The Study of Contemporary Literature
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The study of contemporary literature indulges the modern audience to consider aspects of existing culture and components of humanity, thus in turn revealing timeless matters such as the co-existence of good and evil and the importance of moral education. These enduring concerns are explored in Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird”. Written during The Great Depression, Lee considers a reflection of classical problems of the American society. The milieu of Lee’s world suffered from issues that are still prominent in today’s world, such as racism, prejudice, segregation
The fundamental identity of the moral nature of human beings is a universal thought that is explored by Lee. The question of whether people are essentially good or essentially evil is a “something” question that transcends through time. This question is addressed by Lee by dramatizing the transition from a perspective of childhood innocence in which there is assumption of eternally good people as one does not see evil, to a more adolescent perspective in which one confronts evil and must incorporate it into their understanding of the modern world. This is embodied by Atticus Finch who serves as the moral voice who allows the audience to understand the complexity o f the mortal being of which is a combination of both good and bad. This is reinforced as Lee sates “Rather you shoot a tin can in the backyard…” Atticus’ directive serves as a metaphor where in which she contrasts the nuisance of the blue jays to the innocence of the mockingbirds.