Perspective On To Kill A Mockingbird

Racism, Perspective, and the idea of “Not killing a Mockingbird,” are all central themes in the book To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. This masterpiece was published in 1960. Lee, in his writing, stirred the American conscience with the way he addressed racial discrimination. Loosely based on Lee’s experiences when he was ten years old, To Kill a Mockingbird reveals his options towards racism. During the Great Depression era, black people were still very discriminated against, Another main theme dispersed through the whole book is not to hurt someone who is helpless, or in other words; kill a mockingbird. This book fits the requirements of an historical novel because it directly addresses topics of racial discrimination, which at the time was happening in America.

In the beginning of the book, Scout, who was a resident of Maycomb, described the town as a tired, old, town where nothing really happened. Scout also talks about what the weather is like in Maycomb. She says that summers were extremely hot, and when it rained the streets turned to red slop. During the time the story takes place, the Great Depression was happening in America. This clearly affected Maycomb and Scout said in Maycomb that there was nothing to buy, and nothing to buy it with. Scout also says that there is a “vague optimism” and this was taken from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address. The Finches came to Alabama during the War of 1812 thanks to Simon Finch (Atticus’ ancestor) who fought with General Andrew