TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Harper Lee General Notes CONTEXT: To Kill a Mockingbird a piece of historical fiction. This means it is an imaginary novel or story with characters and events that are created from the imagination of the author but the basis of setting (time, place and circumstances) are historic and real. As such, many of the conditions referenced in the novel have been historically noted. The key period, the Depression Era of the 1930 s, occurred after the great stock market crash of 1929. After this period people were without jobs and money was very scarce. As well as the main setting, some significant events did occur in the life of young Harper Lee and these are alluded to in the text of her novel: Issues with racism and social stereotyping Issues concerning the Scottsboro Trials Issues with the KKK, mob mentality and brutality Furthermore, despite being published thirty years after the events of the novel are said to occur, racism was still a very significant problem in the United States (especially within the southern states). Civil rights activists like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. existed all over the USA. SETTING: Time/Place: Vivid description of 1930 s depression years, Southern Alabama, USA, (Maycomb). Racism was only one of the prevalent social prejudices. The following quotes describe the setting of the novel. They help develop atmosphere. Maycomb, some twenty miles east of Finch's Landing, was the county seat of Maycomb County." (p. 4) "Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. (p. 5) Somehow, it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer's day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square..." (p. 5) "People moved slowly then. They ambled across the square, shuffled in and out of the stores around it, took their time about everything. A day was twenty-four hours long but seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people: Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself. (p. 5) Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County." (p. 5) CHARACTER: MAIN CHARACTERS Atticus Finch Jeremy Jem Finch Jean Louise Scout Finch MINOR CHARACTERS Arthur Boo Radley Charles Baker Dill Harris Miss Maudie Atkinson Calpurnia Bob Ewell Mayella Ewell Nathan Radley Mr. Underwood Link Deas Aunt Alexandra Tom Robinson Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose Heck Tate Dolphus Raymond Mr. Walter Cunningham Walter Cunningham ATTICUS FINCH Atticus is the father of Scout and Jem, as well as a lawyer in Maycomb. His attitudes and beliefs are not typical of the era. What does the narrator, Scout, say about him? Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty. When Jem and I asked him why he was so old, he said he got started late, which we felt reflected his abilities and manliness...our father didn t do anything. He worked in an office, not in a drugstore...besides he wore glasses. He was nearly blind in his left eye...he did not do the things our schoolmates fathers did: he never went hunting, he did not play poker or fish or smoke. He sat in the living room and read. (p. 98) The court appointed Atticus to defend him. Atticus aimed to defend him. That s what they didn t like about it. It was confusing. (p. 163)
Somehow Atticus had hit her in a way that was not clear to me, but it gave him no pleasure to do so. (p. 188) How is Atticus characterized through his own actions and behaviours? Atticus as a father Atticus treats his children as intelligent young adults - he speaks in a clear matter-of-fact way, and answers questions directly (including technical points of law and definitions of rape). This is their home, sister...we ve made it this way for them, they might as well learn to cope with it. (p. 212) He is very fair - he tries to hear both sides of an argument. When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don t make a production out of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults, and evasion muddles em. (p. 87) He does not beat his children, but is firm in some matters - as when he insists that Jem read to Mrs. Dubose, or makes them obey Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra. Let s make this clear: you do as Calpurnia tells you, you do as I tell you, and as long as your aunt s in this house, you do as she tells you. Understand? (p. 136) He does not stereotype people - he is quite happy for Scout to be a tomboy. He sees that the children need a mother figure, and recognizes that Calpurnia is far better able than he is to be a homemaker. (p. 137) Atticus as a diplomat Atticus is frequently criticized by others people. He does not take advantage of his social standing to retaliate. He remains calm when provoked directly - look, for example, at how he handles Bob Ewell's challenge: Too proud to fight? No, says Atticus, too old. (p. 217) Think about the duality in meaning here - on the surface it seems to mean that Atticus is no longer strong and fit enough to fight; but also it might mean that fighting is not something that adults should do - which could imply that Bob has not grown up. Atticus understands the importance of allowing people to pay for his services, even though he has no need of their gifts - as when he accepts payment in kind from the Cunninghams, or gifts from the black people of Maycomb after Tom's trial. Atticus shows an interest in Walter Cunningham's home life, and asks him about farming - he allows Walter, who may not be very good at school work, to speak as an expert. Atticus s sympathy Atticus always shows admiration for Mrs. Dubose - even though she abuses him and is a racist....when you know you re licked before you begin, but you begin any way and you see it through no matter what. (p. 112) At the end of the novel Atticus understands Boo's shyness - he does not try to make him sit down in the light, and addresses him courteously as Arthur. When he learns of Bob Ewell's attack, he thinks it must be caused by a loss of sanity (like diminished responsibility in English law.) He is very reluctant to see what Heck Tate (and the reader) knows is the real cause of the attack, that Bob Ewell is an evil man. Atticus integrity Atticus tries always to do what he sees is right: he does not WANT to take Tom's case, but sees this as his duty. Where some lawyers would go through the motions, seeing the case as a lost cause, Atticus believes that he should still try to save Tom. Scout, you aren t old enough to understand some things yet, but there s some high talk around the town to the effect that I shouldn t be defending this man...every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one s mine, I guess...you just hold your head high and keep those fists down...try fighting with your head for a change...it s a good one even if it does resist learning...simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win. (p. 75) Atticus will not try to spare his own family from the consequences of their actions. When he thinks (wrongly) that Jem has killed Bob Ewell, he insists that the best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open. (p. 273) Atticus s unconventional attitudes Atticus lives in a racist and sexist society, yet shares neither prejudice. He respects people of colour - he gives Calpurnia complete discretion in running his house. Alexandra, Calpurnia s not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn t have got along without her all these years. She s a faithful member of this family and you ll simply have to accept things the way they are. (p. 137) Atticus respects women - he extends this respect to Mayella Ewell, whom Scout depicts as pathetic and friendless. Miss Mayella, he said smiling, I won t try to scare you for a while. Not yet. Let s just get acquainted. (p. 181)
Atticus ideal of courage Atticus shows some physical courage in facing Tim Johnson, but he does not value this highly. I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he shouldn t shoot until he had to, and he had to today. (p. 98) Atticus shows courage in keeping guard outside the jail and stays calm outwardly when the lynch mob arrives. In defending Tom and being ready to accept the label of nigger-lover Atticus shows moral courage. Scout...nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don t mean anything like snot-nose...ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody s favouring Negroes over and above themselves. (p. 108) Atticus's ideal of a courageous individual is Mrs. Dubose: I want you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It s when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. (p. 112) How is Atticus characterized through the actions and behaviours of others? Bob Ewell s attitudes and actions Stephanie Crawford s gossip/criticisms Miss Stephanie said you had to hand it to Atticus Finch, he could be right dry sometimes. (p. 217) Alexandra s mild and partly well-meant criticisms Harsh comments of Mrs. Dubose Not only a Finch waiting tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers... Your father`s no better than the niggers and trash he works for! (p. 101-2) Clear sightedness and honesty of Miss Maudie Atkinson: He's the same in the courtroom as he is on the public streets (p. 199) There are some men in the world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father's one of them (p. 215) Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident? (p. 215) What errors in judgment does Atticus make? Trusting the Old Sarum mob not to try to lynch Tom (Chapter 15) Trusting Bob Ewell not to carry out his threats of revenge (Chapter 23) How does Atticus help to develop theme? You never really understand a person until climb into his skin and walk around in it. (p. 30) I wanted you to see what real courage is... when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. (p. 112) ARTHUR BOO RADLEY Boo Radley is referenced early in the novel as a reclusive neighbour to the Finch family. He doesn t physically appear in the novel until the final chapters: His presence is felt throughout the narrative. He is a silent witness of the children's actions. He is always vigilant and he sees the danger Atticus has overlooked when he saves the lives of Scout and Jem. How is Boo misunderstood? It began...when Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out. (p. 3) Misleading or inaccurate details are communicated through gossip. Information comes from Jem, who has heard it, in turn, from Miss Stephanie Crawford - and she is known to exaggerate or invent things. (p. 11) What is Boo Radley s background? Was not very successful at school (though he may have won a spelling medal) As a teen, joined some of the Cunninghams in joyriding around Maycomb's square and locking an elderly official (Mr. Conner) in the court outhouse. While the other boys went to a state industrial school, Arthur was shut up at home by his parents. (p. 10-11)
