To Kill a Mocking BirdTo Kill a Mocking Bird

SDUSDUOct. 2012Oct. 2012

Author and the novelAuthor and the novel Harper Lee (1926-)Harper Lee (1926-) Born into a well-respected familBorn into a well-respected famil

y in Alabama. Her father was fory in Alabama. Her father was former newspaper editor and proprmer newspaper editor and proprietor, practiced law later and serietor, practiced law later and served in the Alabama State Legislaved in the Alabama State Legislature from 1926 to 1938. The fathture from 1926 to 1938. The father once he once defended two ber once he once defended two black men accused of murdering lack men accused of murdering a white storekeeper. a white storekeeper.

Lee told her close friend why she Lee told her close friend why she never wrote again: "Two reasonnever wrote again: "Two reasons: one, I wouldn't go through the s: one, I wouldn't go through the pressure and publicity I went thrpressure and publicity I went through with To Kill A Mockingbird ough with To Kill A Mockingbird for any amount of money. Seconfor any amount of money. Second, I have said what I wanted to sd, I have said what I wanted to say and I will not say it again." .ay and I will not say it again." .

Being awarded the PresideBeing awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedomntial Medal of Freedom

To Kill a Mockingbird: To Kill a Mockingbird: a novela novel

Published July 11, 1960, Published July 11, 1960, To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird wa was an immediate bestsells an immediate bestseller and won great critical er and won great critical acclaim. It became the Pacclaim. It became the Pulitzer Prize winner for Fulitzer Prize winner for Fiction in 1961. In 1999, it iction in 1961. In 1999, it was voted "Best Novel owas voted "Best Novel of the Century" in a poll bf the Century" in a poll by the Library Journaly the Library Journal

Main plotMain plot Who: Scout Finch the narrator, her brother JeWho: Scout Finch the narrator, her brother Je

m, their widowed fatherAtticus, their friend Dilm, their widowed fatherAtticus, their friend Dill, and their neighborsl, and their neighbors

Where: in the sleepy Alabama town of MaycomWhere: in the sleepy Alabama town of Maycomb. b.

When: in 1936 when the twon is dealing with tWhen: in 1936 when the twon is dealing with the Great Depressionhe Great Depression

What: One summer, Jem and Scout befriend a What: One summer, Jem and Scout befriend a boy named Dill, who has come to live in their nboy named Dill, who has come to live in their neighborhood for the summer, and the trio begieighborhood for the summer, and the trio begins their adventures and witnesses the conflict ns their adventures and witnesses the conflict of goodness and evil.of goodness and evil.

Major charactersMajor characters

Jean Louise “Scout” Finch - She is intelligenJean Louise “Scout” Finch - She is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, t and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy. Scout has a combative streak and a a tomboy. Scout has a combative streak and a basic faith in the goodness of the people in her basic faith in the goodness of the people in her community. As the novel progresses, this faith community. As the novel progresses, this faith is tested by the hatred and prejudice that emeis tested by the hatred and prejudice that emerge during Tom Robinson’s trial. Scout eventrge during Tom Robinson’s trial. Scout eventually develops a more grown-up perspective tually develops a more grown-up perspective that enables her to appreciate human goodneshat enables her to appreciate human goodness without ignoring human evil. s without ignoring human evil.

Atticus Finch - Scout and Jem’s father, a lawyer Atticus Finch - Scout and Jem’s father, a lawyer in Maycomb descended from an old local family. in Maycomb descended from an old local family. A widower with a dry sense of humor, Atticus has A widower with a dry sense of humor, Atticus has instilled in his children his strong sense of moralitinstilled in his children his strong sense of morality and justice. He is one of the few residents of May and justice. He is one of the few residents of Maycomb committed to racial equality. When he agrycomb committed to racial equality. When he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man chargeees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man charged with raping a white woman, he exposes himself d with raping a white woman, he exposes himself and his family to the anger of the white communiand his family to the anger of the white community. With his strongly held convictions, wisdom, anty. With his strongly held convictions, wisdom, and empathy, Atticus functions as the novel’s mord empathy, Atticus functions as the novel’s moral backbone. al backbone.

Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch - Scout’s brJeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch - Scout’s brother and constant playmate at the beginniother and constant playmate at the beginning of the story. Jem is something of a typicang of the story. Jem is something of a typical American boy, refusing to back down from l American boy, refusing to back down from dares and fantasizing about playing footbaldares and fantasizing about playing football. Four years older than Scout, he gradually l. Four years older than Scout, he gradually separates himself from her games, but he reseparates himself from her games, but he remains her close companion and protector tmains her close companion and protector throughout the novel. Jem moves into adolehroughout the novel. Jem moves into adolescence during the story, and his ideals are sscence during the story, and his ideals are shaken badly by the evil and injustice that he haken badly by the evil and injustice that he perceives during the trial of Tom Robinson. perceives during the trial of Tom Robinson.

Arthur “Boo” Radley - A recluse who never sets Arthur “Boo” Radley - A recluse who never sets foot outside his house, Boo dominates the imagifoot outside his house, Boo dominates the imaginations of Jem, Scout, and Dill. He is a powerful snations of Jem, Scout, and Dill. He is a powerful symbol of goodness swathed in an initial shroud oymbol of goodness swathed in an initial shroud of creepiness, leaving little presents for Scout and f creepiness, leaving little presents for Scout and Jem and emerging at an opportune moment to sJem and emerging at an opportune moment to save the children. An intelligent child emotionally ave the children. An intelligent child emotionally damaged by his cruel father, Boo provides an exadamaged by his cruel father, Boo provides an example of the threat that evil poses to innocence ample of the threat that evil poses to innocence and goodness. He is one of the novel’s “mockinnd goodness. He is one of the novel’s “mockingbirds,” a good person injured by the evil of magbirds,” a good person injured by the evil of mankind. nkind.

Charles Baker “Dill” Harris - Jem and Charles Baker “Dill” Harris - Jem and Scout’s summer neighbor and friend. Dill Scout’s summer neighbor and friend. Dill is a diminutive, confident boy with an is a diminutive, confident boy with an active imagination. He becomes active imagination. He becomes fascinated with Boo Radley and fascinated with Boo Radley and represents the perspective of childhood represents the perspective of childhood innocence throughout the novel. innocence throughout the novel.

Bob EwellBob Ewell - A drunken, mostly unemployed - A drunken, mostly unemployed member of Maycomb’s poorest family. In member of Maycomb’s poorest family. In his knowingly wrongful accusation that Tohis knowingly wrongful accusation that Tom Robinson raped his daughter, Ewell reprem Robinson raped his daughter, Ewell represents the dark side of the South: ignorance, sents the dark side of the South: ignorance, poverty, squalor, and hate-filled racial prejupoverty, squalor, and hate-filled racial prejudice. dice.

Calpurnia - The Finches’ black cook. Calpurnia iCalpurnia - The Finches’ black cook. Calpurnia is a stern disciplinarian and the children’s bridge s a stern disciplinarian and the children’s bridge between the white world and her own black combetween the white world and her own black community. munity.

Aunt Alexandra - Atticus’s sister, a strong-willed Aunt Alexandra - Atticus’s sister, a strong-willed woman with a fierce devotion to her family. Alexawoman with a fierce devotion to her family. Alexandra is the perfect Southern lady, and her commitndra is the perfect Southern lady, and her commitment to propriety and tradition often leads her to ment to propriety and tradition often leads her to clash with Scout. Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose - Aclash with Scout. Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose - An elderly, ill-tempered, racist woman who lives nen elderly, ill-tempered, racist woman who lives near the Finches. Although Jem believes that Mrs. Dar the Finches. Although Jem believes that Mrs. Dubose is a thoroughly bad woman, Atticus admireubose is a thoroughly bad woman, Atticus admires her for the courage with which she battles her ms her for the courage with which she battles her morphine addiction. orphine addiction.

Mr. Walter Cunningham - A poor farmer and part of tMr. Walter Cunningham - A poor farmer and part of the mob that seeks to lynch Tom Robinson at the jail. he mob that seeks to lynch Tom Robinson at the jail. Mr. Cunningham displays his human goodness when Mr. Cunningham displays his human goodness when Scout’s politeness compels him to disperse the meScout’s politeness compels him to disperse the men at the jail. n at the jail.

Walter Cunningham - Son of Mr. Cunningham and clWalter Cunningham - Son of Mr. Cunningham and classmate of Scout. Walter cannot afford lunch one daassmate of Scout. Walter cannot afford lunch one day at school and accidentally gets Scout in trouble. y at school and accidentally gets Scout in trouble.

