What are the issues faced in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'?

Answer 1

The most obvious issues addressed in the 1962 Pulitzer Prize winning novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" are the evils of racial intolerance, bigotry and prejudice in the depression-era American South. But there are more subtle, richer, messages as well.

Atticus Finch represents the small minority of Southerners who are not of the intolerant and bigoted mind set. Atticus is a wise and gentle small-town Alabama lawyer of 1932, raising his motherless offspring and defending a Black man who is falsely accused of rape. His decision to defend Robinson is based upon his principles and is made despite knowing that the narrow minded society would turn against him and try to make his life difficult and agonizing.

Jim Robinson's trial displays the ugliness of racism. He is an innocent Black man who is wrongly accused of raping a poor White woman. In fact, he is a victim of the White woman's effort to hide her guilt by utilizing the strong racial attitudes towards Blacks.

The character Boo Radley shows how easy it is to misjudge people and dismiss them because they are different. Boo is mentally retarded and is ostracized by society. He is an object of fear and curiosity for children because he is different from others. But he is the one who marks the ultimate climax of the novel.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" also portray's the innocence of children. A girl's recollection of her childhood days which are still at their full bloom in her mind reveals not only the innocence of juvenile minds, but of some adult minds as well. She recalls a period where mostly immature minds become curious to the racial bigotry and how sometimes mature minds become its prey. She recalls a time when harsh realities of life like intolerance, bigotry, prejudice and the adversities of society gradually dawn upon her.

Atticus Finch doesn't just love his children, he respects them. The novel tells of the ingenuity, purity and innocence of children with with a unique inspirational interaction with their father.

Answer 2

The themes are the coexistence of Good and
Evil. To understand evil without losing faith in the human capacity for goodness. The importance of moral education. It's possible to live with conscience with out losing hope and becoming cynical. It needs sympathy and understanding as children are guided from innocence to adulthood. The presence of social inequality. Understanding the role of class status and prejudice in human interaction.
Mockingbird represents innocence. And to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence.

Answer 3

The most obvious issues addressed in the 1962 Pulitzer Prize winning novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" are the evils of racial intolerance, bigotry and prejudice in the depression-era American South. But there are more subtle, richer, messages as well.

Atticus Finch represents the small minority of Southerners who are not of the intolerant and bigoted mind set. Atticus is a wise and gentle small-town Alabama lawyer of 1932, raising his motherless offspring and defending a Black man who is falsely accused of rape. His decision to defend Robinson is based upon his principles and is made despite knowing that the narrow minded society would turn against him and try to make his life difficult and agonizing.

Jim Robinson's trial displays the ugliness of racism. He is an innocent Black man who is wrongly accused of raping a poor White woman. In fact, he is a victim of the White woman's effort to hide her guilt by utilizing the strong racial attitudes towards Blacks.

The character Boo Radley shows how easy it is to misjudge people and dismiss them because they are different. Boo is mentally retarded and is ostracized by society. He is an object of fear and curiosity for children because he is different from others. But he is the one who marks the ultimate climax of the novel.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" also portray's the innocence of children. A girl's recollection of her childhood days which are still at their full bloom in her mind reveals not only the innocence of juvenile minds, but of some adult minds as well. She recalls a period where mostly immature minds become curious to the racial bigotry and how sometimes mature minds become its prey. She recalls a time when harsh realities of life like intolerance, bigotry, prejudice and the adversities of society gradually dawn upon her.

Atticus Finch doesn't just love his children, he respects them. The novel tells of the ingenuity, purity and innocence of children with with a unique inspirational interaction with their father.

Answer 4

Prejudice, injustice,integrity.

Answer 5

prejudice (on many levels, from childhood prejudice to institutionalised racism) is probably the main one, but also loyalty, friendship, family, justice, responsibility.

Answer 6

Integrity, racism, loyalty.

Answer 7

Duh.. You know, why are you asking?