Fifteen years later Arthur attacked his father with a pair of scissors. His father ("the meanest man ever God blew breath into, according to Calpurnia) opposed sending him to a psychiatric hospital, and eventually took him home. (p. 11-2) When his father died, Arthur became the ward of his brother, Nathan Radley. Though less severe than his father, he still kept Arthur more or less imprisoned in the family home. By the time of the events in the novel it is no longer clear how far Arthur is forced to stay in, and how far this is his own wish. (p. 11) What do other characters say about Boo? "Six and a half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch...there was a long...scar that ran across his face...his eyes popped and he drooled most of the time" (Jem - p. 13) Miss Stephanie claims that she once woke up to see Boo at her window (p. 12-13) Legends about Boo are "three fourths coloured folk and one fourth Stephanie Crawford" (Miss Maudie p. 45) How does Book interact with other characters? First part of the novel: Ironically, the kids create a game to make Boo come out and yet miss all the opportunities when he does: - The mysterious presents which are left in the knot-hole of an oak tree by the Radley's house: two pieces of chewing gum, two Indian-head coins, two figures carved out of soap, a packet of gum, a spelling medal and a broken pocket watch. (p. 33-35, 59) - Jem retrieves his inexpertly mended trousers on the fence wire, he leaves them. (p. 58) - Someone places a blanket over Scout's shoulders when Miss Maudie s house burns. Atticus sees this but does not tell Scout when it happens. (p. 72) - Although Jem does not see Arthur on any of these occasions, he begins to understand what is happening. When Nathan Radley stops up the knot-hole, it is a fairly clear sign that he knows what Arthur has been doing and wants to stop it. And when Scout thinks she hears laughter from inside the Radley house, she finds this sinister - but the reader comes to see that this is the innocent laughter of Boo Radley, who is amused by the children at play. (p. 41, 62-63) Final chapters of the novel: Boo's saving of the children's lives is presented in an unusual way. - Arthur has taken a kitchen knife - the only weapon he can find, evidently - and stabbed Bob Ewell, as he attacks the children. Heck Tate works out what has happened, and conceals Bob Ewell's flick-knife in order to maintain that the kitchen knife was Ewell's weapon, on which he fell. This means that Arthur will not have to face an inquest, or any further public exposure. - Scout sees nothing and Jem remembers nothing. - Scout does not recognize the stranger in her house until Atticus makes this clear to her. - Although Arthur is shy, he forgets about himself while he attends to Jem's injury and takes him home (he stands out of the light, as he hesitates before stroking Jem's hair, and as he speaks, in a whisper, only to ask Scout to see him home.) - He does nothing to conceal what he has done to Bob Ewell. Boo as a Mockingbird Throughout the novel, mockingbirds are used to symbolize people who are innocent, weak, defenceless, etc. Boo is quite literally the ghost of the town (hence his nickname - Boo ) Arthur is psychologically disadvantaged (p. 11) - he is very timid and almost incapable of being integrated into Maycomb's society. He is totally misunderstood because he is reclusive. If there s just one kind of folks, why can t they get along with each other? If they re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? I think I m beginning to understand why Boo Radley s stayed shut up in the house all this time...it s because he wants to stay inside. (Jem: p. 227). Chapter 25. Here, B.B. Underwood s editorial:...was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting or escaping. He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children... (p. 241) As the children set off for the pageant (Chapter 28), Jem hears a mockingbird and jokes that Boo must not be at home. There is an obvious irony in that he is very wrong in associating Boo with haints and hot steams but is right in his joking suggestion that Boo is not at home. Not only is Boo out of doors (or just about to leave) but his doing so is what delivers the children from real and very human danger, not the gothic fantasies of Halloween. But there are more odd pointers:
