What is a thesis statement?
Whether it is a case study or a piece of literature, a thesis statement is considered to be a crucial element. A thesis statement can be defined to be one’s point of view at the end of a discussion or research. It is a total of all the information provided on the topic. Here we willl see about Thesis statement for To Kill a Mockingbird.
You are required to mention the thesis statement generally at the end of the introductory part of a research analysis or case study. A thesis statement is contained in just a single sentence conveying the central idea of the topic. A thesis statement can be both direct and indirect.
To Kill a Mockingbird: An Introduction
This piece of classic modern American literature is a novel written by the American wordsmith, Harper Lee. It was published on July 11, 1960, in the United States. It is written in the English language and was published by J B Lippincott & Co. The novel was an instant hit among the readers of the United States.
To Kill a Mockingbird was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Most high schools and middle schools in America have included the novel in their syllabus. The genre of the novel is Bildungsroman and Southern Gothic.
Thesis statement for To Kill a Mockingbird:
There can be several thesis statement for a novel like “To kill a mockingbird”. You are never bound to follow just one thesis statement for any piece of literature. A story has different angles and perspectives that lead to various ideas hidden in it. Similarly, for this novel also, you can follow these thesis statements given below:
1. Addressing the issue of racism and discrimination in various walks of life:
Racism is one of the main themes of the novel that has been expressed and discussed. The character of Tom Robinson, a falsely accused black man, suffers institutional racism and ends up getting shot 17 times in an attempt to save his freedom. Not just racism, but there are other forms of prejudice and discrimination too that have been reflected in the plot.
It includes Scout being criticized for her tomboy behavior and rumors being propagated against Boo Radley for his ghost-like presence in society. Boo Radley, who was mistreated in his childhood by his father, is misunderstood by society. He is considered a threat, resulting in his boycott from society. These discriminations in various walks of life display the mindset of people in our society.
2. Ravaging the notion of justice being served:
People are hungry to be treated with fairness and justice. But only once in a while justice is served. But in this novel, justice is never served. The fault lies in the unchanging societal norms that differentiate the world into black and white, and evil and good. The jury quickly believes that Tom Robinson is guilty of a crime just because he is a black man.
The jury questions the notion of justice and fairness of those who believe in his innocence. Tom Robinson’s sufferings do not end at false conviction, and he is eventually killed in the name of the law. This incident ravages the notion that ‘In the end, justice is always served’.
3. The expression of the dilemma between evil and good through the Bildungsroman genre in the novel:
The novel is written in the Bildungsroman genre that specifies the journey of the development of characters from childhood to adulthood. In this novel, the characters of Scout and Jem develop feelings of fear to empathy for Boo Radley, as they move from childhood to adulthood. The person whom they considered evil and suspicious when they were kids turns out to be the hero when they step into adulthood.
As Scout and Jem grew up, they learned the history of Boo, which changed their perspectives about him. Several facts and notions that they believed in childhood seemed baseless and false. It creates a dilemma in understanding and recognizing who is good and who is evil.
4. The concrete morality and reverse racism in Atticus Finch’s character:
Throughout the novel, the only character that stood firm with his beliefs and morals was Atticus Finch, a lawyer with wisdom. Atticus Finch was one of the most prestigious figures in the society of Maycomb. But the society’s deep-rooted racial stigma troubled him, and he decided to defend the falsely accused black man. It resulted in disdain from the people of Maycomb, which expresses the concept of reverse racism.
The people who stand against discrimination often have to face the similar contempt that victims of racism face. Despite this contempt, Atticus seemed to be firm with his morals and did not lose his prestige in society. “To kill a mockingbird” showcases this ideal character as one of the main themes of the story.
What does “To kill a mockingbird” signify as a title?
The word “mockingbird” refers to people with innocence and purity. A mockingbird is a symbol of innocence. In the novel, when Jem was aiming to shoot birds, Atticus prompted him and told, “Shoot all the bluejays you want if you can hit’em but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”.
This context conveys the meaning that killing someone innocent or someone’s innocence is a sin. The novel narrates the story of Tom, who was innocent yet after being proven guilty, he was killed. This was a sin committed by the racial discrimination of the society of Maycomb.
Conclusion:
This exemplary piece of literature has been celebrated for years and is still considered a classic. The given thesis statements can help you discuss and debate the main themes of the plot. Even though the novel deals with some grievous issues of racism and rape, it still carries a touch of humor and warmth.
