It looks back at a time when social injustice of prejudice was prevalent. The story if full of interesting characters, some good and some bad, but each very important to the plot of the story. It truly is a masterpiece. The book takes place in Maycomb County at a time, where given the historical and political circumstances, racism towards blacks was deemed normal; it was common for whites to believe themselves as superior to them due to the color of their skin.
Racial tension is made apparent throughout the town, and hints are constantly being dropped to make this clear in the novel. This can be demonstrated by Mr. Radley and his hostile attitude towards blacks. Scared him pale though. Get Access. Read More. What Makes a Classic? Popular Essays. Still others are read by a handful and earn cult status. Then there is the elite minority; the undisputed classics assured of a timeless, international appeal. It is a piece of literary lore that is now to be revised.
Scout, the narrator, is intrigued by life as lived beyond her experience. She is the daughter of a widower, and also has an older brother, Jem.
This may explain why she is that bit more alert, more astute to the realities of life although she retains a questing innocence. She also possesses a flair for saying the wrong thing, only she is in fact saying the right thing — except her timing may not be that good.
More importantly, no one else wants to hear her truths; they tend to be awkward and accurate. Scout also shares an instinctive sense of fair play, a quality inherited from her father, Atticus Finch, one of the most appealing fathers in fiction. Is she a paragon? No, not at all which explains why she is so likeable. She may even be a bit of a busy body.
And of course, it is Scout who supplies the new teacher with the domestic details that are so important in assisting the teacher understand the home life of her pupils. Still, she does make clear throughout the novel that she believes that most disputes may be settled by a punch in the face.
So she is no goody goody. The definitive tomboy, growing up motherless, in cloistered s Alabama , Scout outfights all comers and also has an acceptably smart mouth. Jem, her brother, is four years older and the Finch children are pals, not rivals.
They are both imaginative and are fascinated by the shadowy presence of Boo Radley, the reclusive, grown up son of a cantankerous neighbour. Scout is telling the story but her father, Atticus, gentle, quiet and detached, always fair, is the heart of the book.
He is conscious of the obstacles facing anyone determined to ensure that the same code of justice is given to all men regardless of their colour, in the narrow, segregated community of unforgiving Maycomb County. Aware of how futile — and wrong — it is to order his children as to how they should think or conduct themselves, he permits them unusual freedom.
This may seem due to absent-mindedness, but Atticus misses very little. Slow and careful, even weary as he seems, it is nevertheless Atticus who quickly takes action and kills the rabid dog that appears on the street. Never underestimate Atticus. He is far from being a small town lawyer. This frequently places her at odds with adults, particularly her aunt who finds the truth discomforting. Southern Gothic meets courtroom drama meets coming-of-age story, told from the POV of a child.
Lee does it with balance, compassion, humor, and estimable skill. Maycomb's crisis of conscience is America's and the world's crisis of conscience. Nov 18, PM. It may be the most perfect book I've ever read. Combine the readability, the great writing and great story, with brilliant and clever characters and you end up with a classic.
Nov 20, PM. It's a classic because you can read it once every years and find something new in it each time. I first read and loved it in high school. Read it again in my 20s and was amazed how much I had missed. Deceptively simple, it continues to delight after 6 or 7 readings. Nov 22, AM. I think it's a classic because it has value by the lessons of racism it teaches. That, and because it's had a significant amount of time to mature. You wouldn't consider a model car to be a classic no matter how great it is.
Not until it has been around for decades and proven itself does it deserve the classification of a classic. Nov 24, AM. It's a classic because despite text, twitter, and shortened attention spans, when we read the book in my class, my students still love it. I mean, love it. Shelley wrote: "It's a classic because despite text, twitter, and shortened attention spans, when we read the book in my class, my students still love it.
My students love it; sometimes five or ten years later they come back to visit and tell me how "life-changing" the book was, and even, for some of them, how it's still their favorite.
And what's more, I don't get tired of teaching it. Lynne wrote: "Shelley: I hear ya! What makes a book a classic is one that withstands the test of time. No matter it's merits, you have to admit this book has done that. Nov 24, PM. A lot of people are relying"because it withstood the test of time". In your opinion, what made it with stand the tests of time? Is it the characters, the plot, the moral? I love this book as much as anyone, but why has it stayed as popular throughout time?
I am sure its different for different people, but you can't argue that it has withstood the test of time. So many years after it was written it is still generally considered a classic and people are talking about it It stands the test of time because it is a timeless story. A daughter who sees honor and decency in her father, but comes to understand how rare they are, and grows up a little in the process.
Change the time or the setting and you can tell the same story, and people would still understand and be moved by it. Lee did not just tell a story of the Old South; she captured something about all people, all cultures, everywhere.
Nov 27, AM. Everyone's definition of a classic book is different but I love the characters and the book is just brilliantly written. It's one of the best books I have ever read.
I can see why Harper Lee only wrote one book. This one was so good she didn't need to write another one. Nov 29, PM. The fact that it deserves it. Now read it and do your own homework. It is worth it. Nov 30, AM. Try and read Charles Dickens in this age I love his to read his prose Apr 21, AM. I'm fairly certain it is because of the fact that people can relate to it today.
If people aren't able to relate to a book years later, then people won't remember it. The Catcher In The Rye is remembered today because people can still relate to it, even if not as much as they were able to years ago.
Like others have said, this book truly stands the test of time. Apr 21, PM. I agree with what Swolemaster said. While it is considered a classic, not as many people know about it than know about TWOTW because it is not as down-to-earth with the characters as this book is. Apr 22, AM. There are several different definitions of "classic". Some people view it as a book they like. Or a book that stands the test of time. A book that it important for some reason. A book with high artistic content.
Historical or cultural significance. A dusty old book that you ought to read. A book with a dead dog in it. TKAM fulfills the brief however you craft the definition.
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