- when the bird starts to sing, the children are in front of the Radley house - the bird is solitary (p. 254) - is in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in (p. 254) SCOUT FINCH The point of view of this novel is first person retrospective narration. Scout Finch, Atticus only daughter, serves as narrator. As such, the reader comes to know her predominantly through the things she says and does directly. Retrospection refers to a method of narration where the narrator is looking back at an event that has already happened. This sometimes includes foreshadowing or flashback. The narrator can hint to events that will happen because he/she already knows the outcome of the story. Scout knows the events that have happened in the final chapter before she starts. (Both examples lead the reader to the events of chapters 28-30 the end of the story.) Thus began our longest journey together. (p. 254) When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow. (p. 1) When enough years had gone by to enable us to look back on them, we sometimes discussed the events leading to his accident. (p. 1) Scout also functions as both questioner and observer within the story. She gets away with asking questions that aren t politically correct because she s just a child. Her objectivity also lies within the fact that she s just a child she doesn t fully grasp the seriousness of the things happening around her. JEM FINCH Jem is introduced at the age of nine where he is aware of the society around him. He is already attending school. He is a funloving child, much like his sister and Dill, ready to play imaginative games. In fact, he feeds Scout s fear of Boo in his stories and description. By the time the novel ends, four years later, he begins to function as a balance for Scout and Dill s naiveté. He is also old enough to be devastated when his town lets him down. As he grows older, he becomes moody. He is coming to understand and become resentful of the adult realities of racism, ignorance and cruelty. How does Jem grow and change as a character? To thoroughly understand Jem s character growth, consider: - Age and Attitude: what he is like at the start and at the end of the novel. - Events that affect him: Reading to Mrs. Dubose Tom Robinson trial - People who influence him: Atticus Miss Maudie Mrs. Dubose Heck Tate - How particular moments show character change: The Halloween pageant Tom Robinson s trial Consider, as well, the fact that each section starts with Scout s description of Jem s maturation process. - Scout s description of Jem at the beginning of Part Two. Jem was twelve. He was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody. (p. 115) What events make Jem face some of the realities of his community? Reading to Mrs. Dubose as punishment for destroying her camellias - Understands the bravery behind the monster The trial of Tom Robinson facilitates his loss of innocence - Devastated at the final verdict after Atticus so clearly proven Tom s innocence. Reconsidering the attitudes he should have concerning Boo - Sees the gifts in the tree as a sign of a real person who has been deprived of a normal life - Understands the nature of privacy: that Arthur might stay inside because he doesn t want to be harassed or devastated by the community. His love for his sister, shown when he portrays his physical courage to protect Scout from an attacker in the woods the night of the Halloween pageant.
Lee s concerns (social and personal injustice) are woven together in Jem s movement from childhood to adulthood; at times it is painful to leave childhood and awaken into a society of bigotry and ignorance. Much of this Scout can only describe and not understand, but she gives us enough of what Jem says so that we can see it for ourselves. MRS. DUBOSE Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose is a character with typical attitudes of the time, who comes to represent something other than the literal (symbolic), and who shows irony and develops theme. She consistently makes harsh comments about Atticus Finch Your father s no good than the trash he works for! (p. 102) Stereotyped by the children as vicious (p. 102) If she was on the porch when we passed, we would be raked by her wrathful gaze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behaviour, and given to a melancholy prediction on what we would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing. (p. 99) Her presence in the narrative causes the perspective of the story to change: Atticus interferes with Jem s reaction to Mrs. Dubose. Jem, she s old and ill. You cannot hold her responsible for what she says and does. (p. 105) Atticus insists that Jem read to Mrs. Dubose, as he is inclined to see more in people than are generally seen. In fact, it s IRONIC that Atticus always shows admiration for Mrs. Dubose even though she abuses him and is a racist. You know, she was a great lady. (p. 112) It s also IRONIC that Atticus ideal is Mrs. Dubose. (IRONY) I want you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It s when you know