To Kill A Mockingbird 2 Essay

, Research Paper

The novel To Kill A Mockingbird can be more easily appreciated and understood by closely analyzing the characters, setting, double plots, and theme. To Kill A Mockingbird teaches multiple moral lessons, and presents an overall picture of the prejudice, lifestyle, and attitude of an average southern town.

There are several crucial carachters in To Kill A Mockingbird and it would take forever and a day to do each one justice. However the most (not only) important carachters are Atticus Finch, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, Jeremy “Jem” Finch, Arthur “Boo” Radley, Tom Robinson, Bob Ewell, and some other less important carachters.

Atticus Finch is the head of the Finch household. He is an aging man who isn’t very dominating in size. According to Atticus’ sister Alexandria, “Atticus is the most pure and good-hearted person one may ever see.” Atticus is totally against prejudice towards anybody. Throughout the story he stresses to his children the importance of tolerance. For example, when the kids learn of Atticus’ choosing to defend a Negro in court, he explains to them that all people are equal and nobody should be treated unfairly because of color. Atticus is the most important protagonist(and carachter). In the beginning of the story the children think of Atticus as a somewhat weak old man and are embarrassed of him during the times such as the softball game that Atticus does not participate in. However, as the story progresses the kids learn that Atticus is a great man who deserves respect. Some cases of this are when Atticus reveals his marksmanship skills, and the incredible show of pride with the whole Tom Robinson ordeal.

Jean Louise “Scout” Finch is the narrator and another major carachter in To Kill A Mockingbird. She ranges in age from six to eight from beginning to end. Though she is only a little girl she is fairly big and strong for her age and is basically a tomboy. Mentally, Scout is an extremely bright girl. She understands things that even some adults cannot comprehend. Scout understands the need to keep Boo Radley’s heroics a secret, as well as many similar things. Scout and the other children all recognize the horrible prejudice and hatred that most of the adults are either a big part of or oblivious to. Scout is a protaganist because she is one of the small amount of people who show genuine concern for the persecuted. Scout was chosen to be the narrator to show the innocence still in society that every child possesses.

Arthur “Boo” Radley is an extremely important protagonist although it is not disclosed until the end of the story. Boo is a mentally ill man with a history of psychological problems. Boo is tall, extremely pale due to being inside a house for over thirty years, with gray, gloomy eyes. Boo seems to like the Finch children, and tries to communicate with them. Boo Radley was chosen to be the representative of the result of prejudice against the mentally ill.

Tom Robinson is an accused rapist though he is a straight-path person. Tom would not have many problems with the allegations had he not been black. Tom is a person of average size, with a useless left arm. Tom is a very nice man who would obviously never rape someone. Through the opinions of Tom’s wife, neighbors, and others we learn that Tom is a man of good morals and is most likely innocent. Harper Lee chose this carachter to represent the product of racism against blacks in the South.

Bob Ewell is the most important antagonist in To Kill A Mockingbird. He is an old white man. Ewell and his family live on a dump and are pretty dirty people. Bob Ewell is an obvious liar whose prejudice is so strong that it blinds him. In the Tom Robinson plot we learn that Bob Ewell is a drunk who should not be well liked. Bob Ewell was chosen in To Kill A Mockingbird to represent the people that ruin life for southern blacks and give the South a bad name.

Many important “minor” carachters play a not-so-minor role in To Kill A Mockingbird. Some of these include the other half of the Finch household (Jeremy “Jem” Finch,Calpurnia)

Calpurnia is the black maid of the Finches who ends up teaching the children morals and values such as the mockingbird story. Jem Finch is Scout’s brother and many times a partner in crime.

Jem is a few years older than Scout and many times has to explain things to Scout. Jem, like Scout, begins embarrassed of his father but realizes how wonderful he is.

Along with the carachters, the setting contributed tremendously to the theme of To Kill A Mockingbird. The story takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama. Maycomb is a fictional

small town that is very realistic compared with the average southern town in the thirties. The town has a very strong prejudice against blacks for no apparent reason reason other than color. Maycomb is not a very good place for a black to live because of the danger of upsetting a white man which would lead to an impossible battle. Maycomb is a classic southern town complete with judge, sheriff, gossipers, merchants, and the like. To Kill A Mockingbird could not have taken place any other place besides the South.

The double plots in To Kill A Mockingbird are obvious and don’t require much explanation. The first plot is the Boo Radley plot of prejudice against the mentally ill. The beginning of the plot or inciting incident is the children,