To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird? "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Think of “killing a mockingbird” like being prejudiced to someone who doesn’t deserve it. (this is a central theme in the story)

Mockingbird

Introduction to the Novel About the Author – Harper Lee Born on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama Youngest of four children 1957 – submitted manuscript for her novel; was urged to rewrite it Spent over two years reworking it 1960 – To Kill a Mockingbird (her only novel) published 1966 - was one of two persons named by President Johnson to the National Council of Arts

Introduction to the Novel About the Author– Harper Lee To Kill A Mockingbird is semi-autobiographical for a number of reasons: Lee grew up in Alabama Father was prominent lawyer Experienced Great Depression, Scottsboro Trials “Scout” based on her life; “Dill” based on life of childhood friend Truman Capote

The story is set in Maycomb, a fictional city in southern Alabama. Historical Background To Kill a Mockingbird takes place from 1933 to 1935, during the Great Depression. The story is set in Maycomb, a fictional city in southern Alabama. The story’s setting, Maycomb County, is an isolated rural area, poor and undeveloped. It is slow to respond to change and progress. Black people receive low wages as field workers and house servants. White farmers are more likely to own land, but their crops are often meager. Trade is slow and they are often poor.

What do you think prices were like in 1930??? Life in the 1930’s . . . What do you think prices were like in 1930??? Candy Bar: Rent: Newspaper: Ice cream: Movie Ticket: Doctor’s Visit: Hamburger: Cup of coffee: Candy Bar – 3 Milky Way bars $.10 Rent Newspaper $.02 Ice cream Movie ticket $.10 per ticket Dr’s visit $4 per day to stay in a hospital Hamburger – 1 lb. $.15 Cup of coffee Average cost of living was around $4k vs around $60k today for a family

Crash of the Stock Market, 1929 Historical Background Crash of the Stock Market, 1929

Historical Background Great Depression 1929 -1939 During the Great Depression, thousands of people relied on charitable organizations for meals and would line up for simple meals often of bread and soup. Picture of bread lines (people waiting in line for food – usually soup and bread) during the Great Depression.

Historical Background Slavery was abolished in 1864, but Southerners still believe in white supremacy. Segregation exists. Blacks may not sit in the same sections as whites. They have separate facilities as well.

"The Scottsboro Boys" Trials 1931 - 1937 Historical Background "The Scottsboro Boys" Trials 1931 - 1937 No crime in American history-- let alone a crime that, The Scottsboro Trials took place when 9 black boys were accused of raping 2 white girls.  This took place in Alabama, in the 1930's.  The boys were hoboeing (riding freight-trains), when they got into a fight with some white boys.  The boys accused the blacks of raping two girls, who had boarded the train.  The blacks were tried in court unjustly (by very incompetent lawyers) and there was no presumption of innocence.  They were sentenced to death-row initially, and spent 2 years in terrible conditions (prison) while waiting for the appeal.  They were tried again, and finally, most of them were freed either through parole, escape or by being killed. Sad, but true.

Brown vs. Board of Education 1954 Brown vs. Board was about a 3rd grade black girl, named Linda Brown.  She lived in Topeka, Kansas.  She had to walk a mile to attend an all black school (through bad conditions) when there was a white school, only 7 blocks away.  Her father decided to solicit the help of the NAACP, and they took the case to court, which was fighting for Linda's right to attend the white school.  This was happening during the 1950's, when racial segregation was the norm.  In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of deeming desegregation unconstitutional.  The law did not end desegregation overall, as it still existed in restaurants and public facilities.  It also did not put a time-frame on when the schools had to combine the population, and in many states, it took a long time to end desegregation.