you re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she dies beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew. (p. 112) SYMOBLISM: MOCKINGBIRDS Atticus discourages Jem and Scout from ever harming Mockingbirds. Maudie Atikson, elaborates on this, saying, Mockingbirds don t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That s why it s a sin to kill a mockingbird. As such, mockingbirds come to symbolize innocence in the novel: to kill a mockingbird, therefore, is to destroy innocence. Arthur Boo Radley Jem makes a direct comparison to Boo Radley and a mockingbird. As he walks Scout to the Halloween pageant, he hears a mockingbird singing and makes the comment that Boo must not be home: High above us in the darkness a solitary mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in (p. 254). Boo Radley is the solitary mocker this directly references his isolation and innocence in the world. Like a mockingbird, he sings his heart out, or acts in ways that are ultimately beneficial to the people around him, like saving Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell. Heck Tate reiterates the idea at the end of the novel that Boo should not be forced into the public eye for killing Bob Ewell. He refuses to arrest Boo, saying that...draggin him and his shy ways into the limelight... [is]...a sin. It s a sin and I m not about to have it on my head. (Heck Tate - p. 276) Scout agrees with Heck Tate, suggesting that hurting Boo Radley would be like shootin a mockingbird (p. 276) Tom Robinson Tom Robinson is another innocent figure in the novel. Despite being blamed for the rape of Mayella Ewell, he also only ever offered her help in recognizing how difficult her life was. Even after being accused of raping her, he expresses the fact that he felt sorry for her, which, ironically, seems to affirm his guilt: The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson's answer. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let it sink in. (p. 197) After Tom Robinson is shot as he tries to escape, Mr. Underwood writes his obituary. In it, he makes reference to mockingbirds, comparing his death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds. (p. 241) Dolphus Raymond Dolphus Raymond is an innocent person whose intent is kindness and goodness, but he is misunderstood. Everyone knows he lives with people of colour and they fail to understand his reasoning
He pretends to be a drunk by drinking Coca Cola from a brown paper bag (implying it s actually alcohol) so that people can justify their prejudice against him. It ain't honest but it's mighty helpful to folks. Secretly, Miss Finch, I'm not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that's the way I want to live. Dolphus Raymond explains that as Dill grows up, he won t cry over the injustices he views in the world. Dill asks, Cry about what? and Dolphus response further expresses his innocence and his perspective on the way things are, as well as how they should be. Cry about the simple hell people give other people without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give coloured folks, without even stopping to think that they re people too. (p. 201) Jem and Dill These characters could also be viewed as mockingbirds in that the innocence of their childhood is shattered by the verdict that the jury declares against Tom Robinson. Dill cries during Tom Robinson s cross-examination by Mr. Gilmer and has to leave the courtroom. He doesn t understand why Mr. Gilmer speaks in such a derogatory way and calls him boy all the time and sneer[s] at him. Dolphus Raymond describes Dill, saying, Things haven t caught up with that one s instinct yet. Let him get a little older and he won t get sick and cry. Maybe things ll strike him as being not quite right, say, but he won t cry, not when he gets a few years on him. (p. 201) Jem has a vested interest in the case and strongly believes that Tom will be found innocent. Jem s hand, which was resting on the balcony rail, tightened around it. He drew in his breath suddenly. Glancing below, I saw no corresponding reaction, and wondered if Jem was trying to be dramatic. (p. 167-8) Jem is crushed to discover that Tom has actually been found guilty. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: Guilty... guilty... guilty... guilty... I peeked at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each guilty was a separate stab between them. (p. 211) Both characters are forced to realize that the world is not always fair and that good doesn t always triumph over evil. THEMES: Consider how each of the following themes have been developed throughout To Kill a Mockingbird: Good and evil can co-exist in society alongside one another. Social class, economic status, or race does not dictate a person s goodness. Racism is kept alive through fear and ignorance. Prejudice is a disease with deep and far-reaching roots. It is essential to practice empathy before judging someone. True courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to proceed in spite of it. What one sees is not always the truth.