Literary themes offer more profound insight into stories by placing the experiences the characters undergo in a familiar cultural or social context. They leave a lasting impact on the reader’s mind and are helpful for writers to communicate complex subject matters. Racial prejudice, morality, and the importance of the law are common themes in To Kill A Mockingbird, and their implication in life is readily apparent.
The study of themes establishes a blueprint with which people should act by relating complex messages to everyday human scenarios. Tom Robinson is ultimately killed and experiences racial prejudice in the Maycomb community despite the lack of credible witnesses to his rape allegation (Lee, 2020). Cases of African-American murders due to police brutality in America are abundant in the media and the book outlines the attitudes people should adopt daily to ensure racial harmony. The Black Lives Matter movement has become synonymous with names such as George Floyd and Trayvon Martin (Adams, 2020). The theme of racism in the book warns of the adverse effects of mob mentality and racial injustice.
Additionally, the narrator, Jean Finch, changes perspective and receives impeccable moral training from her father. Atticus Finch teaches his daughter to afford others sympathy and understanding regardless of their social background (Lee, 2020). Daily life interactions require understanding since one tends to meet positive and negative-minded people. Additionally, the law is about doing the right thing even if one stands singularly in that task. Atticus Finch personifies the fairness of the law and creates a template of morality and conscience on which lawyers should base their actions in court.
In conclusion, writers use themes in stories to communicate more profound messages to their audience. Harper Lee establishes the themes of racial prejudice, the efficiency of the law, and morality in To Kill A Mockingbird through the characters of Tom Robinson, Jean Finch, and Atticus Finch. Maintaining positivity in all aspects of life, attaining moral education, and treating people well are practical tools to build interpersonal relationships and harmony in the community.
References
Adams, C. (2020). A movement, a slogan, a rallying cry: How black lives matter changed America’s view on Race. NBCNews.com.
Lee, H. (2020). To kill a mockingbird. Arrow.