Destruction of innocence in Harper Lee's To kill a Mockingbird.

American literature refers to the body of written or literary works produced in the United

States and its preceding colonies. The origin of American literature can be traced back to the

early colonial period when European settlers first arrived in North America. Before the

arrival of European settlers, Native American tribes across North America had rich oral

traditions of storytelling, folklore, and mythology. The first European colonists in America,

such as the Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620, began writing accounts of their

experiences and observations in the New World. Explorers like Christopher Columbus and

John Smith left behind written records that contributed to the early literary canon of America.

The period leading up to the American Revolution saw the emergence of influential political

writings, such as Thomas Paine's “Common Sense” and the Declaration of Independence

authored by Thomas Jefferson. These documents played a crucial role in shaping the ideology

of the new nation and are considered important works of American literature. In the 18th

century, American writers began to produce poetry and fiction that reflected their experiences

and imaginations. Philip Freneau and Washington Irving were among the early poets and

fiction writers who contributed to the development of American literature during this period.

These early forms of American literature laid the foundation for the rich literary tradition that

would evolve over the centuries. As the United States continued to grow and change, so did

its literature, reflecting the diverse voices, cultures, and experiences of the people who lived

in the country. Over time, American literature has evolved and expanded to encompass a

wide range of genres, styles, and perspectives, making it a vibrant and influential part of

global literary tradition.

Questions of individual and collective identity are central to American literature. This theme

explores issues of self-discovery, cultural identity, and the search for one's place in society.

Works like “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain and “The Catcher in the

Rye” by J.D. Salinger examine the complexities of personal identity.

Given the United States history as a nation founded on principles of freedom and

independence, these themes are deeply ingrained in American literature. Writers often

explore the pursuit of freedom, whether it be from societal constraints, oppressive

governments, or personal limitations.This theme examines the idea that in America, through

hard work and determination, anyone can achieve success and prosperity. However,

American literature also frequently critiques the disillusionment and inequality that can

accompany the pursuit of this dream. The American landscape, from the vast wilderness to

urban settings, has been a recurring theme in literature. Authors like Henry David Thoreau

and John Muir celebrated nature, while others, such as Upton Sinclair in “The

Jungle”,critiqued the impact of industrialization on the environment. Many American writers

have used literature to address issues of social injustice, racism, class inequality, and

discrimination. Works like “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and "The Grapes of

Wrath" by John Steinbeck tackle these themes head-on. Family dynamics, the bonds between

parents and children, and the complexities of human relationships are common themes in

American literature. Examples include works like “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee

Williams and “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott. Many American novels explore the

journey from childhood to adulthood and the challenges and discoveries that accompany it.

This theme is often seen in young adult literature but also in classics like “The Adventures of

Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain. American literature often grapples with the effects of war and

conflict, from the Civil War to World War I, World War II, and beyond. Authors like Ernest

Hemingway and Tim O'Brien explore the psychological and emotional toll of war. The quest
for spiritual meaning and religious exploration are themes found in works ranging from the

writings of early Puritan settlers to contemporary authors like Marilynne Robinson . The

frontier and the idea of the American West as a symbol of freedom and adventure have been

explored in many Western novels and films. Writers like Zane Grey and Larry McMurtry

have contributed to this genre.

Racism is discrimination based on an individual’s or community’s race. While bigotry and

social exclusion have always occurred, white Europeans and Americans created the modern

concept of “race” to justify slavery. Racism is discrimination and prejudice against people

based on their race or ethnicity. Racism can be present in social actions, practices, or political

systems that support the expression of prejudice or aversion in discriminatory practices. The

ideology underlying racist practices often assumes that humans can be subdivided into

distinct groups that are different in their social behavior and innate capacities and that can be

ranked as inferior or superior. Racist ideology can become manifest in many aspects of social

life. Associated social actions may include nativism, xenophobia, otherness, segregation,

hierarchical ranking, supremacism, and related social phenomena. Racism refers to violation

of racial equality based on equal opportunities or based on equality of outcomes for different

races or ethnicities, also called substantive equality.

