Maria #2

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Genre: Fiction
Author: Harper Lee
Number of Pages: 374
Copyright: 1960

The message that the author is conveying through To Kill a Mockingbird is that prejudice has a great influence on what we think, feel, and do. This idea is present throughout the whole book although it is not stated clearly anywhere. The story itself shows the reader how prejudice affects life and human nature.

Since the book centers around a trial, the most obvious example of prejudice is people's attitude to Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of rape. The action happens in Maycomb, Alabama in the first half of the twentieth century. This reveals a lot about the situation in which Tom is. In those days, the disapproval of black people is something normal and accepted. Moreover, Maycomb is a small town where people are extremely conservative. Tom's guilt isn't proved, but most citizens of Maycomb think that Robinson has done a terrible thing to Mayella Ewell, a white girl. The only reason for their opinion is Tom's race. They don't have evidence; they are prejudiced against him. When Atticus Finch decides to defend Tom in the court, he faces a great uproar. People just don't want to believe that a black man is innocent. They are afraid that Atticus may prove so, and they will have to admit that black people aren't worse than white in any way.

The story of Arthur('Boo') Radley also shows how prejudiced people can be. It is known that when Arthur was young, he had done a bad thing together with some of his friends. Since then, no one has seen him. It is said that his father doesn't let him out of the house. Besides, creepy 'legends' are being told about him. Some of his neighbours say that every night he goes out and eats raw cats and squirrels. During the day, it seems like there is no one in the Radley's house. All doors and windows are always closed; no noises are ever heard from there. People are afraid of the Radleys, especially of Boo. However, evrything they think and say is just an assumption they make. Later in the story, it turns out that Boo actually is a good man who has been staying at home for all these years, for he wanted to. Arthur couldn't bear all the cruelty in the world and has tried to escape. All his neighbours have decided that he is evil and scary because of his past. Their feelings about him are unreasonable and untrue.

To Kill a Mockingbird also explains us how prejudice gets into one's life and kills the innosence. This is showed through Jem Finch who 'is growing up' as Cal, the maid, says. Scout feels that something different is happening to her brother. He begins to worry about what people say and think. The siblings no longer get along as well as they used to. Jem is becoming prejudiced, and the childish innosence in him is going away. Time has its influence on 'young Mr. Finch's' character. He has changed; he has grown up, but is that good? Growing up means becoming serious and careful in what you do. Nevertheless, you forget what is to be a child. You forget what is to be pure and independent in your thoughts.

Finally, Harper Lee's masterpiece makes the reader understand that prejudice is everywhere, and you can't stop it. It affects the way people are treated in society. It even changes their lives and characters.