence in their own respective situations and circumstances. The end of innocence I feel could also be called the beginning of experience and life.
Justice is the final of the three themes. I feel this is the vehicle which the author uses to showcase the other larger themes of the prejudice and the end of innocence. Justice is something which can change meanings depending on whom opinion you use. They say justice is blind, well I believe that this thought is incomplete. I believe it should say “Justice is blind, so it uses the eyes of the masses.” (feel free to keep this for when I’m famous) Justice is often molded by the majority. This is shown well by the town of Maycomb, I believe their view was that it would have be unjust for a colored man to be victorious over a white in court. On the contrary though I believe that justice is a true and unwavering principle in the eyes of the innocent whom are not corrupted by the beliefs, thoughts, and traditions of the masses. This was illustrated by the strong contrast between the children and the adult’s views of the courts decision.
As I stated before “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a novel of many themes and intricacies. I believe most everyone stands to learn something about human nature by reading this novel. It may just open your eyes to your own unconscious prejudice, the end of you innocence, and your own views of justice.