Harper Lee, To Kill a Mocking Bird
General questions
Explain the title or indicate the link between the title and the story.
The title of To Kill a Mockingbird has very little literal connection to the plot, but it carries a great deal
of symbolic weight in the book. In this story of innocence destroyed by evil, the 'mockingbird' comes
to represent the idea of innocence. Thus, to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence.
The phrase "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" refers to intentionally and pointlessly destroying
something that does no harm. The mockingbird is a songbird, not a pest, and it isn't a game bird.
Killing a mockingbird serves no purpose, and therefore is an act of unnecessary cruelty.
When the jury convicts Tom Robinson of rape despite the absence of physical evidence and despite
Atticus’s compelling defence, the jury is guilty of the same unnecessary cruelty. The jury specifically,
and the town of Maycomb generally, destroy a good person who has never done harm simply
because of the colour of his skin. Though Tom is the symbolic mockingbird at the heart of the novel,
he is not the only character who fits that description. Heck Tate also specifically describes Boo Radley
as a mockingbird, in that he is a harmless person who is the victim of pointless cruelty. Unlike Tom
Robinson, Boo Radley is not destroyed, though he does suffer greatly.
Identify the major motifs or themes addressed in the portrayal of the
central character/characters or groups in the novel.
Race
Issues of race and prejudice pervade To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson's trial reveals racial
tensions that are deeply ingrained in the day-to-day life of the community and its people, even
among those who are not immediately involved in the legal proceedings.
Jem and Scout accompany Calpurnia to church, where all members of the congregation are African
American. There they experience incidents of racism from some of the church-goers. The town's
newspaper publisher shows signs of racism even as he exposes it in the community. Aunt Alexandra
also shows racist tendencies, as when she advises Atticus: "Don't talk like that in front of them
[African Americans]. ... It encourages them."
During the trial the children—and particularly the deep-thinking Jem—are shaken by this sudden
exposure to the town's prejudice. Their reactions in particular make the racist behaviour of the adults
around them look petty, illogical, and unethical.
Class
Harper Lee's exploration of class often has to do with money and power. In the novel Aunt Alexandra
is loyal to Maycomb's existing class distinctions. People know their place, and to keep one's place is a
tedious but necessary job. She makes it clear that Scout cannot invite impoverished classmate Walter
Cunningham to their home because she is afraid Scout will pick up his habits. Aunt Alexandra would
also consider the Ewell family to be in a lower social class than the Finches.
Throughout the novel, especially after Aunt Alexandra moves in, Jem and Scout wrangle with the
idea of class. They often talk about it as "background" or "family," but what they are trying to figure
out is how to navigate the tricky waters of Maycomb's various social classes while remaining true to
their beliefs.
General questions
Explain the title or indicate the link between the title and the story.
The title of To Kill a Mockingbird has very little literal connection to the plot, but it carries a great deal
of symbolic weight in the book. In this story of innocence destroyed by evil, the 'mockingbird' comes
to represent the idea of innocence. Thus, to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence.
The phrase "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" refers to intentionally and pointlessly destroying
something that does no harm. The mockingbird is a songbird, not a pest, and it isn't a game bird.
Killing a mockingbird serves no purpose, and therefore is an act of unnecessary cruelty.
When the jury convicts Tom Robinson of rape despite the absence of physical evidence and despite
Atticus’s compelling defence, the jury is guilty of the same unnecessary cruelty. The jury specifically,
and the town of Maycomb generally, destroy a good person who has never done harm simply
because of the colour of his skin. Though Tom is the symbolic mockingbird at the heart of the novel,
he is not the only character who fits that description. Heck Tate also specifically describes Boo Radley
as a mockingbird, in that he is a harmless person who is the victim of pointless cruelty. Unlike Tom
Robinson, Boo Radley is not destroyed, though he does suffer greatly.
Identify the major motifs or themes addressed in the portrayal of the
central character/characters or groups in the novel.
Race
Issues of race and prejudice pervade To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson's trial reveals racial
tensions that are deeply ingrained in the day-to-day life of the community and its people, even
among those who are not immediately involved in the legal proceedings.
Jem and Scout accompany Calpurnia to church, where all members of the congregation are African
American. There they experience incidents of racism from some of the church-goers. The town's
newspaper publisher shows signs of racism even as he exposes it in the community. Aunt Alexandra
also shows racist tendencies, as when she advises Atticus: "Don't talk like that in front of them
[African Americans]. ... It encourages them."
During the trial the children—and particularly the deep-thinking Jem—are shaken by this sudden
exposure to the town's prejudice. Their reactions in particular make the racist behaviour of the adults
around them look petty, illogical, and unethical.
Class
Harper Lee's exploration of class often has to do with money and power. In the novel Aunt Alexandra
is loyal to Maycomb's existing class distinctions. People know their place, and to keep one's place is a
tedious but necessary job. She makes it clear that Scout cannot invite impoverished classmate Walter
Cunningham to their home because she is afraid Scout will pick up his habits. Aunt Alexandra would
also consider the Ewell family to be in a lower social class than the Finches.
Throughout the novel, especially after Aunt Alexandra moves in, Jem and Scout wrangle with the
idea of class. They often talk about it as "background" or "family," but what they are trying to figure
out is how to navigate the tricky waters of Maycomb's various social classes while remaining true to
their beliefs.
