Irony

Irony is a common literary tool used by authors to entice readers and thicken the plot. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, irony occurs with Scout and Jem’s obsession with Boo Radley and their attempts to make him come outside. Another form of irony found in “To Kill a Mockingbird” is Bob Ewell and his death. Both of these situations are present throughout the novel and at the end of the novel, these situations end ironically as well.

Bob Ewell is an evil and revengeful character. Ewell made several threats towards Atticus and his children before the rape trail and said he was going to kill Atticus and make him regret ever defending Tom Robinson. During the trial Atticus embarrassed Ewell on the witness stand by discussing his lifestyle and suggesting he was actually the one who beat Mayella. Even though Ewell won the case, he still made threats towards Atticus saying he was going to kill him. After the trial was over, Ewell followed Tom Robinson’s wife, making her feel uncomfortable and even tried breaking into the Judge Taylor’s house, thinking he wasn’t home. Instead of going after Atticus, Ewell followed Jem and Scout home one evening when it was completely dark outside so the kids couldn’t see him and attacked them. He beat Jem badly, breaking his arm but Ewell is the one who ended up dead because he was stabbed. Ironically, Ewell made death threats towards Atticus, the judge, and Robinson’s wife, but he’s the one who actually was killed.

Jem and Scout make it their mission to see Boo Radley and make him come out of his house. During the summer, the kids would pretend they were the Radley family and try to make Boo come outside. After years of trying to sneak on the Radley Place to leave notes, receiving presents in the tree, and even Boo wrapping Scout in a blanket, they were never successful in actually seeing Boo. Jem and Scout finally gave up trying to see Boo and lost interest when the Tom Robinson case came about which they focused all their attention on. Scout still imagined what it would be like to see Boo and how she would say hi to Boo, Boo would say hi back like it was something that happened all the time. The night Jem and Scout were attacked, someone saved them, killing Bob Ewell, and carried Jem home. This mystery man stayed in Jem’s room and Scout was finally introduced to this man, Arthur Radley. Scout said hello and Boo said hi back, just as Scout had imagined it. After all that time trying to see Arthur, there he was, standing in Jem’s bedroom, and Jem was unconscious and couldn’t see it for himself.

Years were spent trying to see Arthur Radley, doing outrageous things that could get the kids in trouble and in the end; Arthur saved both Jem and Scout’s lives after they had quit trying to make him come outside. Bob Ewell made threats against Atticus and instead, he was the one who was killed.

Themes

Themes are a main component to any novel and convey messages an author finds important. Throughout “To Kill a Mockingbird” a dominant theme is inequality. Inequality is represented in many ways throughout the book including racism and gender.

Racism is the most dominant theme presented in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Maycomb is a dominantly white town and there is segregation of the two races. The white families live on side of Maycomb and the black families live on the other side of town. It was common for colored women to work for a white family to cook, clean, and help with children and for both colored men and women to work in the fields. Calpurnia, the Finch’s black cook took Scout and Jem to her dominantly black church one Sunday and while most were accepting of two white children attending their church, there were a few that were upset.  The theme of racism is most dominant when the Tom Robinson rape case is introduced. Even though he may not have committed the crime, a white family was accusing a black man of rape and Robinson was thought to have no chance of winning because of his race. Racial slurs were made towards Jem and Scout by other students, adults, and even their own cousin because Atticus was defending Robinson. Atticus was called a “negro lover” and several other racist names during this time. Robinson’s wife wasn’t hired after accusations were made against Tom because people didn’t want to support a black rapist. Racism was a reoccurring and powerful theme throughout “To Kill a Mockingbird”.

Gender inequality is another theme presented in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Scout Finch is the example of this theme. Scout is a tomboy which some of the neighbors strongly disagree with, but it is especially her aunt who has a clear idea of how the separate genders should behave. Girls should wear dresses, play inside, and help cook and clean while boys can play outside, wear pants, and work. Aunt Alexandra makes it clear to Scout how she behaves and dresses is inappropriate and does everything she can to make Scout change. Rather than both genders being equal, it is clearly defined what men and women should do.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is the perfect example of racism and gender inequality. The reoccurring theme of racism depicts just how much of an impact racism has on the daily life of individuals. When the Tom Robinson rape case enters the novel, everyone has racist comments and ideas to share with those who believe a black man is innocent.  

 

Sources:

" All Men Are Created Equal - To Kill a Mockingbird (6/10) Movie CLIP (1962) HD - YouTube ." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x6njs-cGUE&feature=relmfu>.

" To Kill a Mockingbird (10/10) Movie CLIP - Scout Meets Boo Radley (1962) HD - YouTube ." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRmIef02Ajk&ytsession=vwS0wJKEtuvMUf-bTGT4Cq6agHS1cVAZSJjSqZrriiNBDYnpbSZx7AhmMVsX1LDsuVnYCReOv03vg59LHXIidVz9vykVEw2YuzPrJuk8VYAk6KUErdjXkzRFJyD5MyF-epSA044l7w9JvXcjX4Cci23Aio0Dcs3ihRfFSIvOCxcY3qmX93CtAksSucSAkiD9tTOlsOfG2wCcWxCkg96FJH0Fl-_6LSGDbJLo8RHtnBktX95hrhm8EY7mzWoUb9zLqOlQnKvLqkEeSk4QDEs19bX_4dINzGFzDj2I3--O9LeKU_FtcM3kd0yUYBhJF27NQGTtX4nBHEjXd_-Z1KlAM8ueXe6jzPZZF6f1XqeHCBa-U1nLVIjrZUcKxtrgVmCj_iu5_-XRzPJ4sgjIiaaNwzvkk9925uPfkd-sKe3-A60vpEZiPaCXtmG5TjbQ8qYLhCLMMOTDQzhROGUvAr_BFwEhygeWuIRX57-driIQuyK10RVI0pktLIzvWOnnjcZH8xfKluDbzCRRHuHfEK7GL7sa8pKEJ_94PeoUyHTHtbw2TmooqrquvxdkcyQtN3ioCoL6PyyGImgLwMOB60RIC_yconV9GjzoC-GTg2Ck_NwII8D8jjIvfwI8EeVAkizGRycJFkxWKU9uMCDK_1Sy4EIPzA_KpPANQ40Vxa3AIi0>.