Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird
Courage and Bravery
Education and Learning
Innocence and Growing Up
Womanhood and Female Identity
Justice and Social Class
Prejudice
Mrs Dubose - she has the courage to kick the morphine addiction as she’s dying
Arthur Radley saving the kids
Miss Maudie - house burning down, being optimistic
Atticus’ defence of Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson’s testimony in court
Calpurnia and taking the Finch kids to church
Formal education
Learning from experience
Moral education
Scout is forced to grow up through:
The court case - her innocence is removed as she realises the extent of the town’s prejudice.
Tom Robinson’s conviction and death
Aunt Alexandra
The exposure to women in society
The novel being told through the eyes of a child
Jem grows up:
Emerging maturity
Sense of justice is challenged as he grows
The co-existence of good and evil within each individual
Calpurnia and Miss Maudie provide a mother figure
There seems to be an echo-chamber in the community of women that exacerbates the prejudice against the black community due to their gossiping.
The women are labelled as too emotional to be on the jury
Tom Robinson's Trial
Boo Radley's treatment - misjudgement
Racial Prejudice
Tom Robinson’s Trial: The most prominent example is the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Despite clear evidence of his innocence, the all-white jury convicts him, highlighting the deep-seated racial biases of the time.
Atticus Finch’s Defense: Atticus Finch, who defends Tom, faces social ostracism and threats, demonstrating the community’s resistance to racial equality.
Class Prejudice
The Ewells and the Cunninghams: The novel contrasts the Ewells, who are poor but white, with the Cunninghams, who are also poor but maintain their dignity and integrity. This comparison shows how class intersects with race to shape social dynamics.
Aunt Alexandra’s Views: Aunt Alexandra’s insistence on the Finch family’s superiority and her disdain for the Cunninghams reflect the class prejudices within the white community itself.
Gender Prejudice
Scout’s Tomboyish Behavior: Scout faces criticism for her tomboyish behavior and is often told to act more like a “lady.” This pressure to conform to traditional gender roles highlights the gender biases of the time.
Women’s Roles: The limited roles and expectations for women in Maycomb society are evident in characters like Miss Maudie and Aunt Alexandra, who navigate these constraints in different ways.
Prejudice against the unkwnon
Boo Radley: The mysterious figure of Boo Radley is the subject of many rumors and superstitions. The children’s initial fear and eventual understanding of Boo illustrate how prejudice can stem from ignorance and fear of the unknown.
Social education
Atticus Finch's lessons
The trial of Tom Robinson
Scout's school experiences
Dewy Decimal system
Boo Radley
Mrs. Dubose
Calpurnia's influence
Aunt Alexandra's views
Injustice
Atticus Finch's role
Social class
Mrs Dubose's Battle - personal justice - overcoming addiction
The Finch Family - their social standing
Class distinctions - Ewells vs Cunninghams
Calpurnia's dual role - bridging classes
Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie - role models for Scout - Miss Maudie seems to allow Scout to be herself and embody traits of feminity.
Provides a person for Scout to retreat to when Dill and Jem are doing ‘boy stuff’.