What message does the book, "To Kill A Mockingbird" trying to portray?

Question

Just asking?

Answer 1

There are many messages in the book, the main ones being:

-it's wrong to harm someone/something that does no harm to you, it's "a sin to kill a mockingbird."

The mockingbirds in the book are Tom Robinson, Boo Radley and Atticus.


-in order to fully understand someone, you need to "climb into his skin and walk around it."

This is a lesson Scout is forced to apply constantly throughout the book.


-true courage doesn't revolve around guns and power, "real courage" is "when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what."

The juxtaposition of the shooting of the mad dog (Chapter 10, where the children learn of their father's shooting skills) and Mrs Dubose's death from a morphine overdose (Chaper 11) present strongly contrasting ideas about the theme of courage.


-the injustice done by prejudice, the unjust verdict of Tom Robinson's trial. The trial is a mockery of justice.

It's not just racial prejudice acting into the verdict, class and gender also acts into it to some extent. Tom is found guilty, because when it's a "white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins." The white community's fear of racial disturbance and their insecurity about their own position in the society meant that Tom was found guilty. This reassured the traditional hierachies in the community. There was a strong idea of Southern womanhood that women were to be worshipped and protected, and Mayella knew this, so to play on white men's conscience, she broke down into tears.

The courtroom was the "one place where a man ought to get a square deal...be he any colour of the rainbow," but justice was not done because "people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box."

Atticus's usage of legal language at home, "straight acquittal" and "hung jury" symbolises Atticus as a mockingbird singing for justice to be done.

-prejudice --> racial, class, gender

-stereotyping

-hypocrisy

And sooo many more ideas, and soooo many language and structure details to support them, this book is a work of art, seriously.

Answer 2

It is trying to portray civilized equality. The mockingbird is supposed to be Tom Robinson, Jem Finch(when Mr. Ewell attacks) and Boo Radley.

Answer 3

Tkam Sparknotes

Answer 4

It's trying to portray themes about prejudice, empathy, etc. I did this book a year ago and forgot everything, but I still have the links to the notes:

http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/killmockingbird/shortsumm.html

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/

Hope it helped.

Answer 5

Primarily tolerance for those who are different from ourselves. Atticus talks about not knowing someone until you try to walk in his or her shoes. By showing bigotry and small mindedness in all its ugliness, Harper Lee makes the reader question commonly held believes.

Answer 6

It is trying to show that racism in any form is wrong and that we should all be tolerant of others no matter what they look like . good luck and god bless.

Answer 7

The dignity of man, all men, despite their color or heritage.

Answer 8

Don't rush to judgment, things are not always as they appear to be at first glance.

Answer 9

It's a hunting manual.

Answer 10

Read it.