Overview: "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. The story is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, and it revolves around the young Scout Finch and her brother, Jem. The novel addresses issues of racial injustice and moral growth, making it a staple of American literature.
Themes:
- Racial Injustice: The novel explores the deep-seated racism in the American South during the 1930s.
- Moral Development: Scout and Jem's journey through childhood reveals the complexities of human nature and moral values.
- Social Class: The story highlights the class differences within Maycomb's society.
Characters:
- Scout Finch: The narrator and protagonist of the story, Scout is curious, intelligent, and compassionate.
- Atticus Finch: Scout and Jem's father, Atticus is a lawyer who represents a black man, Tom Robinson, falsely accused of rape.
- Boo Radley: A reclusive neighbor who fascinates Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill.
Quotes:
- "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." - Atticus Finch
Trivia:
- The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1960.
- It was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 1962.
Scout Finch
Read more about the characters and the novel's impact on American literature on our To Kill a Mockingbird page.