While the concepts of race and ethnicity are considered to be separate in contemporary social

science, the two terms have a long history of equivalence in popular usage and older social

science literature. “Ethnicity” is often used in a sense close to one traditionally attributed to

“race”, the division of human groups based on qualities assumed to be essential or innate to

the group Racism and racial discrimination are often used to describe discrimination on an

ethnic or cultural basis, independent of whether these differences are described as racial.
According to the United Nations's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial

Discrimination, there is no distinction between the terms “racial” and “ethnic” discrimination.

It further concludes that superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false,

morally condemnable, socially unjust, and dangerous. The convention also declared that there

is no justification for racial discrimination, anywhere, in theory or in practice.

Racism is frequently described as a relatively modern concept, evolving during the European

age of imperialism, transformed by capitalism, and the Atlantic slave trade, of which it was a

major driving force. It was also a major force behind racial segregation in the United States in

the 19th and early 20th centuries, and of apartheid in South Africa; 19th and 20th-century

racism in Western culture is particularly well documented and constitutes a reference point in

studies and discourses about racism. Racism has played a role in genocides such as the

Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, the Rwandan genocide, and the Genocide of Serbs in the

Independent State of Croatia, as well as colonial projects including the European colonization

of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the population transfer in the Soviet Union including

deportations of indigenous minorities. Indigenous peoples have been and are often subject to

racist attitudes.

Racism occurs when an individual, community, or institution discriminates against someone

based on their belonging to a racial or ethnic group, in particular a group that’s been

marginalized. Racism can be interpersonal, institutional, and even internalized, while

discrimination includes attitudes, actions, and systems.

To understand racism, we must first understand the concept of “race.” It’s a relatively recent

development in the history of humankind. For thousands of years, people didn’t categorize
humans by race. They were aware of differences and didn’t see everyone as equal, but the

concept of race didn’t truly develop until the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the 16th century.

Slavery had existed before, but many people worried about the practice’s moral implications.

When the demand for enslaved labor increased in the 17th century, white Europeans and

Americans needed a justification for slavery. They found one in the form of “race.”

In an article for Time, professor Andrew Curran describes how scientists and philosophers

were eager for physical, non-religious explanations for why people from Africa looked

different than white Europeans. These thinkers were not only interested in science: they were

searching for reasons why slavery was acceptable. Through experiments and theories now

recognized as pseudoscientific, white Europeans and Americans created a racial hierarchy

that put white people at the top and Black people at the bottom. Some “races” were just born

to be enslaved, the scientists and philosophers argued, and it would be wrong to go against

the natural order. There were also religious justifications for slavery, but the idea of “race”

ran through them all.

In 1859, the last known slave ship arrived in the United States. Five years later, slavery was

abolished. Britain had already abolished slavery and effectively ended the Transatlantic Slave

Trade a few years before, but racism wasn’t over. Even those who worked to abolish slavery

didn’t necessarily think Black people were equal to white people; they just didn’t think

slavery was good. Racism continued to inform people’s opinions of each other , as well as

immigration policy, employment policy, housing regulations, and more.

While overt racism is no longer acceptable in many societies, old policies and subconscious

racism continue to fuel racial inequality. Instead of acknowledging the legacy of slavery and
other injustices from the past, many people believe inequality is the result of innate racial

differences. That assumes race is a biological reality, which it’s not. Modern science shows

there is no biological basis for race. Race as a complex, ever-changing political and social

construct is real, but there is nothing in our DNA that divides humans into racial groups.

Racial discrimination is one of the most prevalent forms of racism. It refers to the unfair and

prejudicial treatment of individuals or groups based on their race. Around the world, it

manifests in employment, housing, education, the justice system, healthcare, and more.

Racial discrimination is often subtle. Laws and actions don’t need to mention race to be

discriminatory. As an example, Black girls are more likely to face extreme disciplinary

actions at school in the US, but there’s no acknowledgment that it’s because of race. In 2014,

a 12-year-old faced criminal charges and expulsion after writing the word “hi” on a locker,

while the white female classmate who was involved got a more merciful punishment. There

was no policy stating that Black girls would get harsher punishments, but it still happened.

Discriminatory actions can still be discriminatory even if they don’t mention race.

