Summary
Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird is widely regarded as one of the most influential American literary works of the 20th century. Set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, the story explores themes of racial injustice, loss of innocence, and moral courage through the eyes of a young girl, Scout Finch. At the novel’s heart is Scout's father Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a Black man falsely accused of rape. Atticus's unwavering commitment to justice in the face of racism and prejudice has made him an enduring symbol of integrity. The character was largely based on Lee's own father, lawyer A.C. Lee. Other key characters, including Scout, her brother Jem, and their mysterious neighbor Boo Radley, were inspired by Lee's childhood in Monroeville, Alabama.
Published in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, with translations in more than 40 languages. In 1962, Lee’s beloved novel was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. In 2018, To Kill a Mockingbird was adapted for the Broadway stage by Aaron Sorkin.
Plot
Set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird unfolds through the eyes of Scout Finch, a girl of six when the novel opens, and follows events over the course of three years. Scout and her older brother Jem live with their widowed father Atticus, a respected lawyer. The children become fascinated with their reclusive neighbor Boo Radley and try to lure him out of his house. They also befriend a boy named Dill who visits Maycomb during the summers.
Their idyllic life changes when Atticus takes on the case of Tom Robinson, a Black man accused of raping a young white woman named Mayella Ewell. Many of Maycomb's white residents disapprove of Atticus defending Tom, and Scout and Jem face taunts and insults because of their father's decision. The night before the trial, Atticus faces down a lynch mob intent on killing Tom. When Scout recognizes and begins to talk to one of the men, she inadvertently shames the mob into dispersing.
During the trial, Atticus provides strong evidence that Tom is innocent, and Mayella was actually beaten by her father. Despite this fact, the all-white jury votes to convict. Tom is shot and killed while attempting to escape from prison. Bob Ewell, Mayella's father, feels humiliated by the trial. He vows revenge on Atticus and attacks Scout and Jem as they walk home on Halloween night. Boo Radley intervenes and saves the children, killing Ewell in the process. The sheriff decides to report that Ewell fell on his own knife to protect Boo's privacy.
In the aftermath, Scout walks Boo home and reflects on the events from his perspective. Standing on the Radley porch, she gains a new understanding of the neighborhood and the people in it, as well as the reality of injustice and the meaning of courage. The novel ends with Scout falling asleep as Atticus watches over her.
Themes
Racial injustice and inequality in the American South
The loss of innocence and coming of age
Moral education and the nature of good and evil
The importance of empathy and understanding others' perspectives
Courage and integrity in the face of adversity
Social class divisions and prejudice
Gender roles and expectations in Southern society
Setting
To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. Maycomb is portrayed as a small, insular Southern town steeped in racial prejudice and class distinctions. The story takes place over three years, from 1933 to 1935, allowing Lee to explore the impact of the era’s economic hardships on the town and its residents.
The broader geographical setting is the Deep South of the United States in the decades before the Civil Rights Movement. Lee vividly depicts the entrenched racial segregation, discrimination, and tensions of the Jim Crow South. Specific locations that feature prominently include the county courthouse, where a pivotal trial takes place, and the run-down Ewell property on the outskirts of town.
Within Maycomb, Lee establishes distinct neighborhoods that reflect the town's socioeconomic divides. The relatively affluent street where the Finch family lives contrasts sharply with the poor rural areas and the Black community. Other key settings include the school, churches, and Mrs. Dubose's house. The mysterious Radley house also plays an important role as the source of much speculation and superstition among the town's children.
Characters
Scout Finch: The narrator. Age six when the story begins, Scout is a curious, intelligent, and outspoken tomboy who struggles to understand the complexities of her town's social hierarchy and racial injustice. She matures throughout the novel as she witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson and learns important lessons about human nature from her father.
Atticus Finch: Scout's father, a principled lawyer who defends a Black man accused of rape. Atticus is wise, compassionate, and committed to justice, serving as a moral role model for his children. He faces personal risks and social ostracism to do what he believes is right, demonstrating courage and integrity in the face of prejudice. Atticus teaches his children to fight injustice and to see the perspectives of others.
Jem Finch: Scout's older brother who matures significantly during the story. Jem struggles with disillusionment as he witnesses the injustice of Tom Robinson's trial and confronts the racism in his community. He is protective of Scout and serves as a bridge between her childish perspective and the adult world. Jem's coming-of-age journey parallels the loss of innocence theme in the novel.
