Category: To Kill a Mockingbird

Some call it genius, others are disgusted by the controversy. The only thing that remains clears is that To Kill a Mockingbird is something that raises so many important issues in such a delicate way that it will remain a topic of hot debates for years to come. It is one of those few literary works that strives to entertain while telling a story and not just narrate a tale of old times. Humor and horrors intertwine magnificently to deliver the work that we now know by the name ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’

The novel can be determined as a Bildungsroman, which means educational novel in German. It is a classic of American literature of the 20th century. In fact, it is often named among the best American works of literature ever. All of that is due to the talent of Harper Lee, a woman who was not afraid to express her views on difficult societal issues through the eyes of a child. The novel was written in 1960 and it heavily influenced by the author’s own experience of the Great Depression, 1936 in particular.
What makes this book different from another is the way Lee narrates the whole story. Kids are the pivotal point of the plot as it is them who guide the reader through the world of the novel.
The warmth and curiosity that are felt through the whole story become the main highlight of the novel. Kids’ eyes are genuine and true and through this filter everything is portrayed in the story.

The world is a harsh place and especially the southern parts of the United States. Racial abuse is a common thing and people are fighting over the color of each other’s skin. Narrator is a 6-year old girl. Her father’s name is Atticus Finch and he is a lawyer in the local town made-up by the author. After the book’s release and for many more years after that Atticus was and still remains the racial hero, the one who was not afraid to go against the societal norms. He was the one to protect a black man, accused of rape. Finch is committed to do anything to prove that the man is innocent because he believes that this is the truth. The community, however, is against the lawyer. They think the black man does not deserve to be protected and needs to be lynched as soon as possible without any trial. The story is full of drama, misconceptions and racial prejudice. The perspective of a 6-year old child is warm and very acceptable. The plot twists are massive. Author shows her talent for narration and keeps the reader entertained for the whole duration of the novel.
Despite covering racism and rape, Lee still manages to spice it up with humor and make the book friendly to any reader. This is why 80% of the schools in the United States have this book included in their school program.

Harper Lee was inspired by her own past. The characters were based on her neighbors and close friends and the racial inequality was portrayed as is, without any hidden points. She manages to stand out from other authors with her vision of the whole issue and the way she likes to tell people about it.
Criticism and love from the public is a general sight when ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is involved. However, the influence the book makes simply can’t be denied. It became so popular so quickly that a few years after a full movie adaptation was filmed.
The book shows us true courage, compassion and intolerance to stereotypes. The novel tells us that there is no prejudice when you’re a kid. It appears from the pressure of the society that you live in and only by staying true to yourself you can keep on being human and not a monster that would rather kill than listen.