Over the years, few novels have connected to me as deeply as To Kill a Mockingbird. The themes found in this novel are timeless, and perhaps more relevant today than ever before.
In our modern close-minded society, there are great lessons to be found in Harper Lee’s magnum opus. This novel shares insight into the true nature of humankind, and each individual’s capacity for both great good and evil.
Our society was built upon inherently evil ideals that humankind still struggles to revoke to his day. The novel touches upon these corrupted foundations, most notably slavery.
The creation of the United States was a case of great irony. This nation was created with the idea of freedom in mind. This, however, was a hollow statement.
The nation expanded so rapidly on the back of slavery. It took centuries for this societal norm to even be called into question. In the novel, the Finch family experiences great cruelty and evil.
This evil is personified in the hate and prejudice of slavery. The hatred slavery personifies has corrupted the people of Maycomb, and heavily influences the events of the novel.
The town of Maycomb was a paradoxical, contrasting community that forever threatened to collapse in on itself. The broken ideals of its citizens directly defied their heavily religious beliefs.
This theme of good and evil is developed through Tom Robinson’s trial. His trial highlights the social inequality so heavily present in the novel.
By the end of the novel, Robinson dies due to the preconceived notions the citizens of Maycomb possessed. The denizens were so blinded by their hatred that they failed to recognize the fundamentally flawed nature of their beliefs.
This is in itself a look into human nature in general. Humankind is so quick to accept what is taught to be “right”, and individuals rarely use deeper insight to create their own opinions.
This novel is symbolized much more than the corrupt ideals of slavery. It is a deep look into human nature itself. People are so afraid to accept anything new.
Society hides behind a facade of acceptance when in reality new notions of living are more oft than not revoked. This cowardness corrupts our society and just breeds generations of contempt and hatred.
The hatred present in the town of Maycomb heavily influences the protagonists of the novel. Scout maintains a basic faith in human nature, but Jem’s faith in justice and humanity, in general, is horribly damaged. Jem retreats into a state of disillusionment to cope with the trauma humankind has inflicted on him.
Even more so than being about hatred, this novel is about hope. It shows glimpses of the kindness of the human spirit that is so often hidden amongst the vast majority.
Atticus Finch is unique in this novel in that he has experienced great evil and prejudice, but has maintained his belief in the human capacity for goodness. Atticus seems to recognize what most fail to: the world is not all black and white. Life is about the grey in between.
Everybody possesses the capacity for both great good and evil. Humans are defined not by their circumstances, but by their individual choices. In the end, the Finch family not only prevails but grows as people.
They gain insight into the true nature of humankind, and the lesson Atticus has been trying to instill in them since birth: “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.”
