Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is one of the most successful American novels in history. Set in the 1930s, it is the story of a fictional white lawyer, Atticus Finch, who represents a falsely accused black man, Tom Robinson. Told through the eyes of Atticus’ Finch daughter, Scout, the book introduced readers to race relations and justice in the south. Atticus was looking to lynch him. As a result, Atticus has been held up as a role model for young lawyers. As previously stated, the book does not have overt medical themes; nonetheless, there are lessons to be learned. Socioeconomic inequality is the case of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. Despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence, including the testimony of several witnesses, Tom was convicted by an all-white jury simply because of his race. The …show more content…
By creating and using these strongly opinionated characters, Lee can show the thoughts and ideas behind gender stereotyping in the 1930s. These characters all have their own unique views on what roles each gender should portray, and what they can and can’t do, which adds conflict and disagreement in different parts of the storyline. Considering current events, the book should “serve as a clarion call for racial and social justice.” Most significantly and often overlooked is the fact that the falsely accused black man is found guilty and imprisoned. As a result of the wrongs heaped upon him, Tom is full of despair and attempts to escape from prison. As he does so, he is shot 17 times in the back. While the novel has been praised for its depiction of Atticus’ moral character, further analysis reveals deep flaws. Careful reading of Atticus is racist, and racism, segregation, and a caste system are displayed throughout the story. The novel is written from a white privileged