To Kill a Mockingbird: Context

To Kill a Mockingbird: Context

SECTION A: Setting and Time Period

  • Harper Lee set To Kill a Mockingbird in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression (1930s).
  • During this period, economic hardship and poverty were widespread, especially in the South.
  • Racial segregation was legally enforced in the South due to the Jim Crow laws, which propagated the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’.

SECTION B: Historical Context

  • The novel explores the era of civil rights movement making it an indictment of racial inequalities present in American society.
  • Mockingbird highlights the systemic racial prejudices entrenched in the judiciary system reflected in the unjust trial and conviction of Tom Robinson.
  • The character of Atticus Finch is a symbol of progressive thinking, challenging the status quo of ethnic and class prejudices.

SECTION C: Social Context

  • The rigid social hierarchy of Maycomb mirrors the larger picture of Southern American society, ranking individuals based on race, family ancestry, and wealth.
  • The novel criticizes the faults and hypocrisy of traditional Southern culture, particularly racism, sexism and class bias.
  • Harper Lee, through her novel, subtly invites readers to question the social norms and prejudices and cultivate a more empathetic and inclusive outlook.

SECTION D: Harper Lee’s Influence and Purpose

  • Harper Lee herself grew up in 1930s Alabama, and the character of Scout Finch is believed to be semi-autobiographical.
  • Lee wanted to expose the deep-rooted racial prejudices in her society and provoke a conversation about civil rights, fairness and justice.
  • The novel remains relevant today for its timeless themes of racial and social injustice, morality and the loss of innocence.

Understanding the context of the novel is the key to unlocking its depths. The socio-political climate of the setting and the author’s influences have a profound impact on the characters and the unfolding drama of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. This knowledge can enhance your grasp of the wider themes and messages of Harper Lee’s influential novel.