LURV

Conclusion

Setting

Love is what holds the story together. Atticus and Boo's love for the children is what protects them from the evil influences of the common people in Maycomb, who are filled with prejudiced and racist ideas. This story truly is a simple love story, when you get down to it. Remove the loving relationship between the kids, Atticus, and Boo, and Maycomb just falls apart.

The story takes place in a town by the name of Maycomb County. We learn in the novel that the town of Maycomb had been told that it had "nothing to fear but fear itself." Historically, the US was told by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that it had "nothing to fear but fear itself." By this, we can see that Maycomb County is a representation of the United States. Not only this but the story takes place in the 1930s. In the 1930s, the US was rampant with prejudice and racism, just like Maycomb. Love is the means to unite mankind. Maycomb was not united. Jem and Scout were growing up in a town full of hate, but their father, Atticus was able to keep them from that darkness, as he wasn't like everybody else. Maycomb County is the epitome of a world lost without love.

Character Analysis

Scout can be considered the "main" main character of the story, and so she is very dynamic, changing throughout the story from a young, naive little girl to someone who finally understands the severity of situations and why people sometimes do what they do.

While Arthur "Boo" Radley doesn't appear for almost all the story, he does have a significant impact. He is a static character that only changes in the minds of the citizens of Maycomb. He shows love (though, for the most part, indirectly) for the Finch children with the gifts he gives them, and of course, the ending climax.

Character Analysis

Atticus demonstrates a uniting love for his children in his motive for doing almost everything in the story: so he can still be with his children without the face of a hypocrite. His love for his children is a driving force in the story, as Atticus's actions greatly influence many events in the story. Atticus is fairly static, although he is older and thus a grounding figure in the story.

Jem is a very dynamic character, changing much through the story. His dynamics also correlate to love, as it's his love for Atticus and his sister that bring us to many important plot points, including the climax at the end of the book. Along the way, Jem changes from a rowdy little boy to a levelheaded young man who inherits his father's sense of justice.

Character Analysis

Plot Analysis

Climax: As Jem and Scout are returning home after a Halloween event, Bob Ewell attacks them, trying to kill them. However, Boo Radley intervenes and stabs Bob Ewell, killing him. Jem was still injured, so Boo Radley carries him home .

Falling Action: When Jem is brought home, he is cared for and Heck Tate comes to talk. He discusses what happened with Scout and then argues with Atticus about what happened. He tries to tell Atticus that Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell and that they should make a cover up story to protect Boo Radley, but Atticus does not understand. Scout also gets a chance to observe Boo Radley for the firt time.

Exposition: Jem, Scout, and Dill fantasize about Boo Radley and his story. They think about getting him to come out of his house. Meanwhile, Atticus takes a case to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who has wrongfully been accused of rape. He does so to be a good example to Jem and Scout. He knows that no one will defend Tom Robinson because he is black, so he feels that he must take the case out of fairness, so that his conscience can stay clear. He wanted to know that he did the best he could to defend Tom Robinson and to defy the racism of the time. This is what Atticus believed in and he did not want to be a hypocrite.

Rising Action: The people of Maycomb are focused on the Tom Robinson trial and hate the fact that Atticus would defend a black person. The trial takes place and despite convincing evidence to support Tom Robinson's innocence, Tom is convicted of being guilty. After the trial, Bob Ewell threatens Atticus, appears at Judge Taylor's house, and harasses Tom Robinson's wife.

Tom Robinson, at first glance, may not really have anything to do with love, but his character is the representation of lack of love- in the form of the racism and prejudice directed towards him throughout the story. His character is static; he's only really known during his testimony in court.

Theme Statement

"Love is the means to unite mankind."

Plot Analysis

Resolution: Boo Radley asks Scout to walk him home, so she walks with him up to his house. After he goes inside, she looks out from the Radley porch and imagines the way that Boo had seen the world. She realizes what he had been thinking throughout the book and understands his point of view.

The Plot of LOVE: Throughout the story, there are examples of love, and the lack of it. Primarily, is when Atticus decides to take the Tom Robinson case. He makes this decision out of love for his children and Tom Robinson. He doesn't want to be a hypocrite in the eyes of his children so that they can learn the ideal of justice that he believes in. He wants them to be raised in the best way. Atticus also showed love towards Tom Robinson in that he decided to defend and help him. The lack of love was shown when Tom Robinson was convicted. The jury was influenced by racism, which can be compared to the lack of love for black people. This part of the plot conveys the thought that when love is lacking in Maycomb (the world), injustice occurs. Another incident of great love was when Boo Radley defends Jem and Scout against Bob Ewell. He loved them so when they needed help, he lovingly stepped in.

Symbolism

TKAM Love Analysis

Figurative Language

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." 110

This quote can mean that killing something (or someone) that is innocent is a lack of love. Killing something can already be interpreted as a lack of love for that thing, and killing it if it's innocent can mean you're taking its life away in hate or in cold blood.

Within the story, there are many examples of symbolism. These symbols are used to represent things that all contribute to the theme of love. The most obvious form of symbolism in the story is the mockingbird. Atticus even tells Jem that to kill a mockingbird would be a sin. Tom is the mockingbird. He's innocent, and to harm him in any way would be wrong. The scales on the eyes of Maycomb's people killed Tom. They are all guilty of doing something one should never do - killing a mockingbird.

Maycomb County is an eventful, small town that is fraught with hatred such as racism. Maycomb is a symbol for the USA. It encompasses all of the parts of the USA. The troubles of this small town represent the troubles of the entire country and society in general.

Another event that had great symbolism was when Atticus shot the mad dog. That dog represented the racism of Maycomb. Atticus had one shot to kill the dog, this represents the one shot that he would get to defy racism by winning the Tom Robinson case.