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Comparing 'To Kill A Mockingbird And If' By Harper Lee

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Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” develops a theme exploring integrity and maturity while Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird establishes the same theme. The ideas expressed in the poem parallels Lee’s development of one of her main characters, Atticus Finch. Atticus advances his leadership, courage, and remaining true to himself throughout the progression of To Kill a Mockingbird. In To Kill a Mockingbird Lee decided to make Atticus a lawyer who works meticulous, long, lingering hours to complete his job to his standards. Atticus is give a case where he is “simply defending a Negro” but the whole town thinks he is a “nigger lover.” In Kipling’s poem he states “if you trust yourself when all men doubt you,” which is similarity describing Atticus and his feeling towards his court case. The town believes Atticus is a traitor but he reasons “if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town...” Atticus courageously said he will continue to defend his client for he has reasons that he accepts are necessary for him to continue as the man he wants to be. …show more content…

“If you make one heap of all your winning... and never breathe a word about your loss...” is what Kipling expresses in his poem. This coincides with Atticus convinced with help from his sister, Alexandra, that his children “should try to live up to their name...” If the Aunt had tried to explain how the children should change so they acted more like Finches they would not have listened. Atticus establishes a relationship with his children that he is the leader and his advice he gives them should be followed to the best of their

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