Author | Year | Language | Pages |
Harper Lee | 1960 | English | 285 |
To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee and published in 1960, is a classic novel that explores racial injustice, moral growth, and childhood innocence. Set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930s, the story is told through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl whose father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer defending a black man accused of raping a white woman.
Key Themes and Plot
The novel delves into the deeply ingrained racism of the American South during the Great Depression. Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, represents morality and justice as he defends Tom Robinson, an African American man falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Through the trial, Scout and her brother, Jem, witness the harsh realities of prejudice and the complexities of human nature. The novel also portrays the innocence of childhood and the loss of that innocence as Scout and Jem confront the world’s cruelties.
The mockingbird symbolizes innocence and goodness, with characters like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley representing the metaphorical mockingbirds that are harmed by society’s prejudices and injustices.