To Kill a Mocking Bird
- Submitted by: ellieraggett
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- Category: English: Novels
- Date Submitted: 03/17/2014 01:21 AM
- Pages: 4
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A good novel makes us think about important ideas and issues.
“To Kill A Mocking Bird” is a virtuous example to this.
Thought the story the book deals with many themes and issues.
The major themes in this novel are; the difference between good and evil, the existence of social inequality, the importance of moral education and racism.
Firstly the difference between good and evil. The moral nature of human beings.
The moral voice of To Kill a Mockingbird is expressed through Atticus Finch, who is diverse in the novel in that he has experienced and understood evil without losing his faith in the human capacity for goodness. Atticus understands that most people have both good and bad qualities. The important thing is to appreciate the good qualities and understand the bad qualities by treating others with sympathy and trying to see life from their perspective. He tries to teach this to Jem and Scout to show them that it is possible to live with conscience without losing hope or becoming cynical. An example of this is Atticus being able to admire Mrs. Dubose’s courage even though her racism towards him is rude. Scout’s progress as a character in the novel is defined by her growth towards understanding Atticus’s lessons.
Secondly, the difference between social inequality. Differences in social status are explored largely through the overcomplicated social hierarchy of Maycomb, the ins and outs of which constantly baffle the children. The relatively well-off Finches stand near the top of Maycomb’s social hierarchy, with most of the townspeople beneath them. Ignorant country farmers like the Cunninghams lie below the townspeople, and the white trash Ewells rest below the Cunninghams. But the black community in Maycomb, despite its abundance of admirable qualities people and families below even the Ewells, enabling Bob Ewell to make up for his own lack of importance by persecuting Tom Robinson. These social divisions are shown very detailed and obvious in...
“To Kill A Mocking Bird” is a virtuous example to this.
Thought the story the book deals with many themes and issues.
The major themes in this novel are; the difference between good and evil, the existence of social inequality, the importance of moral education and racism.
Firstly the difference between good and evil. The moral nature of human beings.
The moral voice of To Kill a Mockingbird is expressed through Atticus Finch, who is diverse in the novel in that he has experienced and understood evil without losing his faith in the human capacity for goodness. Atticus understands that most people have both good and bad qualities. The important thing is to appreciate the good qualities and understand the bad qualities by treating others with sympathy and trying to see life from their perspective. He tries to teach this to Jem and Scout to show them that it is possible to live with conscience without losing hope or becoming cynical. An example of this is Atticus being able to admire Mrs. Dubose’s courage even though her racism towards him is rude. Scout’s progress as a character in the novel is defined by her growth towards understanding Atticus’s lessons.
Secondly, the difference between social inequality. Differences in social status are explored largely through the overcomplicated social hierarchy of Maycomb, the ins and outs of which constantly baffle the children. The relatively well-off Finches stand near the top of Maycomb’s social hierarchy, with most of the townspeople beneath them. Ignorant country farmers like the Cunninghams lie below the townspeople, and the white trash Ewells rest below the Cunninghams. But the black community in Maycomb, despite its abundance of admirable qualities people and families below even the Ewells, enabling Bob Ewell to make up for his own lack of importance by persecuting Tom Robinson. These social divisions are shown very detailed and obvious in...