TKAM Socratic Circle Theme & Motifs
Theme & Motif
What is the main theme of TKAM and what affect does the theme have on the structure of the book?
The main theme of TKAM is coming of age. TKAM is a coming of age book and the book is structure is based of this theme. This theme affects the book because every event that happens within TKAM severs a purpose for the theme. The trial with Tom Robinson and Mayella Ewell is an example of the coming of age theme because the Jem and Scout realize that not all things in the world are fair, and that evil in the world can sometimes overpower good. Jem and Scout also can see threw the racism within Maycomb and society at the time.
“Jem see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that household full of children out there (Atticus pg. 218).”
"As you grow older you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it— whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, of how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash (Atticus pg 200).”
Does Atticus teaching styles affect the theme of the book?
Atticus teaches his kids throughout the duration of TKAM. Atticus teaches his kids right from wrong. An example of Atticus teaching his kids right from wrong is when he tells the kids that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. This is an important lesson that Atticus teaches the kids because it is used all threw the book. An example of a mockingbird would be Boo Radley because he did nothing to society but society thinks that he is the bad guy.
“You never really understand a person until you...