Tom RobinsonTom Robinson - The black field hand accused of rap - The black field hand accused of rape. Tom is one of the novel’s “mockingbirds,” an ie. Tom is one of the novel’s “mockingbirds,” an important symbol of innocence destroyed by evil. mportant symbol of innocence destroyed by evil.

Topics to studyTopics to study

American Southern literature with stereAmerican Southern literature with stereotypical figures and racial issuesotypical figures and racial issues

Gothic novelGothic novel BuildunsromanBuildunsroman Confrontation of goodness and evilConfrontation of goodness and evil The symbolic meaning of the title and soThe symbolic meaning of the title and so

me namesme names

We know that all men are not created equal in the We know that all men are not created equal in the sense that some people would have us believe --- ssense that some people would have us believe --- some people are smarter than others, some people ome people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunities because they are born wihave more opportunities because they are born with it, some men make more money than others, soth it, some men make more money than others, some ladies bake better cakes than others --- some pme ladies bake better cakes than others --- some people are born gifted beyond the normal scope of eople are born gifted beyond the normal scope of most men.most men.

But here is one way in this country in which all meBut here is one way in this country in which all men are created equal --- there is one human situation are created equal --- there is one human situation that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, tn that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignhe stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That orant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentleman, is a court. (Atticus’s defeninstitution, gentleman, is a court. (Atticus’s defense of his client on the court of law, p. 218)se of his client on the court of law, p. 218)

Background of the publicationBackground of the publication

““Lee’s book was published in 1960 --- Lee’s book was published in 1960 --- a time of tumultuous events and racial sa time of tumultuous events and racial strife as the struggle in the Civil Rights mtrife as the struggle in the Civil Rights movement grew violent and spread into ciovement grew violent and spread into cities across the nation, and into the Amerties across the nation, and into the American consciousness….”ican consciousness….”

Overall evaluationOverall evaluation The novel’s enduring impact goes beyond the period The novel’s enduring impact goes beyond the period

when integration and the struggle for equal rights werwhen integration and the struggle for equal rights were paramount. Its influence has been enduring because e paramount. Its influence has been enduring because it allows the reader, through the lives of children, “to it allows the reader, through the lives of children, “to walk around in the shoes “ of people who are differewalk around in the shoes “ of people who are different from their ourselves. The novel challenges our sterent from their ourselves. The novel challenges our stereotypes --- of the Southerner, the African American, the otypes --- of the Southerner, the African American, the eccentric, the child, the yound lady. At the same time teccentric, the child, the yound lady. At the same time that many people see characters and social situations ihat many people see characters and social situations in different ways after reading the novel, they also recan different ways after reading the novel, they also recapture some part of their own younth in the story with ipture some part of their own younth in the story with its characters. The novel’s universal and lasting appets characters. The novel’s universal and lasting appeal comes in part from the reader’s nostalgia for the tial comes in part from the reader’s nostalgia for the time of innocence in which children live beofre harsh trme of innocence in which children live beofre harsh truths enter their lives. (Claudia Durst Johnson) uths enter their lives. (Claudia Durst Johnson)

The language to reflect The language to reflect social statusocial statuss & & racial issuesracial issues

Mr. Jem --- at 12 he is addressed with a title of respcetMr. Jem --- at 12 he is addressed with a title of respcet Mrs. Dubose --- married white woman with titleMrs. Dubose --- married white woman with title Miss Maudie --- unmarried white woman with titleMiss Maudie --- unmarried white woman with title Atticus Finch, Mr. Finch --- a white man with status anAtticus Finch, Mr. Finch --- a white man with status an

d titled title Calpurnia, Cal --- Black woman, no title, no statusCalpurnia, Cal --- Black woman, no title, no status Mayella Ewell --- poor white woman, no status, no titleMayella Ewell --- poor white woman, no status, no title Rev. Sykes --- Black minister with title of recognitionRev. Sykes --- Black minister with title of recognition Boo Radley --- simple white man, nick-named by childBoo Radley --- simple white man, nick-named by child

renren Scout, Miss Jean Louise Finch --- white child of 6 with Scout, Miss Jean Louise Finch --- white child of 6 with

a tilea tile

Study in the perspective of Study in the perspective of socialsocial a and nd historical contexthistorical context

Johnson studies the similarities betweeJohnson studies the similarities between the experience of the author and that n the experience of the author and that of the narator, the historical events in thof the narator, the historical events in the story and influenctial events in history. e story and influenctial events in history. She thus draws many similarities betweShe thus draws many similarities between Tom Robinson trial and the 1931 Scoten Tom Robinson trial and the 1931 Scottsboro incident and trial. tsboro incident and trial.