Boo Radley: The Finches' reclusive neighbor who becomes a source of fascination for the children. Despite rumors and speculation about him, Boo is ultimately revealed to be a kind and protective figure. His character challenges the dangers of judging others based on rumors and appearances. Boo's act of saving the children at the end of the novel cements his role as a symbolic mockingbird.
Calpurnia: The Finches' housekeeper, a Black woman who helps raise Scout and Jem. She serves as a mother figure and moral guide for the children. Calpurnia straddles two worlds—the white community she works in and the Black community she lives in— providing insight into racial divisions.
Tom Robinson: A Black man unjustly accused of raping a white woman. His trial exposes the racism and hatred within Maycomb. Tom is hardworking, honest, and compassionate, making his conviction, despite clear evidence of his innocence, all the more tragic.
Dill Harris: Scout and Jem's creative and eccentric summer friend. Dill spurs on their fascination with Boo Radley and provides an outsider's perspective on Maycomb. His fanciful stories and imaginative games add humor to the narrative.
Miss Maudie Atkinson: The Finches' kind neighbor who offers a female role model for Scout. She provides wisdom and insight to the children, supporting Atticus's lessons about tolerance and empathy.
Aunt Alexandra: Atticus's sister who comes to live with the Finches. She represents traditional Southern womanhood and often clashes with Scout's tomboyish ways. Alexandra's focus on social status contrasts with Atticus's emphasis on character.
Quick facts
To Kill a Mockingbird is set in Maycomb, Alabama, a fictional small town modeled after Monroeville, Alabama, where Harper Lee grew up.
The character of Atticus Find was inspired by the author’s father, A.C. Lee, a lawyer who defended two Black men accused of murder in Monroeville and lost the case.
Harper Lee based the character of Dill on her childhood friend, Truman Capote. Many years later, she helped her old friend research his landmark work, In Cold Blood.
The character of Boo Radley was inspired by Lee's reclusive neighbor as a child.
The novel was initially titled Atticus before Lee settled on To Kill a Mockingbird.
Lee received a $1,000 Christmas gift from friends that allowed her to take a year off work to devote to writing her novel.
To Kill a Mockingbird was rejected by 10 publishers before Lippincott published it in 1960.
To Kill a Mockingbird won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961.
Lee's first completed manuscript was actually a different book called Go Set a Watchman, which was published in 2015, a year before the author’s death.
After To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee never published another novel until Go Set a Watchman was released to mixed reviews.
To Kill a Mockingbird has faced renewed scrutiny and controversy.
Gregory Peck won the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Atticus Finch in the 1962 film adaptation.
While many continue to praise its powerful anti-racist message, the novel has also faced criticism for its white savior narrative and use of racial slurs.
The American Library Association reports it as one of the most frequently challenged books in US schools and libraries.
A stage adaptation by Emmy-winning director and creator Aaron Sorkin premiered on Broadway in 2018, starring Jeff Daniels as Atticus and winning Celia Keenan-Bolber a Tony for her role as Scout.
In 2018, the American public voted To Kill a Mockingbird their favorite novel in PBS's The Great American Read.
The audiobook version is narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Sissy Spacek.
To Kill a Mockingbird has sold over 40 million copies worldwide.
About the Author
Harper Lee, born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, was an American novelist best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning book To Kill a Mockingbird. She studied law at the University of Alabama but left before completing her degree to pursue a writing career in New York City. Lee's experiences growing up in the South and her observations of racial injustice heavily influenced her writing.
Published in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird became an immediate critical and commercial success. The novel, which deals with racist attitudes in the Deep South of the 1930s, is loosely based on Lee's childhood experiences and a racially charged incident that occurred near her hometown. Lee's only other published work, Go Set a Watchman, was released in 2015 as a sequel but later revealed to be an earlier draft of Mockingbird.
Despite her literary fame, Lee was known for her reclusive nature and rarely gave interviews or made public appearances. She maintained a close friendship with fellow author Truman Capote and assisted him in researching his landmark work, In Cold Blood. Lee received numerous accolades throughout her life, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 for her contribution to literature.
Lee passed away in 2016 at the age of 89 in her hometown of Monroeville. Her legacy lives on through To Kill a Mockingbird, which continues to be widely read and studied in schools across the United States. The novel's exploration of racial injustice, moral growth, and the loss of innocence remains relevant and impactful more than six decades after its initial publication.