Historical Background Gender Bias Women were the weaker sex. Education not important for women. Wealthy women were expected to supervise staff Men were not seen as nurturing

Historical Background Social Class in the 1930’s The social class structure in the novel is probably similar to how class structure existed during the 1930s in the South. The wealthy, although fewest in number, were most powerful. The blacks, although great in number, were lowest on the class ladder, and thus, had the least privileges. Examples of each social class: Wealthy - Finches Country Folk - Cunninghams “White Trash” – Ewells Black Community – Tom Robinson

Historical Background Poor White Families Hard-working Honest Proud Survive on very little Always pay back their debts – even if it is with hickory nuts, turnips, or holly. The Cunninghams fit this category

Historical Background Poor white trash Dirty Lazy Good-for-nothing Never done a day’s work Foul-mouthed Dishonest Immoral The Ewells fit this category

Historical Background The Black Community Simple, Honest, Clean Hard-working & God fearing Proud Would never take anything with paying it back Respectful Had stronger character than most of the whites Oppressed & Uneducated Discriminated against Talked about badly Deserve better than what is dished out to them by society

Introduction to the Novel Background Information Even those with jobs were affected because nothing was being produced Average family income dropped to 50% by 1935 25% of population had no job GREAT DEPRESSION Stock Market Crash caused people to lose billions. Entire banks were wiped out and by 1933 over 60% of population was considered poor Hundreds of thousands lost homes, farms and possessions A period of extreme drought, poverty and hardships during the 1930s. The novel takes place during the mid-1930s at a time when the government was attempting to stop the Great Depression. The President at the time, Franklin Roosevelt, famously said, “the only thing to fear is fear itself” as his government created programs to create jobs, house the homeless and feed the starving.

Introduction to the Novel Background Information Although slavery was abolished in the 1890s racism and discrimination were alive and well during the time of the novel. The novel is based on many historical facts that help to drive the story, (and allow the readers to explore a sad time in American history) including: Racism and Social Classes Jim Crow Laws (1890s – 1960s) Scottsboro Trials (1931) Social Inequality (Forever)

Introduction to the Novel Background Information Wealthy White Town/Country People “White Trash” Black People Social Inequality The Finches White folks of Maycomb & Maycomb County The Ewell Family Tom Robinson Even the law was one-sided: Juries were always all-white and all-male. The word of a black man meant nothing against the word of a white man.

Characters Jean Louise Finch “Scout” The story’s narrator Although now an adult, Scout looks back at her childhood and tells of the momentous events and influential people of those years. Scout is six when the story begins. She is naturally curious about life.

Characters Atticus Finch Father of Scout and Jem A widower An attorney by profession Highly respected Good citizen Instills good values and morals in his children.

Characters Jem Finch Scout’s older brother Looks up to his father Atticus Usually looks out for Scout Typical older brother at times Smart Compassionate Matures as the story progresses

Characters Calpurnia The Finch’s black housekeeper Has watched the children since their mother’s death Has been a positive influence on the children.

Characters Dill A close friend of Jem and Scout Usually lives in Maycomb only during the summer (stays with a relative) Tells “big stories” Has been deprived of love and affection

Characters Tom Robinson A young, harmless, innocent, hardworking black man Has a crippled left hand Married with three children. Works on a farm belonging to Mr. Link Deas, a white man

Characters Arthur “Boo” Radley An enigma An adult man, whose father has “sentenced” him to a lifetime confinement to their house because of some mischief he got into when he was a teenager. Has a reputation of being a lunatic Basically a harmless, well-meaning person Sometimes childlike in behavior Starving for love and affection

Characters Mayella Ewell The oldest child of Bob Ewell Shy Lonely

Characters Miss Maudie Atkinson Scout’s Neighbor Loves gardens and bakes the best cake in Maycomb Knows how to treat children like adults

Characters Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose A mean old woman in the Finch neighborhood Teaches the children a lesson in bravery

Characters Aunt Alexandra Atticus’s sister Wants Scout to be a lady Wants Jem to be a gentleman

Characters Bob Ewell Mayella’s poor white trash father The town parasite who lives off the town’s bounty

Characters Heck Tate The town sheriff

Introduction to the Novel Exploring Themes Good vs. Evil Moral reasoning by Atticus Finch Acts of “Boo” Radley Loss of innocence Acts of the Ewell family: deception, harassment, lies and violence Morals: Right and Wrong Perspective: Life in someone else’s shoes Atticus Finch defending Tom Robinson “Boo” Radley and his background Social Inequality, Racism and Discrimination The treatment of Tom Robinson Racial divide between blacks and whites during time period Treatment of whites who defend blacks

Introduction to the Novel Exploring Symbols …Be on the lookout for: SYMBOL: A word or object that represents another word or object Small-Town Life “Boo” Radley Mockingbirds / Birds What do these symbols represent!?