To Kill A Mocking Bird

To Kill a Mocking Bird- Analytical Essay.

Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mocking Bird is a rather 'dark' book and it brings to light many of the failings of the human race, but To Kill a Mocking Bird also exudes hope by Harper Lee's clever inclusion of many characters whose good attributes become established throughout the novel. In essence To Kill a Mocking Bird is a story which does not just focus on weakness of character, it also focuses on their strengths and honest good will.

Atticus Finch is certainly one character who proves that To Kill a Mocking Bird does not dwell on only the flaws of human nature. Atticus Finch is the voice of reason used by Harper Lee throughout her novel. Atticus presents an accurate moral alternative to almost every fateful situation Maycomb County encounters. Such as his rather simple suggestion to Scout when she was angry about her first school teacher, Miss Caroline, and how she conducted herself in the classroom. Atticus gave Scout a piece of advice which Scout seems to carry throughout the novel- "You never really can understand a man until you... climb into his skin and walk around in it."

Atticus did just that when he made the controversial, but necessary decision to defend Tom Robinson, a black man. Atticus climbed into Tom's skin and discovered the truth about his conviction of his alleged rape offence against Miss Mayella Ewell. Atticus has the rare quality of being able to differentiate between 'a black man who committed a crime, named Tom Robinson' and 'a man named Tom Robinson, who has been wrongly accused and just happens to be black.' Harper Lee stresses subtly these qualities about Atticus. Without gushing on about his good judgment and moral fibre, she gently brings our focus to him and lets us develop hope.

To Kill a Mocking Bird is full of disasters, crises and denial. Harper Lee prevents her book from becoming drowned in sorrow by including characters such as Atticus and also Miss Maudie. Miss Maudie is a woman who knows how to connect with Jem, scout and Dill. She gives much needed refreshment to the wanton story of Maycomb County. Harper Lee creates in Miss Maudie a companion for the children and decent female role model for Scout, a good alternative to Aunt Alexandra. Miss Maudie tells the truth to Scout about the Radleys and explains to her that they are a "foot washing Baptist" family. This gesture shows she's not backward in coming forward with information to give to the children and she's probably the only adult in the story who does this, showing she is a good hearted character. Miss Maudie is a strong woman and in her own way instills hope into the reader. Lee's novel focuses on Miss Maudie's attributes just as much as Aunt Alexandra's short comings.

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