To Kill A Mocking Bird - Book Report/Review Example

To kill a mocking bird’ by Lee Harper is distinct in its projection of social issues that fester society and dissipate human values for the vested interests of few. It had won Pulitzer Prize for its brilliant portrayal of many areas of human interaction like parenting, class division, gender bias, racism etc. Harper has sensitively explored the various issues through the characters of children and Atticus, the lawyer who fights for the rights of colored people when racial prejudice was rampant in American society.

The book highlights the social differences and promotes the need to inculcate human values that cut across social class, color, race and culture. Atticus, sums up the concern when he says to his daughter, Scout, ‘you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… ‘(p30). The story is rendered through the voice and thoughts of Scout, six years old daughter of Atticus Finch, a well respected lawyer and encompasses the reactions of children to the social issues of the time as they are growing up.

Atticus is against social indiscrimination and emphasizes that by employing a colored woman, Calpurnia as his housekeeper who also looks after the children. He teaches them values through self example and exhorts them to listen to the voice of their conscience and not be influenced by others. ‘… before I can live with other folks Ive got to live with myself.  The one thing that doesnt abide by majority rule is a persons conscience’(p114). Throughout the book, protagonist’s vivid childish imagination of gothic details is interspersed with conflicting social paradigms which are gently explained by the father.

The trial of Tim Robinson, a black who is falsely implicated in the raping of white woman, Mayella, is the key event of the book. It not only exposes the bigotry of white society but also shows how the powerful lobby of white is used to maintain deliberate racial divide within the society. Throughout the trial, both the children sit in the ‘colored’ balcony with their housekeeper and become witness to the injustice that is meted out to the innocent Robinson by the white jurists who declare him to be the convict.

Mayella is victim of circumstances who is forced to lay the blame on Tim. Tim Robinson is shot when he tries to flee. The whole episode significantly influences children. They are forced to acknowledge that evil things exist but it can be fought. Jem, the elder brother of Scout explains the odd behavior of Boo Radley behaves by telling Scout that ‘if theres just one kind of folks, why cant they get along with each other? … I think Im beginning to understand why Boo Radleys stayed… Its because he wants to stay inside’ (p240).

Children like Dill and Boo lend credence to the inherent curiosity and goodness within the children. As children, while they can enjoy the childhood curiosities, they have also the ability to stand up and fight against the bad elements of the society and social norms. When Boo kills evil Ewell, Sheriff Tate tells Scout that Ewell fell over his own knife. Scott replies, “Yes sir, I understand,.. Mr. Tate was right. … Well, itd be sort of like shootin a mockingbird, wouldnt it?” (p 276).

Indeed, the book has tackled the issue of racism with high sensitivity and shown that children’s nurturing environment can greatly facilitate dynamics of social changes. (words: 569)ReferenceHarper, Lee. (1960) To Kill a Mocking Bird. London: Arrow Books Ltd.