Concluding NotesConcluding Notes

To Kill a To Kill a MockingbirdMockingbird

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background The incidents in the novel occurred in the United States at a The incidents in the novel occurred in the United States at a

time of economic hardships and widespread racial prejudice time of economic hardships and widespread racial prejudice against African-Americans. against African-Americans.

Following the crash of the stock market in 1929, the Following the crash of the stock market in 1929, the Great Great Depression Depression began. As conditions became worse, millions of began. As conditions became worse, millions of people were out of work, and many were living in near people were out of work, and many were living in near starvation.starvation.

When When Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in 1933, he became president in 1933, he set up a variety of programs to provide employment and set up a variety of programs to provide employment and relieve the people of their terrible suffering.relieve the people of their terrible suffering.

Times were particularly hard in the southern part of the Times were particularly hard in the southern part of the United States, a section that had not fully recovered from the United States, a section that had not fully recovered from the aftermath of the Civil War (1861-1865)aftermath of the Civil War (1861-1865)

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background The The Civil War Civil War began when the southern states seceded began when the southern states seceded

from the Union, primarily over the issue of the right to own from the Union, primarily over the issue of the right to own slaves, which was the basis of the South’s economic slaves, which was the basis of the South’s economic prosperity.prosperity.

In 1863, In 1863, President Lincoln President Lincoln issued the issued the Emancipation Emancipation ProclamationProclamation, freeing all slaves living in Confederate , freeing all slaves living in Confederate territory.territory.

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background At the time of At the time of To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird, the ‘, the ‘NegroNegro’ is no longer ’ is no longer

a slave of the large cotton plantations in the South. a slave of the large cotton plantations in the South.

The Civil War brought defeat to the South, and freedom to The Civil War brought defeat to the South, and freedom to the slave, but it left the black man as a symbol the slave, but it left the black man as a symbol

of that defeat, turning him into a social of that defeat, turning him into a social

outcast, a subjugated and mistreated outcast, a subjugated and mistreated

scapegoat for much of the Southerner's scapegoat for much of the Southerner's

dissatisfaction.dissatisfaction.

Many people in the South considered African-Americans Many people in the South considered African-Americans inferior and continued to demand that they be segregated inferior and continued to demand that they be segregated in separate schools and on trains and buses.in separate schools and on trains and buses.

To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird: The Story: The Story Set in the 1930’s, it is the story of “Maycomb” – a quiet Set in the 1930’s, it is the story of “Maycomb” – a quiet

southern (Alabama) town, similar to the town where the southern (Alabama) town, similar to the town where the author grew up. Life is settled and unhurried and there is author grew up. Life is settled and unhurried and there is little that can happen to disturb the social hierarchy.little that can happen to disturb the social hierarchy.

Fundamentalist Fundamentalist religious sects flourish, the atmosphere religious sects flourish, the atmosphere was close and ‘gossipy’ and almost everyone there is related was close and ‘gossipy’ and almost everyone there is related to one another. The town is almost an island – to one another. The town is almost an island – isolated and isolated and narrow in viewpointnarrow in viewpoint..

To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird: The Story: The Story In the 1930’s – after the crash of 1929, nearly everyone In the 1930’s – after the crash of 1929, nearly everyone

was poor. Americans were not only not concerned about was poor. Americans were not only not concerned about what was happening in the rest of the world – but they what was happening in the rest of the world – but they didn’t know what was going on in their own country. No one didn’t know what was going on in their own country. No one was concerned with civil rights for ‘Negroes’ – people only was concerned with civil rights for ‘Negroes’ – people only wanted to recover from the depression and mind their own wanted to recover from the depression and mind their own business.business.

At that time the South was completely segregated – whites At that time the South was completely segregated – whites didn’t allow ‘Negroes’ into their social institutions didn’t allow ‘Negroes’ into their social institutions (churches, schools, clubs). The ‘Negro’ was a complete (churches, schools, clubs). The ‘Negro’ was a complete social outcast.social outcast.

To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird: The Story: The Story This is the story of This is the story of Scout FinchScout Finch, a little girl growing up in , a little girl growing up in

Maycomb, who tells the story of her childhood when she Maycomb, who tells the story of her childhood when she witnessed the trial of a ‘Negro’ falsely accused of raping a witnessed the trial of a ‘Negro’ falsely accused of raping a white woman. The ‘Negro’s lawyer is Scout’s father, white woman. The ‘Negro’s lawyer is Scout’s father, Atticus Atticus FinchFinch. He defends the ‘Negro’ vigorously, although he expects . He defends the ‘Negro’ vigorously, although he expects to lose the case. to lose the case.

