To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Literature review Example

To Kill a Mockingbird The novels plot revolves around equality and racism. Atticus is a white lawyer who is based in acommunity that is inclusive of both black and white people. He has a daughter, Jem and a son Scout. He is a famous and well attributed lawyer in his town as judges refer to him in complex cases (Lee 34). On this particular case, he was offered a case in which he supposed to defend a black man. Tom was accused of rape. The accuser was a town drunk, Bob Ewell, who claims that his daughter, Mayella Ewell, was raped by Tom (Lee 56). Most people in the community were white. This influenced the decision that Tom was guilty regardless of the truth on the case. Prior of the hearing, Atticus was subjected to mockery as his children were also ignored at school. However, this did not stop Atticus from defending Tom in the case. During the case, Atticus proved that Tom was innocent as Mayella Ewell was assaulted by her own father (Lee 67). However, the court ruled that Tom guilty. Later in the novel, Tom was shot dead as he tried to escape from prison. Atticus and his family felt that they could not trust the justice system as they felt betrayed. Regardless of the outcome of the case, Bob felt betrayed by the court process and he vowed to revenge. He confronted Jem and Scout while from school that led to the intervention of their neighbor, Boo Radley, who kills Bob in the fight. However, the sheriff treats the case as an accident and no one is convicted. The main group in this case presents a group that believes in equality and a non-racial community. Atticus, Jem, Scout, Dill and Boo all represent a group that does not affiliate people in regards to their racial identity (Mancini 93). As a lawyer Atticus embraces the fact that everyone is equal as required by law. One term as part of the group process is justice. Justice is to be equally treated by the law regardless of their social affiliations. The main focus of the novel is Atticus who is portrayed as a legal figure. His role as a lawyer is displayed in the novel as one that may relieve Tom from his accusations (Mancini 77). In addition, Tom is an innocent man but from his racial affiliation he is victimized. Atticus aims to enable the court to ignore his racial affiliation d realize that he is innocent. Jem and Scout also play a major role in this quest. They look up to their father to do the correct thing as well the justice system. Racism is also a relevant term in the group process. The novel is set in a society with a majority of white people. For this reason, black people were racially abused and exposed to threats and mistreatment. Shackleford is of the assumption that black people in the ancient American community were faced with numerous challenges that emanated from their color (101). The author further points out that, only a few individuals from the white community never embraced racism (Shackleford 101). In the novel, this can be proven by pointing out that the entire community apart from Atticus and his family, the community was not in support of Tom’s innocence. The justice system was also racial. Atticus proved to the court that Tom was innocent beyond reasonable doubt. However, the court could not rule in favor of Tom. This displayed the depth at which race was an issue in this particular community. Equality as a term in the process refers to the provision of standard opportunities to all people in the society. For Atticus and his family, equality was important and a value they embraced. However, this was dissimilar to their community. Atticus provided his services to a man in which the community viewed as an outcast. This displayed how much he valued equality. In addition, his children supported him in his quest to free an innocent man. Jem and Scout confronted people insulting their father. They pointed out that the community was blinded by their hate for a particular race. However, the justice system did not consider equality as an important vice. The conviction and death of Tom displayed how much biased the justice system was. Shackleford is of the assumption that the people dictate the nature of the nature of the justice system (105). The ancient court system strived to protect the welfare of the community regardless of the issue in place. For this reason, one may point out that the nature of the community was the source of all negative value embraced by the justice system. Class was also an important term in the novel. On one occasion, Scout embraces a poor student in their school. For his actions, his cook punished him. From this event, one may argue that the society had great regard to the rich and an opposite to the poor people. In an argument by Baecker the gap between the poor and the rich in an unjust society is significant (131). The author further points out that the poor are discriminated and denied the basic human needs. This comprises of the negativities that the community embraces that led to the conviction of an innocent man. However, Atticus is displayed as an agent of change (Shackleford 107). In regards to the event at school, he chooses not to confront the cook as he also refuses the process to fire her from the school. Gender roles were also relevant in the community. Jem was born in a community where females were viewed with less regard. Her role in the community was minimized as attendance of public gatherings and hearings was limited. However, her father did not deny her the opportunity to realize how unjust her community was (Baecker 129). Atticus was able to obtain seat for her and her brother to follow the court proceedings. The assault of Mayella Ewell also displayed the perception of women in the novel. Mayella was assaulted by her father who then accuses Tom for raping her (Baecker 125). In addition, during the court proceedings, Mayella is restrained from pointing out that Tom is innocent. The role of the Atticus family was significant in trying to change the conduct of the community. Jem and Scout are amazed by Boo, who the community finds unfit for social circles and ignores him. However, Jem and Scout are fond of him. The relationship is further glorified when Boo saves them from the attack by Bob (Metress 66). Atticus is against the wishes of the community and decides to represent Tom in his court case. His decision is widely criticized as he is confronted by community members for his decision. However, he does not stop to pursue his quest. He believes that he could change the unjust nature of the community. His children also sacrifice their friendship both in school and in the community to support their father (Noble 101). This displays how much content the family is in changing their community. Moreover, Atticus is created as the leadership figure as he does not hide the true nature of the society from his children. The character of Atticus and his family leads to the assumption that they were focused to fight against the unjust nature of their community. Works cited Baecker, Diane. "Telling It In Black and White: The Importance of the Africanist Presence in To Kill a Mockingbird". Southern Quarterly: A Journal of the Arts in the South, 36.3 (1998):124–32. Print. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: HarperCollins. 2002. Print. Mancini, Candice. Racism in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: The Gale Group. 2008. Print. Metress, Christopher. "The Rise and Fall of Atticus Finch". The Chattahoochee Review, 24.1(2003). Print. Noble, Don. Critical Insights: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Boston: Salem Press. 2010. Print. Shackleford, Dean. "The Female Voice in To Kill a Mockingbird: Narrative Strategies in Film and Novel". Mississippi Quarterly: The Journal of Southern Cultures, 50.1(1997):101–13. Print. Read More