Known as “racial segregation,” dividing society by race means restricting access to resources,

institutions, services, and opportunities based on a person’s race. The two clearest examples

are apartheid in South Africa and the Jim Crow laws in the American South. In both, Black

people were forced into separate neighborhoods, schools, public facilities, and sections of

public transportation. In the United States, a doctrine of “separate but equal” tried to justify

this segregation, but Black Americans always got worse treatment and services.The same

thing happened in South Africa. Dividing society by race with the intent to hoard resources

for “superior” races and prevent race-mixing is blatantly racist. Even if things were “separate

but equal,” enforced segregation is still a violation of human rights.Killing someone based on
their race is a hate crime. When a large number of people are killed based on their race, it’s

genocide.

“Nelle” Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926, the youngest of four children of Amasa

Coleman Lee and Frances Cunningham Finch Lee. She grew up in Monroeville, a small town

in southwest Alabama. Her father was a lawyer who also served in the state legislature from

1926–1938. As a child, Lee was a tomboy and a precocious reader. After she attended public

school in Monroeville she attended Huntingdon College, a private school for women in

Montgomery for a year and then transferred to the University of Alabama. After graduation,

Lee studied at Oxford University. She returned to the University of Alabama to study law but

withdrew six months before graduation.

She moved to New York in 1949 and worked as a reservations clerk for Eastern Air Lines

and British Overseas Airways. While in New York, she wrote several essays and short

stories, but none were published. Her agent encouraged her to develop one short story into a

novel. In order to complete it, Lee quit working and was supported by friends who believed

in her work. In 1957, she submitted the manuscript to J. B. Lippincott Company. Although

editors found the work too episodic, they saw promise in the book and encouraged Lee to

rewrite it. In 1960, with the help of Lippincott editor Tay Hohoff, To Kill a Mockingbird was

published.

To Kill a Mockingbird became an instant popular success. A year after the novel was

published, 500,000 copies had been sold and it had been translated into 10 languages. Critical

reviews of the novel were mixed. It was only after the success of the film adaptation in 1962

that many critics reconsidered To Kill a Mockingbird.

To Kill a Mockingbird was honored with many awards including the Pulitzer Prize for fiction

in 1961 and was made into a film in 1962 starring Gregory Peck. The film was nominated for

eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It actually was honored with three awards:

Gregory Peck won the Best Actor Award, Horton Foote won the Best Adapted Screenplay

Oscar and a design team was awarded an Oscar for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration B/W.

Lee worked as a consultant on the screenplay adaptation of the novel.

Author Truman Capote was Lee’s next-door neighbor from 1928 to 1933. In 1959 Lee and

Capote traveled to Garden City, Kan., to research the Clutter family murders for his work, In

Cold Blood (1965). Capote dedicated In Cold Blood to Lee and his partner Jack Dunphy. Lee

was the inspiration for the character Idabel in Capote’s Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948).

He in turn clearly influenced her character Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Harper Lee divides her time between New York and her hometown of Monroeville, Ala.,

where her sister Alice Lee practices law. Though she has published no other work of fiction,

this novel continues to have a strong impact on successive generations of readers.

Nelle Harper Lee (April 28, 1926 – February 19, 2016) was an American novelist whose

1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and became a classic of

modern American literature. She assisted her close friend Truman Capote in his research for

the book In Cold Blood (1966). Her second and final novel, Go Set a Watchman, was an

earlier draft of Mockingbird, set at a later date, that was published in July 2015 as a sequel.
The plot and characters of To Kill a Mockingbird are loosely based on Lee's observations of

her family and neighbours in Monroeville, Alabama, as well as a childhood event that

occurred near her hometown in 1936. The novel deals with racist attitudes, and the

irrationality of adult attitudes towards race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s, as

depicted through the eyes of two children.

Lee received numerous accolades and honorary degrees, including the Presidential Medal of

Freedom in 2007, which was awarded for her contribution to literature.

Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama, the youngest of four

children of Frances Cunningham (née Finch) and Amasa Coleman Lee.Her parents chose her

middle name, Harper, to honor pediatrician Dr. William W. Harper, of Selma, who had saved

the life of her sister Louise.Her first name, Nelle, was her grandmother's name spelled

backwards and the name she used, whereas Harper Lee was primarily her pen name. Lee's

mother was a homemaker; her father was a former newspaper editor, businessman, and

lawyer, who also served in the Alabama State Legislature from 1926 to 1938. Through her

father, she was related to Confederate General Robert E. Lee and a member of the prominent

Lee family. Before A.C. Lee became a title lawyer, he once defended two black men accused

of murdering a white storekeeper. Both clients, a father and son, were hanged.

Lee's three siblings were Alice Finch Lee (1911–2014),Louise Lee Conner (1916–2009), and

Edwin Lee (1920–1951).Although Nelle remained in contact with her significantly older

sisters throughout their lives, only her brother was close enough in age to play with, though

she bonded with Truman Capote (1924–1984), who visited family in Monroeville during the

summers from 1928 until 1934.

While enrolled at Monroe County High School, Lee developed an interest in English

literature, in part through her teacher Gladys Watson, who became her mentor. After

graduating high school in 1944,like her eldest sister Alice Finch Lee, Nelle attended the then

all-female Huntingdon College in Montgomery for a year, then transferred to the University

of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where she studied law for several years. Nelle also wrote for the

university newspaper (The Crimson White) and a humor magazine (Rammer Jammer), but to

her father's great disappointment, she left one semester short of completing the credit hours

for a degree.In the summer of 1948, Lee attended a summer school program, "European

Civilisation in the Twentieth Century", at Oxford University in England, financed by her

father, who hoped in vain, as it turned out that the experience would make her more

interested in her legal studies in Tuscaloosa.

Harper Lee’s writing is a masterpiece of clarity, warmth, and depth, blending her literary

talents with a deep understanding of human nature and society. Her most famous work, To

Kill a Mockingbird, is an enduring classic that showcases her ability to tell a compelling story

while addressing complex themes. Below is an in-depth analysis of her writing style and the

primary themes she explores.

Harper Lee’s writing draws heavily from the Southern Gothic tradition, a literary style that

explores the moral decay of the South, societal flaws, and the human condition. Her setting,

Maycomb, Alabama, is portrayed as a microcosm of Southern life. Through her descriptive

prose, she illustrates the charm and decay of the South, creating an atmosphere of beauty

intertwined with underlying tension and prejudice. This duality highlights the contradictions

in the culture and values of the region.

Her exploration of the grotesque is subtle but effective. It is seen in characters who represent

societal failings or extreme behaviors, such as the reclusive Boo Radley or the deeply

ingrained racism of the town. Lee uses the Southern Gothic style to expose the cracks in the

idyllic facade of Southern life, revealing its moral and ethical challenges.

Lee’s prose is remarkably clear and straightforward, making her work accessible to a wide

audience. While her sentences are often simple, they carry emotional weight and deep

meaning. Her style avoids unnecessary complexity, allowing readers to focus on the

characters and themes rather than the mechanics of her language. This simplicity enhances

the universality of her story, enabling readers from various backgrounds to relate to its moral

and emotional core.

Her descriptions are vivid and sensory, capturing the heat, dust, and languor of life in

Maycomb. The physical setting mirrors the social environment, where tradition and prejudice

linger like the oppressive heat. This approach allows readers to feel immersed in the world

she creates.

One of the defining features of Lee’s writing is her use of Scout Finch as the narrator. The

choice of a child’s perspective allows for a unique combination of innocence, curiosity, and

honesty. Scout’s observations are often straightforward and unfiltered, offering readers a

fresh lens through which to view societal injustices. This perspective also enables Lee to

juxtapose the simplicity of childhood with the complexity of adult issues like racism,

morality, and justice.

The narrative structure includes both Scout’s immediate experiences as a child and her

reflections as an adult, adding layers of insight to the story. This dual perspective helps the

reader understand both the naivety of youth and the wisdom that comes with age.

Lee’s characters are multidimensional and deeply human, reflecting the complexities of real-

life individuals. Atticus Finch stands out as a model of integrity, courage, and empathy, while

Scout and Jem embody the curiosity and growth of childhood. Even minor characters are

given depth and significance, contributing to the richness of the narrative.