In addition to being In addition to being the story of childhoodthe story of childhood, it is also , it is also the story of the story of the beginning of the civil rights struggle of the American Negro the beginning of the civil rights struggle of the American Negro and a study of the qualities of a true hero and and a study of the qualities of a true hero and the place of the place of moral values moral values in determining one’s life choices.in determining one’s life choices.

PlotPlot The novel The novel To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird mainly revolves around a mainly revolves around a

small family of three; small family of three; Atticus FinchAtticus Finch, an attorney, and his two , an attorney, and his two children, children, ScoutScout and and JemJem. .

As the novel proceeds, certain characters are linked with the As the novel proceeds, certain characters are linked with the three main characters to form a dramatic story of events, three main characters to form a dramatic story of events, attitudes, prejudices and values. attitudes, prejudices and values.

PlotPlot The novel is set in the quiet town of The novel is set in the quiet town of MaycombMaycomb; but the ; but the

serenity is only superficial. serenity is only superficial.

The town is comprised of three communities: theThe town is comprised of three communities: the white white folkfolk, the , the ‘white trash’, ‘white trash’, and the and the black communityblack community..

Outwardly there is peace among the three, but underneath Outwardly there is peace among the three, but underneath prevails a combination of hostility, racial prejudices, and prevails a combination of hostility, racial prejudices, and friendlessness.friendlessness.

Plot (Structure)Plot (Structure) To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird is divided into is divided into 2 parts2 parts. .

The first part extends from The first part extends from Chapter 1Chapter 1 to to Chapter 11Chapter 11, and , and the second part from the second part from Chapter 12 Chapter 12 to to Chapter 31Chapter 31. .

Part 1Part 1 and and Part 2Part 2, though connected with events and , though connected with events and actions, have separate identities.actions, have separate identities.

Part 2Part 2 is concerned mostly with is concerned mostly with Robinson’sRobinson’s trial and is trial and is well unified.well unified.

Part 1Part 1 contains several episodes that are relevant to the contains several episodes that are relevant to the issue dealt with in issue dealt with in Part 2Part 2..

Plot (Structure)Plot (Structure) Part 1 Part 1 mainly deals with the mainly deals with the

characters of characters of JemJem, , ScoutScout and and AtticusAtticus, and the , and the innocent reactions of the innocent reactions of the children to the racial children to the racial prejudices prevailing in their prejudices prevailing in their town.town.

ScoutScout is surprised that is surprised that Walter Cunningham Walter Cunningham has has learnt no table manners, yet, learnt no table manners, yet, the fact that the family the fact that the family invited him for dinner invited him for dinner exhibits their sense of exhibits their sense of equality.equality.

Jem’sJem’s growing admiration growing admiration for his father is also depicted for his father is also depicted in the first few chapters.in the first few chapters.

Part 2Part 2, which is longer , which is longer than than Part 1Part 1, focuses on the , focuses on the novel’s main theme: racial novel’s main theme: racial prejudice, still prevalent in prejudice, still prevalent in the South, which denied the South, which denied equal status to the blacks equal status to the blacks and the whites.and the whites.

It entirely consists of the It entirely consists of the TomTom RobinsonRobinson trial. trial.

The trial begins from the The trial begins from the middle of middle of Chapter 16 Chapter 16 and and ends in ends in Chapter 21Chapter 21. .

However, reference to the However, reference to the case is made before and case is made before and after these chapters too.after these chapters too.

Theme(s): Racism and AcceptanceTheme(s): Racism and Acceptance Nothing more pervades the novel than the ideas of Nothing more pervades the novel than the ideas of racismracism and and

acceptanceacceptance. .

AtticusAtticus built a whole value system around the idea that a built a whole value system around the idea that a person must examine and respect who people are and where person must examine and respect who people are and where they come from. This includes the most unsavory characters they come from. This includes the most unsavory characters like like Bob Ewell Bob Ewell and and Mrs. DoboseMrs. Dobose. When others would rather . When others would rather forget about these people, forget about these people, AtticusAtticus takes the time to takes the time to understand them. understand them.

This is a value This is a value AtticusAtticus passes onto his own children as well. passes onto his own children as well. AtticusAtticus believes that all human beings must be accepted and believes that all human beings must be accepted and treated equally.treated equally.

But But AtticusAtticus must also live these beliefs, not just voice them, must also live these beliefs, not just voice them, which is why he takes the case of which is why he takes the case of TomTom RobinsonRobinson. When no . When no one in the town will stand by one in the town will stand by TomTom, , AtticusAtticus defends him to the defends him to the best of his abilities. best of his abilities. TomTom is an African-American in a small is an African-American in a small Southern town and very few people would act as Southern town and very few people would act as AtticusAtticus does. does.

