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TKAM Theme Writing

The document provides an analysis of the theme of appearance vs. reality in Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird". It discusses how several characters and the town of Maycomb are initially portrayed differently than how they truly are, including Boo Radley who is rumored to be dangerous but is actually kind, and Tom Robinson who is presumed guilty of rape though is revealed to be innocent. By the end of the novel, the main characters Scout and Jem learn that people and places are often more complex than their initial appearances suggest.

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WillEasley
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55 views3 pages

TKAM Theme Writing

The document provides an analysis of the theme of appearance vs. reality in Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird". It discusses how several characters and the town of Maycomb are initially portrayed differently than how they truly are, including Boo Radley who is rumored to be dangerous but is actually kind, and Tom Robinson who is presumed guilty of rape though is revealed to be innocent. By the end of the novel, the main characters Scout and Jem learn that people and places are often more complex than their initial appearances suggest.

Uploaded by

WillEasley
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WillEasley

TKAMThemeWriting

Appearancevs.Reality

InHarperLees
ToKillAMockingbird
,itsmainthemeisappearancevs.reality.The
entirebookfocusesonwhathappensinasmalltown,thefriendly(andnotsofriendly)dynamic
thatoccupiesthetown,anddigsdeepintosomeoftheinnerworkingsofthetown,the
behindthescenesthatcommontownspeopledontoftensee.ToScoutandJem,Maycomb
Countyappearsabeautiful,welcomingtown,butasthenovelgoeson,theystarttoquestion
whetherornotthatistheactualrealityofit.
AgoodfirstexampleofthingsbeingdifferentthantheyseemisBooRadley.From
basicallypageoneofthebook,BooRadleyisportrayedasanantagonist,almost.Heisportrayed
asashutin,andtheconditionsofwhyhestaysinsidearehiddenfromScout,Jem,andthe
reader.Eveninthefirstchapterofthebook,Scouttalksaboutthemysterythatliesinsidethe
RadleyPlace.Shewrites,insidethehouselivedamalevolentphantom.Peoplesaidheexisted,
butJemandIhadneverseenhim.Peoplesaidhewentoutatnightwhenthemoonwasdown
andpeepedinwindows(9).Obviously,thisisallfalse,butitjustgoestoshowhowpeoplesee
BooRadley.YoucantblameScoutandJemforplayingalong,theyareyoung,afterall,butit
showsthatcitizensofMaycombCountytrulyenjoyspeculatingwildlyaboutBooRadley,
regardlessofhowsillythespeculationmaybe.But,bytheendofthebook,ArthurBooRadley
isrevealedtobeaverynice,verycaringoldman.Forexample,whenScoutwalksArthurhome,
shenoticesthathewasstillholdingmyhandandhadnointentionoflettingmego(278).This

surprisesScoutbecauseopposedtothecommonspeculation,Arthurisjustaregularman,who
livespeacefullyinhishome.
Anothergoodexampleofappearancevs.realitywouldbeinthecaseofTomRobinson.
Nexttoeveryone,exemptafew,hasastrongprejudiceagainstAfricanAmericanswholivein
MaycombCounty.Theycantliveinjustanyneighborhood,theyliveinslumsontheoutskirts
ofMaycomb,inevenworseconditionsthanfamiliesliketheEwells,oneofthepoorestfamilies
inMaycomb.Andthen,whenTomRobinson,apoorfarmshand,getsaccusedofraping
MayellaEwell,thetownispracticallysetablaze.Peopleeruptinjeersandracistremarksabout
howitwasobviousthathehaddoneit,andthingsofthelike,beforelearningthedetailsofthe
case.ScoutandJem,however,donotseethereasoningfordiscriminatingTomRobinsonand
notgivinghiscaseachance.Theybelieve,especiallyoncetheactualtrialstarts,thatTom
Robinsoniswithoutadoubtaninnocentman.Heisverypolite,and,toScoutandJem,
obviouslywouldneverhurtanyone.HetalksaboutduringhistestimonythatMayellamade
advancementsonhim,andthathewasnotinterested,butdidntwantabeugly,[he]didnt
wantapushherornothin(195).Againstthecommonbelief,heisnotaviolentman,but
someonewhohasrealthoughtsforothersandconsidershowotherswouldfeelbeforehe
executeshisactions.ThisreinforcesScoutandJemsbeliefthatheisaninnocentman,but
unfortunately,duetotheirlargeprejudice,therestofthetowndoesntseethis.
Afinalexampleofappearancevs.realitywouldbethecountyofMaycombitself.During
thebook,Scout,Jem,andeventhereaderbelievethatMaycombisfullofinconsiderate,arrogant
people.TheyareintroducedtoMissCaroline,Scoutsbossyteacher,Mrs.Dubose,averybossy
oldwoman,andBobEwell,arowdy,insensitiveman.Butasthebooknearstheend,theyare

alsointroducedtosomeverykind,almostheroiccharacters,suchasTomRobinson,akind,
hardworkingmanwhochallengesalmostcertaindeathinthecourtroombecausehebelieveshe
istrulyinnocent,ArthurRadley,acaringoldman,andespeciallyAtticus,amanwhostays
unbiaseddespitewhathappensaroundhim,andfightsforwhathethinksisright,evenifitsnot
thesocietysnorm.Bytheendofthebook,Scout,andthereader,findthatthequalityofbeing
niceisnothardtocomebybetweenpeople.Atticussumsitupbestinhislastquote,most
peopleare[nice],Scout,onceyoufinallyseethem(281).
Inconclusion,in
ToKillaMockingbird
,ScoutandJemfindthatMaycombCountyisnot
justwhattheythoughtofitwhentheystartedtheirjourney,andhaveafreshoutlookonlifethat
willneverleavetheirlives.Scoutfindsthatmostofthepeoplewhoshethinksarebadpeople,
havegoodqualitiesinthem.But,thisisadoubleedgedsword.Shealsofindsthatalotofthe
peopleshethoughtweregoodpeople,cantendtohavesomebadqualitiesinthem.Bytheend,
ScoutandJemlearnthatthereisalotmoretopeople,andtownsasawhole,thanwhatjustmeets
theeye.

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