To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

One of the major masterpieces of American literature, To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee originally as a love paper, was published in 1960 and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961. It also won an honorary society Award when it was later made into a film starring Gregory Peck. The story is set in imaginary Maycomb County in southern Alabama. The time frame for the story is the early 1930s during the great depression. Poverty was common and times were extremely tough. This book is loaded with interesting characters. Here is an outline and description of some of the most substantial characters. The story revolves around the Finch family, led by Atticus Finch, a lawyer. Atticus has two children Jem, short for Jeremy, his eldest son and observation post, nickname for Jean Louise, his younger and single daughter. Scout is a bit of a tomboy and enjoys hanging out with her brother and their friend Dill. Dill is a young boy who comes to stay in Maycomb every summer with his aunt, Miss Rachel. Aunt Alexandra is Atticus sister and the family has a maid named Calpurnia. The children spend a great deal of time at the house of Arthur damn Radley. Bob Ewell who lives with his daughter Mayella Ewell is the man who accuses Tom Robinson, a black man, of raping Mayella. Law enforcement in Maycomb consists of Heck Tate, county law official and Judge Taylor. The story begins when Jem and Scout meet a new friend, Dill, who has come to spend yet another summer with his aunt, Miss Rachel. The town is full of gossip about Boo Radley, which fascinates the three friends. Dill, Jem and Scout essay to think up creative ways to lure Boo out of his house with no success. The next summer Dill returns and is even more meddlesome and becomes more daring in his attempt to meet Boo. On the last evening of Dills stay in Maycomb the children decide to sneak up on Boos porch to see what they can see. Just as Jem reaches the window, Nathan Radley, Boos son, fires his shotgun and scares the m off. One night during the following winter one of the Finchs neighbor Miss Maudies house burns to the ground. As Scout was standing and watching the efforts of the town in fighting the fire, someone placed a blanket over her shoulders.