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Theme Of Fear In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird the writer attests to how prejudice can affect the relationship between blacks and whites. While some might argue that the lesson in the story could be ”fearing the unknown” or “that racism is frowned upon” Lee's writing most certainly depicts how fear and racism are often more powerful than reason and intelligence. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in 1930's Maycomb, Alabama, gives example of a white lawyer, raising his two children with the help of Calpurnia, a black maid, and Aunt Alexandra. Atticus Finch is the lawyer and Jeremy “Jem” and Jean-Louise “Scout” Finch are his children. The character of Atticus Finch is based on Harper Lee's own father, an Alabama lawyer and statesman who frequently defended African Americans within the racist Southern legal system. In this case, Atticus must defend Tom Robinson. Tom is wrongly accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of Bob Ewell. After Atticus is appointed to the Robinson case his children begin facing racist comments and fights within their school and from family members. Even though at the first stages of the trial …show more content…

A house they have only heard rumors of. This shows fear of the unknown and also racism. The kids, not realizing they were being judgmental or racist, will learn important life lessons over the duration of the Robinson case.
Reason and intelligence play large role in this story. Scout, Jem, and Dill Harris, a visitor to Maycomb, are not the best at reasoning “... it's sort of like making a turtle come out...” (17). “Strike a match under him” (17). The three were trying to get Arthur “Boo” Radley, who they expect to be psychotic, to come out of his house. Scout even though she may have trouble with reasoning, is a very intelligent young lady, as is her brother. Scout has been reading since she was a small child, taught by her

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