To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Critical Evaluation.

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To Kill A Mockingbird        Harper Lee

Critical Evaluation by Sammie Whyte

“…the simple hell people give other people…”

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses universal themes, teamed with an entertaining story to illustrate this “simple hell” in a way that is memorable and understandable to people of all ages, gender and race. The main themes in the novel are what I shall now lead on to discuss.

The novel is set in the “tired old town” of Maycomb, a rural town in the Deep South of North America, during the Depression.  Narrated from the main character Scout’s perspective, the plot centres around the trial of Tom Robinson – a black man accused of raping a white woman.  As Scout absorbs her surroundings, the story continues through Tom’s trial to the unexpected events at the end of the novel.  During this, Scout’s realisation of the way people treat others, and the evident prejudice occurring all around her, grows. The novel also contains several sub-plots, such as the ill treatment of Boo Radley (a minor character), which add to Scout’s growth and realisations.

A theme Harper Lee puts a lot of thought and skill into portraying is the racial prejudice felt by the white community towards black people.  The main example of this theme/prejudice in action is the trial of Tom Robinson itself.  The idea that Tom was brought to court with only circumstantial evidence and the testimony of a father and daughter who no one in the community deems trustworthy, shows this clearly.  It would appear, from the way that Harper Lee details the trial and the characters response to it, that the verdict was pre-defined and decided principally on the colour of Tom’s skin.

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“Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.”

This statement comes from just after the guilty verdict is announced and shows how predictable it was. The verdict, however, was not the only sign of discrimination and prejudice in the courtroom.  The prosecution constantly patronise Tom while he is on the stand.  An example of this is that Tom is referred to as “Boy” throughout the trial even though he is the same age, if not older, than the man who is questioning him.  This shows Tom being treated with little respect or consideration, hence ...

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