Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird under the Formalism Approach: a literary analysis and criticism
There are numerous things inside the novel which correspond to a much deeper meaning than what the literal word/s suggest/s. Even though the word/s (which suggest/s inner meaning) is vague in the first part of the novel, it somehow starts to establish its point for its audience later on. These words are interrelated in a way that they all suggest a lot of thoughts on how the story will be in the end as a whole.
Take, for example, the numerous times the word Mockingbird, which is in fact the center of the novel’s title, has been mentioned all throughout the course of the story. It is first mentioned during the summer when Scout and Jem are playing with their rifles when they noticed that their father, Atty. Atticus did not even teach them how to shoot birds, especially mockingbirds, using their rifles.
“I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Quoted: chapter 10 PDF version)
During the youth days of Atticus, he is known in their county as one of the best sharpshooters. Although Atticus did not explain the reason why it is a sin to kill mockingbirds to his children, he firmly stated and instills in them the principle to kill any other kind of birds but mockingbirds. Their neighbor, Miss Maudie Atkinson, is the one who explains to them the reason why it is a sin to kill those: “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They 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’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
Given the fact that mockingbirds are a big part of the entirety of the novel, mockingbirds in the story have diverse meanings as well. It did not only represent the mockingbirds as is but also a representation of Boo Radley. Boo Radley in a way is like a mockingbird in the story especially after the incident wherein he accidentally killed Bob Ewell to protect Scout and Jem. Their county sheriff, Heck Tate chose to let the incident go in lieu of dragging the poor Boo into court because he believes that the court can never save a man who saves other people even if his intention is purely to save Scout and Jem.
Atticus being an honest attorney questions Sheriff Tate’s decision at first because he has his principles that he upholds into. Later on, he realizes that if Sheriff Tate did not do that, then it will the same as killing a mockingbird as well for his intention is only pure ever since. He is extra kind and caring to Atticus’ children. He always leaves presents for them in a tree. Boo also watches people’s day in silence and admires them in silence. They let Boo Radley live outside the jurisdiction and unfair judgment of the court because in their hearts, Sheriff Heck Tate, Atticus, and Scout Finch’s hearts, Boo Radley is an innocent man, like a mockingbird.
Another, the representation of the mad dog in the story showcases an underlying meaning as well towards the story. In society, dogs are often associated with either two things only, either friendliness or danger. The dog featured in the novel, Tim Johnson, is very peculiar because it is not common in any culture to incorporate surnames in the name of their dogs. Tim Johnson (which has been shot by Atticus later on) is both friendly and dangerous as described in the story. He is somehow connected in the following scenes: Tim Johnson is connected with the story’s setting, Maycomb because the county is known as a very friendly community which commits an unacceptable action (judging an ‘innocent man’ just because he is black) all at the same time. The unacceptable action happens when the county favors the white girl, Mayella Ewell, who wrongly accuses Tim Johnson (black man) of rape.
Boo Radley brings an underlying meaning as well in the story’s meaning as a whole. He is not just a plain character because there really is more on to him. Boo is the epitome of goodness inside a person (only when other people will learn how to see it through keen eyes). He also exemplifies that there are still people who believe in humanity despite all the negativities life offers. Even though Boo Radley can be considered as one of the main characters, his presence in the novel is very limited. Yet, when he pops up in a certain scene in the story, the reader should have a wider perspective and understanding in order to understand very well what the real meaning he is implying.
Scout, meanwhile is the epitome of an ordinary kid, as the narrator of the novel, her narration is quite vague at first but as the story unfolds and more characters are revealed, her narration becomes clearer. Scout and To Kill a Mockingbird (the novel itself) connotes the same things. As Scout grew into a young woman, the novel grew as well, as her perspective widens, the perspective of the novel broadens, too. Scout is the only one that can represent very well To Kill a Mockingbird because To Kill a Mockingbird is Scout’s life and story, and To Kill a Mockingbird is Scout.
Atty. Atticus Finch has the most diverse character among all of the characters. He may be a lawyer but he is not just an ordinary one, he is a real and honest one. Atticus, from the beginning to the end, conveys how logical thinking can be possible to obtain by a certain person, and he is one of those people. Atticus, although represents the stability of the mind in the story, also gives the notion of smart parenting even for solo parents in the early times.
Walter Cunningham Sr. meanwhile is the catalyst of change in the novel. He and his family (although they are in the white community of people) belong to the lower class. They didn’t get many opportunities as much as other privileged whites are, but he stands to what his role must be to his family, and that is to provide to them even to the extent of getting “not enough” for the family. Walter Cunningham, even with the limited presence in the story as well, set out a hidden message that change cannot be only seen in the major characters but sometimes the small ones have the biggest contribution of bringing the story to its maximum.
To Kill a Mockingbird is considered a classic of modern American literature and covers a wide range of possible main subject that can be discussed, but here are just a few of them:
That social injustice/inequality is one thing that stands out in the novel and shows how inequality is really present in Maycomb’s society especially in the Black community. But one situation that portrays inequality is during Scout’s class when her classmate Walter Cunningham Jr. doesn’t have anything to eat or a penny to buy one. Scout questions why Walter’s status is like that to her teacher and her other classmates but they all think that it’s all in the system.
It also accounts for social inequality during Tom’s trial when the verdict for him is guilty just because he is a black man even though all the evidence is on his side (with the best help, of course of his lawyer, Atticus Finch). Although social inequality is not really implied by the characters’ words in the novel, it is clearly shown in their actions hence.
That perspective, during the whole time, is what Atticus firmly stands up and installed to Jem and Scout, and it becomes the basis of Scout whenever she will make a judgment. In the end where Boo and Scout got to talk to each other and Scout even escorts him to his way home, and before she goes back to their house, she takes a moment to herself and looks around Maycomb through her own perspective and Boo’s perspective. Although they are quite different from each other, it only teaches Scout how important to see one’s perspective first before making a judgment or decision.
That racism, prejudice, and bigotry are big problems the early years of the 1900s can’t find a solution. It is clearly shown by how Tom Robinson receives all the unfairness that clings to being a black man in the novel when he doesn’t get the freedom he so seeks. Racism in the novel is also battled by Scout Finch (although she belongs to the white community wherein they are the privileged) because she believes in equality and that people should be treated all the same.
That bravery is not something that can be easily be found in all literary genres, but in To Kill a Mockingbird, bravery is shown a lot of times and is very evident in many forms through the help of the characterization of its characters. One thing is Atticus’ bravery when he accepted Tom’s case despite the odds that will probably happen to him.
That maturity is something that needed development, just like Scout and Jem in the story. They both developed as an individual as the novel unravels, and as To Kill a Mockingbird reaches its peak, they also reach their maturity. (Well, it’s not only Scout and Jem who experience the maturity in the novel, but every character also does.)
