Similarities Between To Kill A Mockingbird And Do The Right Thing

TITLE Jenna Stokes What makes a movie transformative? The medium of filmmaking is advantageous in many ways – from the striking capabilities of visual effects and camera work to its capacity for emotional connection with an audience. However, even the most casual moviegoer can attest the qualitative difference between movies meant simply to entertain and those seeking to reflect society on a deeper level examining elements of the human condition. Both To Kill A Mockingbird, directed by Robert Mulligan, and Do the Right Thing, directed by Spike Lee, are transformative movies that center on small American communities illustrating the damaging effects of racism in society and analyzing the moral character of America’s citizens and justice

To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming-of-age story that mainly details Scout and Jem’s interactions and maturing perspectives on the world around them. As a result, the African American community has relatively little screen time in the story and Tom’s death is communicated to the audience through Atticus’ reaction to it. Given the movie’s broad audience and morally optimistic thematic message the decision not to include Tom’s likely graphic death is understandable. The close up of Gregory Peck’s devastated face as he hears the news is emotionally compelling and after the audience has spent 32 minutes watching Tom’s legal trial, their knowledge of its injustice serves to further intensify the scene. However, the scene is ultimately a white man reacting to a black person’s death and the storyline is rooted in Scout and Jem’s perspective as members of Maycomb’s white community. The African American community by comparison is distanced from the town through Jim Crow era policies like segregated seating and the only glimpse the audience gets of their reaction to Tom’s death is when Atticus tells Tom’s

After Bob Ewell attacks Scout and Jem, the Sheriff plainly identifies Ewell as being responsible for Tom’s death describing it as happening for “no reason”. To Kill a Mockingbird repeatedly points to Bob Ewell as a racist and deeply unkind man yet fails to apply that same level of moral questioning to the other townspeople. Even after hearing articulate evidence proving Tom’s innocence, the people of the jury - having assumedly racist beliefs - still convict him. Preserving the movie’s optimistic outlook on the moral integrity of society, this injustice and the role of Maycomb’s residents in it is never fully addressed as the scene quickly shifts to Tom’s death. To Kill a Mockingbird wants audiences to believe in the integrity of man’s moral character highlighting the Sheriff’s condemnation of Ewell and subsequent protection of Boo Radley and Atticus’ honorable defense of Tom. However, believing this optimistic view of society requires ignoring the approximately twelve people who sentenced Tom to prison – an action which directly led to his death - and the glaringly racist actions of the mob who attempted to lynch him earlier in the