To Kill A Mockingbird

The first 200 words of this essay...

"Describe how Harper Lee uses racism to show the divide in a typical American town in the 1930's"

To kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee in 1957 and was first published in 1960. It was set in a small American town, although non-fictional it resembles Harpers Lee's home Monroeville. Harper Lee includes many themes throughout the text. She also uses the theme of racism to show the divide in this typical American town in the 1930's.

The story follows the Finch family through a trial which separates the town. This divide is the divide of races. Black, white with few people not succumbing to this. Most of the black community are racist and even the blacks, who are treated as inferior and lower class, have come to accept this. Tom (who is black) is wrongly accused of raping a young girl. The whole community starts gossiping and as Atticus Finch is his defence, the community turn against him and his family. Tom is convicted and sent to prison. He tries to escape, but just before Atticus can say to him that a retrial is to be held, Tom was shot dead.

The church is the