To+Kill+a+Mockingbird+Essay

In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by author Harper Lee, there is a lawyer named Atticus Finch who gets a case to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who was accused of raping a daughter of a poor white white man named Bob Ewell. The neighborhood they live in also has made rumors about a citizen named Arthur Radley. The neighborhood kids call him Boo Radley. This story is seen through the eyes of Jean Louise Finch, Atticus's daughter. Most people call her Scout though. She has a brother named Jem who is really curious about the rumors of Boo Radley. This story's theme is harming others that do nothing except bring joy to people. This sense of the theme comes from two important people in this novel. These people are Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.

Tom Robinson is a black individual in Maycomb County, the story setting. In this time, black people were treated differently and for the most part, looked down upon by the white people. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Bob Ewell's daughter Mayella when she needs assistance. He doesn't even let her pay him for what he does. Were you paid for your services?" Atticus asked." No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time. I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn't seem to help her none, and neither did the chillun, and I knowed she didn't have no nickels to spare." (pg.191) This quote shows the idea of his caring services to the town. In the end he was found guilty, when clearly he was innocent. He was then shot by accident while he was trying to escape, and he died. This shows how the racism back then gave blacks no rights. This shows the theme.

A lot of kids including Scout spread out rumors about a shy individual named Boo Radley. The rumors are that he is super tall and watches kids at night through their windows. Scout's friend Dill is also curious about Boo. "Let's try to make him him come out," said Dill. "I'd like to see what he looks like." (pg.13) This quote shows the curiosity about Boo. All that Boo does is stay in his house most of the time and leaves gifts in the trees for kids. At the end of the story, Boo saved Scout and Jem from the drunk and recluse Bob Ewell. Boo killed Bob to save the kids. They decided not to say that Boo saved Atticus's kids because that would be exposing a shy Boo Radley to the county for all to see him in the newspaper, when he really just wants to stay hidden. This shows the theme.

This novel also emphasizes the idea that children know right from wrong better then adults do. An example is when the court accused Tom and found him guilty of rape. The court knew that Tom was innocent, but found him guilty anyway because the blacks are in the lower class in this society. "How could they do it, how could they?" Jem asked. "I don't know, but they did it. They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do it-seems that only children weep," responded Atticus. (pg.213) This quote shows the idea. The children have sense that something's wrong. Some adults may know something's wrong, but are too reluctant to do anything about it.

This novel gives a sense of harming innocent people. To kill a mockingbird means to kill or harm someone or something that has done nothing but to bring joy to people. The theme is stated throughout the stories of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Rumors and racism are both factors that can harm a innocent person. Scout knows this and clearly states that theme in her life. Boo Radley was feared by the children of Maycomb County. Tom Robinson was looked down upon in Maycomb County. Whether it's being accused or being feared, it seems that only children know it's wrong.