To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird

Introductory NotesIntroductory Notes

The NovelThe Novel

Written in 1960Written in 1960 Spent 80 weeks on best seller listSpent 80 weeks on best seller list Won Pulitzer Prize in 1961Won Pulitzer Prize in 1961 Became Oscar-winning movie in Became Oscar-winning movie in

19621962 30 million copies in print, 30 million copies in print,

translated in 40 different translated in 40 different languageslanguages

Harper LeeHarper Lee

Nelle Harper LeeNelle Harper Lee Born in Alabama, 1926Born in Alabama, 1926 This is Lee’s first and only This is Lee’s first and only

novelnovel

ParallelsParallelsLeeLee ScoutScout

Grew up in small Grew up in small Alabama townAlabama town

Every summer, Truman Every summer, Truman Capote came to visitCapote came to visit

Father was a lawyerFather was a lawyer Was considered a Was considered a

“tomboy”“tomboy” A recluseA recluse

Setting is small Setting is small Alabama townAlabama town

Every summer Dill Every summer Dill came to visitcame to visit

Atticus is a lawyerAtticus is a lawyer Does not like to be Does not like to be

called a girlcalled a girl Lives next to Boo Lives next to Boo

Radley, a recluseRadley, a recluse

Novel BackgroundNovel Background

The story begins in summer 1933 and ends The story begins in summer 1933 and ends Halloween night 1935Halloween night 1935

Country is in the midst of the Great DepressionCountry is in the midst of the Great Depression Maycomb is a very poor countyMaycomb is a very poor county Professionals don’t make much b/c clients can’t Professionals don’t make much b/c clients can’t

afford to pay themafford to pay them Maycomb is slow to respond to change- Maycomb is slow to respond to change-

newcomers and new ideas are not easily newcomers and new ideas are not easily acceptedaccepted

Life in the 1930sLife in the 1930s

1930’s - Great Depression 1930’s - Great Depression

•Businesses failed, factories closed

•13 million Americans were out of work•Even people with money suffered because nothing was being produced for sale.

•Poor people lost their homes, were forced to “live off the land.”•750,000 farmers lost their land.

Racial PrejudicesRacial Prejudices

Slavery ended in 1864, but the Civil Rights Slavery ended in 1864, but the Civil Rights movement did not begin until the 1950’smovement did not begin until the 1950’s

Many African Americans were forced by Many African Americans were forced by circumstance (not by law) to take menial jobs circumstance (not by law) to take menial jobs (housekeeper, cook, janitor, etc.)(housekeeper, cook, janitor, etc.)

Legal Issues of the 1930’s Legal Issues of the 1930’s which impact the storywhich impact the story

Women given the vote Women given the vote in 1920in 1920

Juries were MALE Juries were MALE and WHITE and WHITE

““Fair trial” did not Fair trial” did not include acceptance of include acceptance of a black man’s word a black man’s word against a white man’sagainst a white man’s

Racial separation (segregation)Racial separation (segregation)

Gender PrejudicesGender Prejudices Women were considered “weak”Women were considered “weak” Women were generally not Women were generally not

educated for occupations outside educated for occupations outside the homethe home

In wealthy families, women were In wealthy families, women were expected to oversee the servants expected to oversee the servants and entertain guests and entertain guests

Men not considered capable of Men not considered capable of nurturing childrennurturing children

Social PrejudicesSocial Prejudices

““White Trash”White Trash” Poor, uneducated white people who Poor, uneducated white people who

lived on “relief “ lived on “relief “ lowest social class, even below the poor lowest social class, even below the poor

blacksblacks prejudiced against black people prejudiced against black people felt the need to “put down” blacks in felt the need to “put down” blacks in

order to elevate themselvesorder to elevate themselves

Historical ParallelsHistorical Parallels

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys In 1931, The trial of the nine falsely accused In 1931, The trial of the nine falsely accused

teens would draw North and South into their teens would draw North and South into their sharpest conflict since the Civil War, yield two sharpest conflict since the Civil War, yield two momentous Supreme Court decisions and give momentous Supreme Court decisions and give birth to the Civil Rights Movement. birth to the Civil Rights Movement.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys

March 25: In the depths of the Depression, a fight March 25: In the depths of the Depression, a fight breaks out between white and black young men who breaks out between white and black young men who are riding as hoboes on a Southern Railroad freight are riding as hoboes on a Southern Railroad freight train. The train is stopped by an angry posse in Paint train. The train is stopped by an angry posse in Paint Rock, Alabama, and nine black youths are arrested Rock, Alabama, and nine black youths are arrested for assault. Rape charges are added, following for assault. Rape charges are added, following accusations from two white women who have also accusations from two white women who have also come off the train, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates. come off the train, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates. The accused are taken to Scottsboro, Alabama, the The accused are taken to Scottsboro, Alabama, the Jackson County seat. The women are examined by Jackson County seat. The women are examined by Drs. R. R. Bridges and Marvin Lynch.Drs. R. R. Bridges and Marvin Lynch.

Scottsboro Boys, contd.Scottsboro Boys, contd.

8 of the boys are sentenced to death8 of the boys are sentenced to death The other boy was 13; 11 jurors voted death, The other boy was 13; 11 jurors voted death,

one life in prison – a hung juryone life in prison – a hung jury A letter surfaces from one of the “victims” A letter surfaces from one of the “victims”

written to her boyfriend in which she denies written to her boyfriend in which she denies being raped. She later testifies in court that being raped. She later testifies in court that both girls were lyingboth girls were lying

Even after her testimony, boys still sentenced Even after her testimony, boys still sentenced to deathto death

Scottsboro Boys, contd.Scottsboro Boys, contd.

A mob of white men tried to break into the jail A mob of white men tried to break into the jail where the boys were being heldwhere the boys were being held

GenreGenre

BildungsromanBildungsroman A “coming of age” novelA “coming of age” novel Scout, narrator, is six Scout, narrator, is six

when novel beginswhen novel begins Story follows Scout over Story follows Scout over

three years as she learns three years as she learns about herself, society, about herself, society, and her familyand her family