Book report

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Book report
To Kill a Mockingbird is a 281-page novel that was written by Harper Lee, and published in the year 1960 by J. B. Lippincott & Co. The events in the book take place during the Depression in the town of Maycomb (Lee 5). Lee highlights how poverty can contribute to the race-based class system in a community. She also demonstrates how ignorant people can be judgmental as a manner of hiding their esteem issues (Lee 17). The central theme portrayed in the story includes racial injustice while the main characters include Jean, her brother, Jem, their father who is a lawyer, Atticus, and Robinson, the accused.
Racial injustice is portrayed by the characters’ attitudes toward African Americans. One instance is when Atticus decides to defend Robinson, an African American man, accused of rape. Robinson has an injured left arm which makes it impossible for him to have beaten Mayella, the defendant, with his left hand while raping her (Lee 177). Nevertheless, the jury convicts him. He is killed using excessive force during an attempt to escape from prison as he is shot 17 times (Lee 235). Jean and Jem then struggle with the realisation that good does not always prevail contrary to their father’s belief.
The protagonist and narrator in the book are Jean Finch who lives with her brother, Jem Finch and their widowed father, Atticus Finch. Jem is very protective of Jean and beats up anybody who harasses her at school. His character trait helps to highlight the youthful innocence of Jean.

Atticus, on the other hand, is a respected lawyer in the town (Lee 211). He represents a model of integrity and morality for those in the legal profession. Robinson is charged with raping Mayella, a young Caucasian girl. Despite his innocence, he is convicted and shot while trying to escape from prison. Robinson helps emphasise the effects of racism on the victims.
In conclusion, To Kill a Mockingbird is a book set in Maycomb during a time when most citizens were destitute. The central theme highlighted is racial injustice as the characters judge the people of colour in their town harshly. The jury in Robinson’s case convicts him even with overwhelming evidence proving his innocence. The various characters in the book include Jean and Jem, and their father, Atticus who is a moral and compassionate lawyer. Despite Atticus’ efforts to save Robinson, he is killed while trying to flee from prison.
Work Cited
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1960.