To Kill A Mockingbird: Theme
Major Theme: Social Inequality
Sociality in Maycomb is not equal through the kids and the adults and the blacks and whites. People are discriminated by being trashy, white, black, southern, rich, and poor. The Finch family is known as the most social clan in the town, because they accept people for who they are. It is kind of like the feudal system in the Renaissance time period, because the families of Maycomb are ranked by their sociality.
Major Theme: Innocence
The Mockingbird in the book is a symbol that represents innocence. "To kill a mockingbird" means to destroy the innocence. The people that represent the mockingbirds are Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. They are innocent people and both end up being hurt. The kid's thoughts towards Boo Radley change from monstrous in the beginning and realize he is innocent in the end.
Characters
The characters in To Kill A Mockingbird help develop the themes of innocence and social inequality by symbolizing them. We think the characters in the book are symbols of social inequality and innocence. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson: innocence. Tom Robinson and Miss Maudie: Social Inequality.
Minor Themes
Bravery is shown between the kids Jem, Dill, and Scout in the book for all the times they have snuck out, causing havoc in Boo Radley's world. They were also, along with Atticus very brave at the jail. Another minor theme is the law vs. justice. Atticus stands up for true justice even though it is versus the law. A theme developed in the school is education. Atticus makes education a part in the book by always reading and sending the kids to school. When they say they dont want to go, he makes them.