Theme(s): Racism and AcceptanceTheme(s): Racism and Acceptance RacismRacism is cultural and runs very deep in the town of is cultural and runs very deep in the town of

Maycomb. Even those who believe in Maycomb. Even those who believe in Tom’sTom’s innocence will innocence will not stand up for him. It would be against the social mores of not stand up for him. It would be against the social mores of most people to defend a most people to defend a black manblack man, especially in a case , especially in a case that contradicts the word and honour of a that contradicts the word and honour of a white womanwhite woman. .

But But AtticusAtticus stands for what he knows is right, and his stands for what he knows is right, and his children learn from this. We watch them mature into people children learn from this. We watch them mature into people who look into a person’s soul and life and don’t make who look into a person’s soul and life and don’t make judgements based on race or social status.judgements based on race or social status.

When When ScoutScout wishes to invite wishes to invite WalterWalter CunninghamCunningham to to dinner, we see that she has gained a new knowledge of dinner, we see that she has gained a new knowledge of acceptance. But acceptance. But AuntAunt AlexAlex, a model of archaic Southern , a model of archaic Southern manners, doesn’t believe an individual of manners, doesn’t believe an individual of Walter’sWalter’s standing standing should associate with them. She also disagrees with the way should associate with them. She also disagrees with the way AtticusAtticus sees sees CalpurniaCalpurnia as part of the family. as part of the family. AlexAlex cannot cannot accept the presence of an African-American woman that accept the presence of an African-American woman that transcends servitude in her home.transcends servitude in her home.

Theme(s): Racism and AcceptanceTheme(s): Racism and Acceptance In the end, In the end, ScoutScout and and JemJem become like their father. become like their father.

Although still young, they have become tolerant and Although still young, they have become tolerant and accepting of all people and share their father’s discerning accepting of all people and share their father’s discerning eye for looking deep into people before making a eye for looking deep into people before making a judgement upon them.judgement upon them.

The The SymbolSymbol of The Mockingbird of The Mockingbird

The idea of the mockingbird arises several times during The idea of the mockingbird arises several times during the novel:the novel:

When the children are given air rifles for Christmas, they When the children are given air rifles for Christmas, they are told that it is a sin to shoot the bird.are told that it is a sin to shoot the bird.

Miss Maudie Miss Maudie explains that the mockingbird’s function in explains that the mockingbird’s function in life is to make beautiful music for our enjoyment. (Hence life is to make beautiful music for our enjoyment. (Hence why it is a sin to kill it). why it is a sin to kill it).

The The SymbolSymbol of The Mockingbird of The Mockingbird

Tom Robinson Tom Robinson and the mockingbird share many and the mockingbird share many characteristics. He is a gentle person who has never done characteristics. He is a gentle person who has never done any harm and only tried to help someone who he thought any harm and only tried to help someone who he thought needed help. He is gentle and innocent, just like a needed help. He is gentle and innocent, just like a mockingbird.mockingbird.

Boo Radley Boo Radley and the mockingbird also share many and the mockingbird also share many characteristics. He is shy and gentle, lives quietly and characteristics. He is shy and gentle, lives quietly and harms no one. His action of saving the children from harms no one. His action of saving the children from Bob Bob Ewell Ewell is similar to that of a threatened animal instinctively is similar to that of a threatened animal instinctively defending its young.defending its young.

The cruel treatment of The cruel treatment of Tom Robinson Tom Robinson and and Boo Radley Boo Radley is is similar to the killing of a mockingbird. It is sinful.similar to the killing of a mockingbird. It is sinful.

The The SymbolSymbol of The Mockingbird of The Mockingbird

The mockingbird is symbolic of other things in the The mockingbird is symbolic of other things in the novel as well:novel as well:

JusticeJustice, just like the mockingbird is fragile. Justice is , just like the mockingbird is fragile. Justice is sinfully killed by the all white jury, who wrongfully find Tom sinfully killed by the all white jury, who wrongfully find Tom guilty of a crime for which he is obviously innocent.guilty of a crime for which he is obviously innocent.

The fragility of The fragility of childhood childhood (Scout, Jem, Dill). The innocence (Scout, Jem, Dill). The innocence of the children’s lives is destroyed by the knowledge that of the children’s lives is destroyed by the knowledge that the world is often cynical and cruel. Their lives and outlook the world is often cynical and cruel. Their lives and outlook are changed forever; their trust and confidence in adults is are changed forever; their trust and confidence in adults is killedkilled..