Her characters are not mere symbols; they feel alive and relatable. Their actions, motivations,

and development throughout the story reflect the moral ambiguities and challenges of living

in an imperfect world.

Lee’s dialogue captures the rhythms and dialects of the South, grounding her characters in

their cultural and regional context. The way her characters speak reveals their personalities,

social status, and beliefs. Her use of dialect is subtle and avoids caricature, instead

emphasizing authenticity and realism. Dialogue often serves as a tool for character

development and thematic exploration, advancing the story in a natural and engaging way.

Despite dealing with heavy themes, Lee incorporates moments of humor and wit, often

through Scout’s observations and interactions. This humor lightens the narrative and reflects

the resilience of her characters in the face of hardship. The balance between serious social

commentary and lighthearted moments adds depth and relatability to her storytelling.
The central theme of To Kill a Mockingbird is the pursuit of justice in a flawed society.

Through the character of Atticus Finch, Lee explores the importance of standing up for what

is right, even in the face of overwhelming opposition. The trial of Tom Robinson serves as a

microcosm of the systemic racism and injustice prevalent in the South during the time.

Lee emphasizes the idea that justice should be impartial and universal, but she also

acknowledges the challenges of achieving true equality in a society deeply rooted in

prejudice. The story encourages readers to confront their own biases and consider the moral

implications of their actions.

A recurring theme in Lee’s work is the transition from innocence to experience. Scout and

Jem’s journey reflects this universal process as they confront the harsh realities of the world,

including racism, inequality, and moral failure. This loss of innocence is not portrayed as

entirely negative; it is accompanied by a deeper understanding of empathy, compassion, and

courage.

The mockingbird serves as a symbol of innocence and purity, representing those who are

vulnerable and unjustly harmed by society. Protecting the innocent becomes a moral

imperative for characters like Atticus and ultimately for the readers.

Lee frequently highlights the importance of empathy in overcoming prejudice and fostering

human connection. Atticus teaches his children to "walk in someone else's shoes" to

understand their perspective. This lesson becomes a guiding principle throughout the story,

shaping how Scout and Jem interact with the world.

Empathy is not presented as a simple solution but as a necessary starting point for addressing

societal divisions. Lee suggests that understanding others’ experiences is the first step toward

building a more just and compassionate society.

At the heart of Lee’s novel is an unflinching critique of racial inequality in the American

South. Through the trial of Tom Robinson, she exposes the deeply entrenched racism that

affects every aspect of life in Maycomb. The legal system, social norms, and individual

attitudes all perpetuate injustice, creating a cycle of discrimination that is difficult to break.

Lee does not offer easy solutions to this problem but instead challenges readers to reflect on

their own roles in perpetuating or combating prejudice. Her exploration of racism is both

specific to its historical context and universally relevant.

Lee’s characters and narrative demonstrate that people are rarely entirely good or entirely

evil. This complexity is particularly evident in characters like Boo Radley, who is initially

feared and misunderstood but ultimately revealed to be kind and protective. Even characters

who embody prejudice and ignorance are portrayed as products of their environment rather

than irredeemable villains.

This nuanced portrayal of human nature encourages readers to look beyond surface

judgments and consider the factors that shape individuals’ beliefs and actions.

Conclusion

Harper Lee’s writing style and themes combine to create a powerful and enduring narrative.

Her straightforward prose, rich characterization, and vivid depiction of the South draw

readers into the world of Maycomb, while her exploration of justice, empathy, and human
complexity provides valuable insights into society. By addressing profound issues through

the lens of a child’s perspective, Lee creates a story that is both accessible and deeply

moving. Her work continues to inspire and challenge readers to confront prejudice and strive

for a more just world.

The language Harper Lee uses in her novel is very realistic and it aims to accurately portray

what life was like in a small rural community like Maycomb in the southern states of

America in the 1930s. The children use the

colloquial

language you would expect whilst talking to their friends and family, although sometimes

they are chastised by Atticus for using inappropriate language, especially when Scout uses

the same racist term for black people as she has heard in the neighbourhood.