Styistic study: Stereotypes and breStyistic study: Stereotypes and breaking of boundariesaking of boundaries

Gothic: The book is, according to Johnson “eGothic: The book is, according to Johnson “essentiall a tale about boundaries --- those of rassentiall a tale about boundaries --- those of race, religion, time, class, sex, tradtion, and codce, religion, time, class, sex, tradtion, and code”. She interpretes the book as an exemplifice”. She interpretes the book as an exemplification and parody of Gothic tration. Her argueation and parody of Gothic tration. Her arguementations include: physical, mental and socimentations include: physical, mental and social breakdown or decay; the lack of a single conal breakdown or decay; the lack of a single conventional, ideal or normal family; oppressive sventional, ideal or normal family; oppressive sexual roles, the attraction to the fear of “diffeexual roles, the attraction to the fear of “differnt:” things or people; hypocrisy; the roles of rnt:” things or people; hypocrisy; the roles of play and ritual.play and ritual.

Atticus Finch as an exampleAtticus Finch as an example Serving for no fee, Atticus heard the call of justice. His defeServing for no fee, Atticus heard the call of justice. His defe

nse was doomed to failure by the very nature of Southern linse was doomed to failure by the very nature of Southern life, but Atticus nonetheless succeeded in demonstrating botfe, but Atticus nonetheless succeeded in demonstrating both the innocence of his client and the peculiar sickness of Jih the innocence of his client and the peculiar sickness of Jim Crow society. Through his deft, courtly, and persistent crm Crow society. Through his deft, courtly, and persistent cross examination, Atticus made it apparent to everyone that oss examination, Atticus made it apparent to everyone that Tom Robinson was being scapegoated for a crime that had Tom Robinson was being scapegoated for a crime that had not even occurred. He even mde Tom’s innocent apparennot even occurred. He even mde Tom’s innocent apparent to the all-white jury, which deliberated for an unorecedent to the all-white jury, which deliberated for an unorecedented several hours even through the judgement of convictioted several hours even through the judgement of conviction was a foregone conclusion. / So Atticus Finch saves us by n was a foregone conclusion. / So Atticus Finch saves us by providing a moral archetype, by reflecting nobility upon us, providing a moral archetype, by reflecting nobility upon us, and by having the courage to meet the standards that we sand by having the courage to meet the standards that we set for ourselves but can seldom attain. et for ourselves but can seldom attain.

--- Steven Lubet, “Reconstructing Atticus Finch”, Michiga--- Steven Lubet, “Reconstructing Atticus Finch”, Michigan Law Review, Vol. 97, No. 6, 1999, 1339-1362: 1340. n Law Review, Vol. 97, No. 6, 1999, 1339-1362: 1340.

However, Lubet was doubting Finch and listing him However, Lubet was doubting Finch and listing him as a racist, which interestingly arouses much responas a racist, which interestingly arouses much response, the majority of which was expressing their differse, the majority of which was expressing their different understanding of the role of Finch.ent understanding of the role of Finch.

Representative onesRepresentative ones include: include: Rob Atkinson: “Comment on Steven Lubet, ReconsRob Atkinson: “Comment on Steven Lubet, Recons

tructing Atticus Finch“, tructing Atticus Finch“, Michigan Law ReviewMichigan Law Review, Vol. , Vol. 97, No. 6, 1999, pp. 1370-1372.97, No. 6, 1999, pp. 1370-1372.

William H. Simon: “Moral Icons: A Comment on SteWilliam H. Simon: “Moral Icons: A Comment on Steven Lubet's ‘Reconstructing Atticus Finch’“. ven Lubet's ‘Reconstructing Atticus Finch’“. MicMichigan Law Reviewhigan Law Review, Vol. 97, No. 6, 1999, pp. 1376-137, Vol. 97, No. 6, 1999, pp. 1376-1377.7.

Academic research on the novelAcademic research on the novel

To Kill a Mockingbird: Threatening BounTo Kill a Mockingbird: Threatening Boundaries daries by Claudia Durst Johnson by Claudia Durst Johnson