Harper Lees to Kill a Mockingbird - Literary Analysis - Essay Example

Essay, Literature Topic: Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird: A LiteraryAnalysis One need not take a grim view of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, in view of the “kill” word used in the title. It is difficult to give this book a classification, as it would claim its place in more than one genre like romance, childhood innocence, magic, politics, racial inequality etc. It contains funny and serious situations. The trial of Tim Robinson gives the readers the picture of the grim situation and at the same time torment of Boo Radley and Scout’s fight with her cousin Francis, is thoroughly enjoyable. It is not a satire and too humorous to be a drama. It can settle for a historical novel as the events described could be real and characters reveal themselves in credible style. The merit of the novel While the language and the content are somewhat exaggerated, they are accurate. The conglomeration of the themes makes the novel interesting and attention-demanding. The reader’s expectations The asset of the story is its humor element. It reads well and smooth. The author intelligently brings out the racial issue without provocation by detailing the consequences faced by a black man wrongly accused of a crime against a white woman in South America. To Kill a Mockingbird is not, as earlier readers claimed, a persuasive plea for racial justice, nor is its hero a model of moral courage. Instead, the novel and hero are, at best, morally ambiguous or, at worst, morally reprehensible. Christopher Metress in his article The Rise and Fall of Atticus Finch writes “To Kill a Mockingbird is not, as earlier readers claimed, a persuasive plea for racial justice, nor is its hero a model of moral courage. Instead, novel and hero are, at best, morally ambiguous or, at worst, morally reprehensible.”(2003)The character of three children in the novel, Jem, Scout and Dill) and their disposition appeals to the emotional world of the readers and that the children are high-spirited serves the entertainment purpose. Literary Elements Plot: There are two dissimilar plots and at the end of the novel they both congregate harmoniously, in the final part of the story. The initial plot relates to the exploits of Jem and Scout, most importantly their interface with Boo Radley, which in the end results as an issue of no consequence. The story also has incidents between kids and their kith and kin and neighbors. The presence of children in the novel is to lend support to other characters to enable the readers to gauge their dispositions properly. The role of children in Tom Robinson’s trial adds spice and support to the trial of Tom Robinson. The readers realize the working of the mind of those neighbors and how they are able to implicate a guiltless individual with their collective efforts and pressure tactics. Point of view: The novel is charming and hilarious to read. The graphic description of personal details about a number of people of the city, reaches to the heights of gullibility often, that too for a young boy to know that much seems impossibility. As such it is minor objection. Setting: Setting is an important aspect of the story. The trial mentioned in the story can take place anywhere, and that it happens in the Deep South seems authentic. Style: Importance is given to dialogues and they are sensationally light. The narrator is a small girl. Funny observations made by the girl make the reading highly interesting. Symbolism: The author gives lots of importance to symbolism. Scout and Jem represent innocence, Atticus known for his decorum and nobility becomes the protector of virtuousness; Tom Robinson for persecution, the town signifies white racism and Radley of misinterpreted “Wierdo.” Theme: Theme is the important aspect of the novel and its spirit runs through veins of various situations. In tandem with the modern fiction, it is about civil rights. Tim Robinson represents the suffering of the black people and it is possible that it happened in South, one can turn the pages of history of America for further confirmation. Though such incidents used to take place in abundance in 1930s, they continue to happen even today. The system of justice favors whites and Tim Robinson is the victim of it and he pays the price for it to get killed. Loss of innocence is depicted through the lives of children and their bitter experiences, namely Jem and Scout. Carolyn Jones writes “The dominant voice of To Kill A Mockingbird is not that of a child but that of a woman looking back at an event that tore at the fabric of childhood and of her community and that shaped her adulthood” (1996). That woman is Jean Louise Finch, better known as Scout. Metaphor: Mockingbird is a great metaphor that challenges the entire plot of the novel and brings forth the splendor. Mockingbird has a unique quality. It imitates the call of other birds. They provide the unique music for humanity, though they do not have their own songs. This is not to be construed as simple imitation. It is not only tolerance but acceptance as the voice and viewpoints of others. The bird gives the message of peaceful coexistence. They are so much concerned about love and unity that they are willing to abandon their unique voices, and want the humanity to enjoy. Thus the mockingbird assumes the form of messenger of peace that transcends all the negativities that have engulfed the American society and humankind as a whole. Thus, the title has lots of significance. R. A. Dave writes “Look at it any way, the title hurts the readers sensibility and creates an impression that something beautiful is being bruised and broken. It is only after he plunges into the narrative and is swept off in its current, that he starts gathering the significance of the title.” (1974). This singing sensation in the form of a bird is the nature’s messenger that teaches love and camaraderie to humankind. Richard Armstrong writes about the movie made on this book “Harper Lees book was set during a period in American history when millions of men were out of work. Notice how, in scenes with Cunningham Atticus stands on steps, raising him slightly above the other man. The actor placement suggests a difference in social standing between characters.”(2010)The Director of the movie thus interprets the strength of this character well. My Response Though racism dominates the scene of American literature and the modern fiction, the author intelligently avoids dealing it with a harsh tone. The author touches upon the civil rights, but the themes of innocence and childhood add a new touch to the story, and make it a light-hearted reading. The political message is, nevertheless, purposeful and timely but the plot is not about grim political episodes. The various descriptions and incidents related to the town almost convert that part of the novel into a playground. Often one feels that descriptions on such a voluminous scale are not necessary, but the author seems to have a deliberate purpose to paint the bright part of the town which is otherwise full of negativities, which were the attributes of the white community of the era. The novel contains some of the memorable scenes, like the lynch mob scene, the absorbing trial and the court room drama. The overall strength of the novel is in its humor and the affectionate characters of children, the little angels who bring joy to the readers with their timely dispositions! R. A. Dave writes, “The reader just glides through the novel abounding in humor and pathos, hopes and fears, love and hatred, humanity and brutality—all affording him a memorable human experience of journeying through sunshine and rain at once.”(1974) But for its serious racial theme, the novel could have been passed the test for a folk tale entry. It has gained massive popularity as it deals with the issues confronting America in style without taking a grim view of the situation of the prevailing social, ethical and moral dilemmas. The narrations are simple and beautiful and convey the feeling that there is yet hope for the humanity. The author feels the necessity for introducing these grim issues to the children, without hurting their sentiments, with the hope that they are the creators of the happy and peaceful world of the future, free of conflicts. Their small town represents the entire nation and its current history. The message of the novel is simple and straightforward. Intolerance and racial bigotry breaks the society, and one must learn the lessons from history to create the new identity for America and its pages of future history should never be daubed in bloodshed. The best weapon that one can give to the history of this country is goodwill. If children imbibe this quality right from childhood, the ensuing younger generation will be less combustible and will have a positive goal before it. Works Cited Armstrong, Richard. Mockingbird Lessons: Novel and Film; To Kill a Mockingbird, New Edition, Blooms Guides; 2010 Dave, R. A. To Kill A Mockingbird: Harper Lees Tragic Vision; To Kill a Mockingbird, Blooms Modern Critical Interpretations; 1974 Jones, Carolyn. Atticus Finch and the Mad Dog; To Kill a Mockingbird, Blooms Modern Critical Interpretations; 1996 Metress, Christopher. The Rise and Fall of Atticus Finch. The Chattahoochee Review 24, no. 1(2003): 5–102. Quoted as "The Rise and Fall of Atticus Finch" in Bloom, Harold, ed. To Kill a Mockingbird, Updated Edition, Blooms Modern Critical Interpretations. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2009. Read More