Although Harper Lee’s writing style is mainly realistic and quite straightforward she is also

able to use it to cleverly create tension and suspense when needed. This can be seen in

particular at the end of the novel just before and during Bob Ewell’s attack on Jem and Scout.

I took one giant step and found myself reeling: my arms useless, in the dark, I could not keep

my balance Scout tells the reader.

Harper Lee uses colourful figurative language (similes, metaphors,

personification) to create images in her readers' minds. She also uses humorous language

which is sometimes there to highlight a character’s misunderstanding of a certain situation,

such as when Bob Ewell does not understand some of the questions he is asked in court,

especially those concerning whether or not he is left-handed. As Scout tells the reader, Mr
Ewell turned angrily to the judge and said he didn’t see what his being left-handed had to do

with it, that he was a Christ-fearing man and Atticus Finch was taking advantage of him.

Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee).

I read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee when I was a teenager. I feel that I wasn’t aware

enough or old enough to completely understand it, so I re-read the book this month. I had

understood just the basic story of the novel, nothing more than that and this book is not at all

superficial. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a story set in a small Southern American

town, Maycomb, Alabama, and focuses on the Finches’.

It doesn’t seem realistic to give a plot summary here for this novel because I won’t be able to

make it as brief. The story is narrated by a six-year-old girl Scout, i.e., Jean Louise, and it

takes place approximately over a span of three summers. Scout Finch lives with her older

brother Jem, her widowed lawyer father Atticus, and their maid Calpurnia. Scout, her brother,

and their neighbor’s kid Dill, who lives in Mississippi, spend the summer having fun before

school starts. They live a completely normal life. As kids do, they complain about school,

adults confuse them, and they let their imaginations run wild when it comes to the Radley

house, especially Arthur Radley, they believe the rumors about him and build a picture of

him in their heads with such information.

When the court appoints Atticus Finch as a lawyer to defend a black man, Tom Robinson,

accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Scout and Jem are harassed and taunted by

their peers, neighbors, and extended family. They don’t want Atticus fighting the case for

Tom, Scout even asks her father about this, and he explains that he is doing the right thing.

The mindset of kids is very fixed; they see everything and everyone in terms of good and bad.

The people around Scout that she thought were good prove otherwise through their behavior.
She starts questioning her understanding of people, and in a way, Tom’s case is like an end of

innocence for Scout, Jem, and Dill.

We come to realize that the people of the town are deeply prejudiced. Some of them are

extremely racist. Even for Scout, discrimination against blacks is somewhat normalized

before she starts to understand how wrong it is. Even when Atticus successfully proves to the

court that Tom couldn’t have hurt Mayella because he has no use of his left arm. The jury is

made up of white men with the exception of just one member, still, Tom is found guilty. Tom

is shot and dies when he tries to escape the Sheriff’s custody. The racist prejudices are

normalized and ingrained in people that there is no question of right or wrong to it. The

prejudices apart from racism especially in Scout’s context are sexism and classism, which

come into the story.

The main theme of the novel remains the morality of people. To put it simply, it is a battle

between good and evil. Atticus is highly moralistic; he has a strong sense of right and wrong.

He tries to ingrain this quality in his children. He tells Scout that you have to think from the

other person’s perspective too. He doesn’t back down even when everyone is against him

because he knows what he is doing must be done. Like I said before, Scout sees things in a

very black-and-white manner; she is influenced by what she hears and sees. The narration

does come across with a hint of innocence since Scout is six. It gave the story an evolving

perspective, I felt. Scout’s understanding and experiences of her society shift during the

story’s course.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has a strong sense of morality at the center of its story.

The characters are well-written and slightly unconventional. The hero of the story is Atticus

Finch; he is not a hero in a traditional sense due to his physical traits, but he is a hero because
of his values. I am glad I re-read this book. I realized how many things had gone completely

over my head the last time. The beginning was a little slow with all the descriptions that

turned out to be necessary for the setting of the story. Overall, the book maintains a good

pace. It is a great book. It did get too much during some parts, and I had to put it away for a

while. This is a book everyone should read. (Aarti Athavle) .