What Is The Conflict In To Kill A Mockingbird?

What Is The Conflict In To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee's beloved classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird is full of suspense, compassion, and conflicts to be found. It is considered an American masterpiece and has had an incredible influence on literature and how we approach our modern society today. The novel takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s, a time when racism and segregation were very prominent. Despite the story being set in such a time of injustice, Lee’s hopeful message of courage and understanding will remain timeless.

Conflict One: Tom Robinson vs. The Ewell Family

Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused of the rape of a white woman, conceived by the Ewell family. Despite having no evidence, the jury decides to side with the Ewell family, leading to Tom's conviction and death. Throughout the novel, it is made clear that Tom is innocent, but due to the racial prejudice of the town, he is not given a fair trial. This leads the reader to think that although the justice system is publicized as unbiased, the reality is that it is truly unfair and unjust.

Conflict Two: Scouts and Jem vs. Prejudiced Norms of Society

The young siblings Scout and Jem are constantly challenged by the prejudiced norms of society. They must adapt to different situations without being noticed by their peers or being judged by their family. Scout and Jem come to the realization that they cannot fit into the social hierarchy that is being taught to them growing up, as their father Atticus teaches them lessons of equality which challenges the societal expectation of distinct and predetermined racial boundaries.

Conflict Three: Atticus vs. Bob Ewell

When Atticus is called to defend Tom Robinson in court, Bob Ewell and his family become furious. Not only does Atticus defy racial segregation, but he also stands up to the Ewell family and defends Tom in court, angering Bob Ewell. Bob decides to take matters into his own hands and attack Scout and Jem. Atticus must stand up to Bob and protect his children from harm, no matter the consequences.

Conflict Four: Scout vs. Her Education

Seeing her father defend Tom in court makes Scout realize the true injustices of the world around her. Because of this, Scout is conflicted between wanting to understand the world around her and the need to conform to the rules and traditions of her education. She is forced to make a difficult decision between the two, as she is not sure which path is the right one.

Conflict Five: Atticus vs. the Town

Throughout the novel, Atticus is seen as a source of hope and reason in his small town. Despite being met with mixed reactions from the people of Maycomb and even some of his own family, Atticus remains firm in his beliefs and continues to stand by his morals. Atticus is constantly standing up to the racial inequality that surrounds him and finds himself in conflict with the unfairness of society as well as the people of his town.

Conflict Six: Boo Radley vs His Isolation

Boo Radley is a mysterious character in the novel that faces his own struggles, as he is the victim of prejudice and isolation by the people of the town. He is judged and made fun of for no reason other than the fact that he is different. Boo eventually faces his fear of the outside world to rescue and protect Scout and Jem, thus showing Scout how baseless all of her assumptions about him were.

The conflicts present in To Kill a Mockingbird are incredibly powerful and demonstrate the inherent flaws in humanity. The novel forces its readers to confront racism and prejudice and examine their own views on justice and fairness. No matter the theme or the time period, conflicts that explore morality and justice will remain as relevant as ever.

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