Literary Analysis

Gender/feminist criticism

The main character, Jean-louise (Scout) Finch is a tomboy in a community where women are second class to men, Scout is constantly reminded by her Aunt Alexandra and the female bodies in her life to act like a ‘lady’, however she continues to wear her overalls and displays her spitfire personality to her maximum limit. Harper Lee introduces Scout, as an outspoken and violent character in which her gender is not specified from the beginning, but it is assumed by most readers from the first few pages that Jean Louise is a boy. Scout’s character is used to challenge the unjust expectations of the ideal female figure of the 1930’s, Jean Louise is prideful, curious, courageous and a tomboy by nature, these qualities are not of the quintessential female of Alabama, 1930.

Metalanguage

Harper Lee uses metalanguage throughout the text to divide the upper classes from the lower class citizens. There is a clear distinction between the citizens who use slangs and had a southern tinge to their accent, to those who were taught to use sophisticated language appropriate for formal settings. Jean Louise and Jeremy Finch from a young age were never taught to use simple language expected of children their age, instead Atticus Finch their father, uses advanced and complicated words to communicate to his children.

Foreshadowing

The beginning of ‘To kill a Mockingbird’ begins with a foreshadow on Jem Finch’s abnormal arm, which had been dislocated into an odd angle through an adult Jean Louise Finch as the narrator, then follows the story of how Jean Louise, Dill, and Jeremy’s adventures had resulted in his injury. Harper Lee used a foreshadow at the beginning of the book to break the mysterious notion, from the plot and title of the text it is not direct to readers what the storyline is. However, the foreshadowing of Jeremy’s arm allows the readers to understand a small aspect of the actual plot, and keeps them anticipating and interested to know of future developments in To kill a Mockingbird.

During the cold night of Maycomb, Miss Maudie’s home is burned down due to mysterious reasons which is presumably because of the flue in her kitchen. That night Jean Louise and Jeremy are woken up and are told to stay by the Radley’s place away from danger, unbeknownst to Jean Louise their isolated neighbour Arthur Radley had provided her a blanket to warm her during the coldest night of Maycomb. Arthur Radley's unexpected act of kindness foreshadows the future events of when Arthur Radley rescues Scout and Jem from the death seeking Bob Ewell, Boo’s remote character had originally been shaped by the children’s retellings based from gossip, rumours and assumptions they have heard or made. It becomes a shock and strikes unanswered questions from readers, earning interest into the text.

Symbolism

A symbol of the Mockingbird is used in the quote ‘...remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’ is mentioned four times throughout the entire novel. Mockingbirds are used as the symbol because they ‘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 mockingbirds.’ The Mockingbirds represent the innocent such as Tom Robinson, Scout Finch, Atticus Finch and Arthur Radley. Tom Robinson was falsely tried for raping a white woman, he resembles an innocent Mockingbird because he was unjustly found guilty because of the color of his skin, from how Atticus explained to Jem that ‘Tom Robinson’s a colored man, Jem. No jury in this part of the world’s going to say, “We think you’re guilty, but not very,” on a charge like that. It was either straight acquittal or nothing.’ Tom’s imprisonment resulted in his separation from his wife, children and consequently led to his unjustified death. Atticus Finch is a Mockingbird for defending a man, he believes is innocent and is suffering from discriminatory treatment for the color of his skin. Atticus’s rightful act did not go unnoticed from the public eye, however their perspective of negroes could not be swayed from their negative opinion. Atticus did not deserve the negative remarks he received from children, adults and his own family members. The comments he received not only deeply wounded him, as Aunt Alexander stated ‘“I can’t say i approve of everything he does, Maudie, but he’s my brother, and I just want to know when this will ever end.” Her voice rose: ”It tears him to pieces. He doesn’t show it much, but it tears him to pieces.”’ This has also affected Scout who is also hearing the derogative statements about her father as a ‘Nigger lover,’ made by students at school, it angers Jean Louise to act out in violence against them, however Atticus encourages her in this quote, ‘you might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head up high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t let’em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change.’ The way Scout has dealt with the issues, not only her father’s difficult situation but as well as the constant reminder of how to act as a lady instead of herself at such a young age, has made her a victim to hunters hunting down an innocent mockingbird, that is Scout. Arthur Radley also symbolizes a mockingbird because of his kindness towards Scout and Jem, despite having a reclusive and quiet personality. Arthur is a harmless and kind character who has displayed acts of kindness through small and humble gestures such as when he filled the knothole in the tree with small gifts for the children, placed a blanket around Scout for her to keep warm while the fire was blazing in Miss Maudie’s house, and saved Scout and Jem’s lives from the hands of Mr. Ewell. Saving Scout and Jem Finch also lead to the death of Mr. Ewell and would have had the consequence of going to court, which would have put Mr.Radley in a vulnerable position under the public's criticism. Fortunately, Atticus and Heck Tate organized the issue without involving Arthur Radley’s name in the case, as the mockingbird of the situation did not deserve to be hurt as he had not done anything bad deserving of a punishment.

Similes

Similes are used throughout the novel to help readers clearly understand and mentally visualize the messages Harper Lee is trying to send across, concerning the culture and behaviours of people in Alabama of 1930. A simile is used to describe hard working Calpurnia’s hands as ‘...wide as a bed slat and twice as hard’ to emphasize the strenuous labour a black person must endure, in this case Calpurnia is a housemaid and does not require to work in unsafe or back breaking environments such as a cotton farm, yet Calpurnia has acquired large and strong hands by working as a housemaid. Aunt Alexandra is described as an ideal Maycomb citizen, this is confirmed when Lee uses a simile in the statement ‘Aunt Alexandra fitted into Maycomb’s world like a hand into a glove.’ From Aunt Alexandra’s character readers are able to picture an exemplary resident, in contrast to the world of children through the perspective of young Jean Louise, her Auntie’s arrival is new and brings a view into the adult world and highlights Jeremy’s maturity into adulthood.

Imagery

A literary technique used in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is imagery to create a mental image of the place described, Harper Lee uses it to describe the Radley’s residence in a way in which the reader will be able to imagine the scene and setting without difficulty or confusion. This quote highlights imagery the imagery used: ‘The Radley place jutted into a sharp curve beyond our(Finches) house. Walking south, one faced its porch; the sidewalk turned and ran beside the lot. The house was low, was once with a deep front porch and green shutters, but have long ago darkened to the color of the curves of the veranda: oak trees kept the sun away. Remain of picket drunkenly guarded the front yard a sweet yard that was never swept- where Johnson grass and rabbit tobacco grew in abundance’​

Allusion

Harper Lee refers to other things to make a connection with the reader and to enrich the text, which will allow the reader to understand the text in a more shorter span than descriptive writing. For example, ‘She (Miss Maudie) loved everything that grew in God’s earth, even the weeds. With one exception. If she found a blade of nut grass in her yard, it was like the battle of the Marne: She swooped down upon it with a tin tub and subjected it with blasts from beneath a poisonous substance she said was so powerful it’d kill us all if we didn’t stand out of the way.’ This excerpt was used to describe Miss Maudie’s impression of nut grass in her impeccable garden, the reference to the battle of Marne expressed her anger and violent intentions she wishes to do to a nut grass.