To Kill A Mocking Bird

Why the film is titled To kill a Mocking Bird?

Background Information

To Kill a Mockingbird is adapted from a novel with the same title, written by Harper Lee published in 1960 . It is about a small town in America in the 1930s, seen in the eyes of a tomboy( 假小子 ) called Scout. The story follows Scout, her brother Jem and friend Dill as they try to make sense of the adult world, a world that turns from carefree（无忧无虑） to ominous （不祥的） when Scout‘s father is asked to defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. The story is using the naivety of a child to present a fresh vision of the adult world, the presents and intolerances( 偏执 ) that they normally accept. It also uses Tom Robinson's trail to expose the prejudiced and racism in the 30s.

The story is set in the depression, a time of deep racial discrimination. Although in 1954 public schools were legally obliged to integrate black people, they still remained in the 2nd class.

Plot Summary

The defendant: Tom Robinson The plaintiff ： Robert 'Bob' Ewell & Mayella Ewell

The lawyer: Atticus

The

Case

Dispute of this Case

• Robert Ewell and his daughter Mayella Ewell charges Tom Robinson of his raping and beating Mayella. However, Atticus establishes that the accusers—Mayella and her father, Bob Ewell—are lying. It also becomes clear that the friendless Mayella was making sexual advances towards Tom and her father caught her in the act.

• Finally despite significant evidence of Tom's innocence, the jury convicts him. Jem's faith in justice is badly shaken, as is Atticus', when a hopeless Tom is shot and killed while trying to escape from prison.

Black & Female

The

Jury

In common law, a grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether there is enough evidence for a trial. Grand juries carry out this duty by examining evidence and issuing indictments, or by investigating alleged crimes and issuing presentments( 呈文 ).

Grand Jury( 大陪审团 / 起诉陪审团 )

The “petit jury” (or “trial jury”) hears the evidence in a trial as presented by both the plaintiff (petitioner) and the defendant (respondent). After hearing the evidence and often jury instructions from the judge, the group retires for deliberation, to consider a verdict. The majority required for a verdict varies. In some cases it must be unanimous( 全体一致的 ), while in other jurisdictions it may be a majority or supermajority. A jury that is unable to come to a verdict is referred to as a hung jury( 未能作出裁定的陪审团 ).

Petit Jury( 小陪审团 / 审判陪审团 )

Types of Jury

Integrity & Justice•Factualism •Protect dignity and equality for everyone•Never flinch from difficulties

As an lawyer

Teach his children:•Appreciate human goodness without ignoring human evil•Not to judge a person until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it

As a father

Atticus Finch

Why the film is titled

To kill a Mocking Bird?

The title of To Kill a Mockingbird carries a great deal of symbolic weight. The “mockingbird” comes to represent the idea of innocence, peacefulness and kindness. Thus, to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence.

Throughout the movie, a number of characters (Jem, Tom Robinson, Dill, Boo, Mr. Raymond, Mayella Ewell) can be identified as mockingbirds—innocents who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil.

=Jem Finch Dill

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