A book report on Harper Lee`s "To kill a mockingbird"

A book report Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird"

This is the story of a lawyer's effort to defend a wrongly accused black man without sacrificing the innocence of his children.

The novel takes place in the 1930s in a town called Maycomb in Alabama, which is described as a quiet, sleepy and idyllic small town. Where the children play freely and neighbours gossip innocently on the streets, and everything moves at a slow and smooth pace. But as we read along we get to see that it's all a façade and slowly the prejudice and ignorance and the double standards that permeate this town unravels.

One of the main characters is Atticus Finch, Maycomb's leading attorney and also a father of two children, Jean Louise "Scout " Finch, and Jeremy "Jem" Finch. He is the voice of reason in this town and in the novel. Atticus dispenses the wisdom and logic that is the core of this novel. He teaches his children to stand up for one's beliefs in the face of prejudice by defending a black man, Tom Robinson who is wrongfully accused of raping a white woman and in doing so he exposes himself and his family to the anger of the white community.

Atticus lost his wife when the children were very small and he devotes his life to them despite of criticism from family and neighbours who think his children lack discipline and proper guidance. He is a consistent man. People say that he is the same in the courtroom as he is on the streets. The code of conduct he maintains for himself remains the same no matter the circumstances. That is why he feels responsibility to take Tom Robinson's case and defend him to the best of his abilities. Because if he didn't...