The rope will break where it is thin and weak. (Saad amuda sedeth k barag Beth. (Balochi proverb) This novel concerns the issue of the weak and powerless people of American society. The novel is written at the time of 1935 by Harper Lee. The story emerges in the society of America, a village in, Alabama which is also the native place of Harper Lee. The story is based on racism. A black man Tom Robinson is accused of rapping a white girl. A white lawyer man Atticus finch fights in the court for justice for the black man, because in reality, he is not guilty of the case. He is forcefully dragged in it. In 1935 the black were downgraded in the society of America. They were marginalized in society: they had a separate church, separate working place, and separate gatherings in great respect. They had only minor jobs, like doing maid work in the house of the rich. They were also called Negroes or nigger at the time.

The narrator of the story is Scout finch who is also the main character of the novel and daughter of Atticus finch; who is small but has a good grasp of society. The reason is that the character is dominated by the author herself. This story refers to a real incident that happened in Alabama before the naked eyes of the author; which was fought by her father who used to be a lawyer. Her father’s struggle to get justice to a black man inspired Harper Lee to highlight the issue in the shape of fiction.

As it starts the lawyer Atticus finch who is the father of narrator Scout finch, starts struggling to defend his client who is put into this problem which is unfair. However, the victim Miss Ewell actually herself tries to seduce him while calling him in the house by her for setting something in the house. He does his utmost effort to keep himself away from her seductive acts. When the judge inquires Tom about the incident, he replies like this: she reached up and kiss me a side of the face. She says kiss me back nigger”.  Meanwhile her father Bob Ewell enters the home, he uses abusive language against his own daughter when he sees her behavior toward Tom. However later he sues Tom Robbinson for rapping his daughter. Sadly the lawyer fails to get him out of the prison. He attempts to flee from the bar, but the police shoot him down.

In the book, the author demonstrates how black always lose things if their opposite man is a White man. Jury never declares a verdict in the favor of a black man. The character reverend Sykes declares, “I have never seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man”. Black were looked at as if they are different sorts of beings. They kept ideas that did not show any positivity for blacks. It is demonstrated in the book like this: all Negroes lie, all Negroes are basically immoral beings, and all Negroes men are not to be trusted around white men’s women.”  However, the lawyer refers the Tom as a mocking bird which symbolizes innocence. He instructs his son Jem finch, “Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit them, but remember it is a sin to kill a mocking bird.” It is believed that mocking birds don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That is why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.

The above-mentioned facts convince me to favor the effort of the author. It actually deserves appreciation. The points which grew persuasion in me are the straight words of the author that reflects the actual face of the surrounding of America at the time of 1935. Although the author belongs to a white group, she feels that humanity has to be cultivated in the heart of all colors of man. This society seems to have a taste of dictatorship, in which one can see two laws: one for black, poor, and the other for rich. Therefore, in the novel, the author discusses these two political terms: democracy and dictatorship. The author describes democracy like this “equal rights for all, special privileges for none” sadly it shows the opposite of it entirely in the novel. The powerful body of the state which is the judiciary seems hollow and disrespectful towards black at the time. Thus it is worthy to be read and understood to plant more respect for the marginalized ones in the society.

 

 

By: Shahzad Naseem

The writer is a post-graduate student at the English Literature Department University of Turbat.

The pro-active teacher of Zanth Academy Jusak

Turbat Kech, Balochistan