Synopsis
To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming-of age novel which discusses the treatment of prejudice and where it stems from. This Pulitzer Prize winner mainly follows Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch of six years old and her ten year old brother over a two year span during the Great Depression of the 1930’s in a fictional little town called Maycomb in Alabama. Scout and Jem are the two children of distinguished Southern lawyer Atticus Finch, who is a man of integrity and high moral standards.
One summer, Jem and Scout met Dill –of who is said to be based on Harper Lee’s friend Truman Capote. Together, the three children were intrigued by the local rumours of their mysterious neighbour, Boo Radley, who was never seen to leave his house. In attempt to satisfy their curiosity and to keep themselves from boredom, the children created a play about the life of Boo that was based on the rumours that flail around town. Progressively, the children moved closer and closer to his ‘haunted’ house and started trying to lure him of his house with things such as notes extended from fishing poles. However, they were stopped short of their completion as Atticus caught the children doing so and reprimanded them for irritating and disrespecting an innocent yet miserable man’s life.
Soon after, Atticus became engaged with the case of Tom Robinson. Although Atticus knew that he would not stand a chance in winning the case because Tom was ‘black’, he remained strong with his fight for justice. Atticus wanted to expose the people of Maycomb’s bigotry and to encourage them to treat Negroes impartially.
Due to Atticus’ busy schedule with Tom Robinson, their aunt –Aunt Alexandra– is called over to supervise the children. Aunt Alexandra is very determined to shape Scout into a respectable young woman suited to the likes of society, much to Scout disgust. Also, she is racist towards Negroes and harshly opposes Atticus’ decision to defend Tom Robinson.
Tom was named guilty of raping Mayella Ewell –the white daughter of Bob Ewell. The Ewell’s were an infamous family of poor social and economic background. Their hierarchical level in society was just above the blacks.
During the court case, Atticus proposed significant evidence proving Tom Robinson’s innocence. Despite all the proof was clearly justified, it was ignored by the biased board of juries due to the racist society in Maycomb and prejudice that surrounded Negroes. With much hesitation –which is peculiar and rarely seen when a black man is on trial– Judge Taylor convicted Mr Robinson guilty. However in the process of the court case, Atticus managed to make Bob Ewell appear like a fool by making him contradict himself whilst he gave first hand evidence to the judge. This enraged Mr Ewell so much that he vowed to Atticus that he would ruin the Finch family in any possible way.
After the court case, Atticus, Jem and Scout find themselves at the centre of taunts and accusations due to Atticus’ defence of a black man. They receive verbal abuse from Aunt Alexandra’s grandson –Francis –and their neighbour Mrs Dubose. Out of rage, Scout beats up Francis and Jem cuts off Mrs Dubose’s camellias.
As a punishment for cutting off her flowers, Mrs Dubose orders Jem to read to her every day. He complains considerably much about having to do so. However, Jem didn’t know was that his reading was strategically helping Mrs Dubose slowly overcome her morphine addiction. When he found out, it was too late as Mrs Dubose had died. Atticus later explained that although she was quite a racist character, Mrs Dubose was a very good example of willing yourself to keep fighting even though you know you can’t win.
Soon after the death of Mrs Dubose, word of the death of Tom Robinson reaches the Finch family. Tom was shot multiple times in an attempt to escape from prison. This led to Atticus feeling ashamed of the prison guards as he knew that one shot would be sufficient to prevent Tom from escaping, as compared to the death which occurred due to the many shots directed. Jem handled the death of Tom Robinson much harsher than his father. He struggled to accept this fact as he refused to admit that people in society did not possess the qualities of humanity, compassion and equality as he had thought they did.
