Themes in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Importance of Including “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Conclusion
References

Introduction

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most famous and infamous American novels written in 1960 by Harper Lee. The work deals with a variety of subject matter, including racism, justice, crime, gender relations and many others. Having contained a number of difficult subjects as its main focus, the book has had a storied history. Ever since its release, it has been considered an important piece of art, a historical and cultural legacy supporting the American people’s core ideals. The book has not gone out of print ever since, which can be seen as a testament to its longevity. Many would call Atticus Finch, one of the novel’s main characters, a hero and a good role model. However, the book is still a product of its time, and some of its contents can also be viewed negatively.

In particular, the novel’s characters are seen as beneficiaries of casual racism, ones that are able to dismiss small injustices for the sake of maintaining a comfortable status quo. There is a palpable pushback against injustice, lynching, and open racism, but the book lacks depth or desire to address the deeper sides of the issue. Because of this quality, coupled with heavy subject matter and offensive language, the book has been banned across the US. This paper argues that, despite its flaws, To Kill a Mockingbird should not be banned. As a work of art, it helps children engage in serious literary analysis, criticism and reading while also familiarizing many with the history of America’s racism. Given sufficient involvement from teachers and other educators, this novel can be a great addition to the early school curriculum.

Importance of Including “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Familiarize Children with Mature Themes and Ideas

Firstly, one of the central and heavily featured themes of the work is racism. Told from the perspective of a young woman in 1960, the book portrays the interactions between black people and white people. In addition, other ideas are also present, including maturity, social change, sexism and love. Many of the central ideas and themes of “To Kill a Mockingbird” can be found in other literary works as well. In school education and beyond, literary analysis is extremely important. Through examining and deconstructive literature from the past, it is possible for students to better understand the present and future (Von Ebers, 2017). That is why studying Lee’s novel is necessary, even for younger children. It is a familiarization and preparation for engaging with works of a similar depth and scope. Using books similar to The Mockingbird, it is possible to introduce children to a theme-based understanding of American literature (Huff, 2017). Without it, the shift from younger-age literature and adult-focused literature would be more difficult to make.

Build a Foundation for Analyzing Written Works

The flaws of Lee’s novel can be turned into great benefits through sufficient classroom engagement. Book analysis and discussion is the main mode of interaction with written works in a classroom setting. Other supplementary materials, such as film, can also be used, allowing teachers to show their students stories using different approaches. At the center of the process, however, is a desire to make children think. Promoting critical analysis and engagement, instead of passive reading is a central role of a good teacher.

It is a process that can help young children examine the world around them, consider the evidence and distinguish truth from disinformation. In addition, it gives them the necessary tools to interact with literary works more easily, understand them as a step in society’s development, and see a wide selection of literary styles and genres in their complexity. Understanding To Kill a Mockingbird and knowing its flaws and history is an important skill for children. By learning it, they gain a capacity to view books not as a piece of information set in stone but as a format that captures the changing views of the times.

Teach About History, Race and Society

To Kill a Mockingbird, in its imperfection, is a testament to the march of progress in social justice and racial equality. As mentioned previously, race is the central narrative topic of the novel. While the book has other themes and ideas it explores, adaptations into other mediums mainly focus on this aspect of the story, highlighting its importance (Mulligan, 1962). Therefore, children can learn about the way race was regarded in the past, and how arbitrary social rules and a legacy of subjugation have influenced the black population. In today’s world, it can be difficult for many children to understand racism or the long way the US has come in combatting it. Taking a look at the recent past, one that can already be considered far more progressive than many others shows just how much can change in a few decades. Teaching To Kill a Mockingbird in schools is a journey in history, racial relations throughout the years and social change.

Conclusion

Many schools that wanted to uphold more inclusive progressive ideas have called the book outdated or felt that its inclusion in the curriculum is no longer warranted. To this day, there is an active discussion on the book’s importance in the education of younger generations. However, there is a significant range of reasons to keep the book in classrooms while also admitting its flaws. Examination of an imperfect narrative is literary significant, and the book’s themes serve as an introduction to similar works in later grades. Furthermore, questions of race relations and US history provide a good educational opportunity for the children.

References

Mulligan, R. (1962). To kill a Mockingbird. Brentwood Productions.

Von Ebers, N. (2017). The importance of teaching literary analysis — The Chicago Academy for the arts. The Chicago Academy for the Arts.

Huff, D. (2017). American literature: How I threw out the chronology and embraced the themes. huffenglish.com.

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