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To Kill A Mockingbird is an American novel published in 1960. The book was written by author Harper Lee, and the story takes place during the Great Depression era, long before the days of printer inks, in a small Alabama town. The plot centers around a family who live near a reclusive man named Arthur "Boo" Radley. The secretive neighbor becomes the fodder for the children's imagination that live next door. The book is narrated by a six year-old named Scout Finch, who tells about their mysterious neighbor, and about her father Atticus Finch, who is a local lawyer. Scout's father takes on a case where he must defend an accused African American whom has been charged with raping a young white girl. Scout and her brother Jem must deal with the repercussions of this and have to tolerate ridicule and threats because of their father's choice to defend this man. Things escalate when the family is threatened and hated because of Atticus' choice to defend Tom Robinson. Still, he holds strong and maintains Robinson's innocence.
Harper Lee's real life was very similar to that of Scout's in the novel. Although she claims it is not autobiographical, many critics disagree. Lee grew up having an attorney for a father, and he too defended a black client. After the trial, her father never participated in a court trail again. She witnessed the cruelty people expressed towards those of a different race, and it's apparent that this had some affect on her writing. Many have considered To Kill A Mockingbird a Southern Gothic style novel, mainly for its deep southern setting as well as the people who inhabited the Alabama town. The book serves as a template and example of racial injustice and how peoples' prejudices can have a profound effect on others around them. It also teaches ethics, understanding, and tolerance, which is why the novel is considered to be such an important piece of American literature.
The mockingbird in the novel is a symbol of innocence. Other birds are also presented in the novel, and each one represents a human quality that is precious and important. Boo Radley is compared to the mockingbird by Scout, who eventually sees him as a good man. Therefore, to kill such a bird is to destroy the innocence within people. The novel received rave reviews and became instantly popular. It has won several important awards, including a Pulitzer Prize. Harper Lee was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007. The book also received some controversy, and was actually banned by some libraries and school systems because of its use of derogatory language towards African Americans. Some people also argued that rape as a plot is immoral, and incited bans on the book. Despite the critics, the novel has continued to be successful and is considered an American classic. To Kill A Mockingbird was adapted for film in 1962. Famous actor Gregory Peck played attorney Atticus Finch with great success. The novel was also adapted into a stage play and had its first debut in 1990.
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