To Kill a Mockingbird: Plot Summary

Setting and Context

To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the years of the Great Depression.
The narrative addresses the injustice in society and the importance of moral education.

Introduction to Characters and Plot

The story is narrated by Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout, who lives with her older brother, Jeremy “Jem” Finch and their widowed father, Atticus Finch.
Atticus, a lawyer, embodies morality and reason in Maycomb.
A reclusive, mysterious neighbour, Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley, is central to the children’s lives as he is the subject of their fascination.

Key Events

Part one of the novel covers the children’s fascination with Boo Radley and their desire to draw him out of his reclusive lifestyle.
During this period, the reader is introduced to several other key characters from Maycomb.
The second half of the book is largely about Atticus’s representation of Tom Robinson, a black man who has been wrongly accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell.

Climax and Resolution

As the trial progresses, it becomes evident that Tom Robinson is innocent and his accuser, Mayella Ewell, is lying.
However, societal prejudice blinds the jurors and Robinson is declared guilty.
The undercurrents of racial tension lead to Bob Ewell (Mayella’s father) seeking revenge on Atticus for ‘humiliating’ him during the trial, culminating in a night-time attack on Scout and Jem.
Boo Radley intervenes and saves the children, killing Bob Ewell in the process.
In the aftermath, it is decided that Boo Radley should be protected, maintaining the status quo and highlighting the town’s bizarre, yet enduring, code of conduct.

Remember, the plot is interconnected with the key themes of the book including, racial inequality, loss of innocence, and the moral nature of human beings. Each event and character development should be reviewed with this perspective.