Many novels from decades ago are still being read and cherished by people all over the world today. These stories are often referred to as “timeless classics,” and when a book is labeled as one, it contributes to its ability to grasp a reader’s attention long after its publication. In order for a story to be considered a timeless classic, it must meet two criteria. First, a book’s plot must pivot around a single symbol, which, by the end of the story, conveys a significant theme to the reader. In addition, it must contain characters that are flawed, in that they have their own quirks and imperfections, but at the same time, the characters must be close enough to the real world to be relatable to the reader. Because of its use of a symbol, a mockingbird, to convey a significant theme and its imperfectly lifelike protagonists, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee should be considered a timeless classic.
To Kill a Mockingbird, as its title suggests, conveys a significant theme using the symbolism of a mockingbird throughout the plot of the story. In the story, the main protagonists are Jem Finch, Jean Louise Finch (“Scout”), and their father, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley, their neighbor, is one example of a “mockingbird” in the story who is being taken advantage of, and in this context, being “killed”. At another point in the story, this same reference is made with Tom Robinson, a person of color being falsely accused of a capital crime. At one point in the story, Jem and Scout are given air-rifles, and according to the book:
When he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn’t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in the rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn’t interested in guns. Atticus said to Jem one day, “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.”
That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.
“Your father’s right,” she said. “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.” (210)
In this quote, Atticus states that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” and later, Miss Maudie, an open-minded outdoorsy woman, confirms this and explains that mockingbirds “don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy” and that “they don’t [destroy gardens or] nest in corncribs.” During this time in the story, Bob Ewell, a trashy, low-class citizen of Maycomb, has been falsely accused Tom Robinson of raping Mayella Ewell, his daughter. Mayella does something unspeakable, and to cover it up, Bob accuses Tom Robinson. This is a clear-cut example of the mockingbird symbol; an innocent colored person, in this case, Tom Robinson, is taken advantage of by white people, who, in this society, enjoy privilege. The all-white jury sentences Tom Robinson to death, literally “killing” the mockingbird. This conveys the theme that taking advantage of the pure and innocent of society is a sin. Because the story conveys a theme using this symbol, To Kill a Mockingbird meets the first criterion, and is a timeless classic. In resentment, Bob Ewell attempts to kill Atticus Finch’s children. As Jem and Scout are walking back from a play one night, Bob Ewell attacks them with a knife, and Boo Radley risks his life to kill Bob Ewell and save the children. Heck Tate, the sheriff of Maycomb decides to fabricate a story involving Bob Ewell “tripping” and killing himself with his own knife to save Boo the publicity of being a hero. Atticus then asks Scout if she knows the significance of this story, and she asks, “‘Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?’” (281) Scout makes a reference back to the time she and her brother get air-rifles and remembers the lesson that her father teaches her. Until the very end of the story, Boo Radley is imagined to be a tall, cannibalistic monster, and is isolated from society, even though he has never harmed anybody. From the simple goodness of his heart, Boo leaves the children presents in the knot of a tree, and for the majority of the story, he is antagonized. The author makes a more explicit connection between Boo Radley and a mockingbird by having Scout make that connection for the reader directly. In the context of the mockingbird, Boo Radley is “killed” and that should be considered a “sin.” The theme of not taking advantage of the pure and innocent is reiterated using the symbol of the mockingbird, demonstrating that To Kill a Mockingbird, yet again, meets the first criterion. This is only part of the reason the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, should be considered a timeless classic.
Another reason why To Kill a Mockingbird is a timeless classic is because the protagonists in the story aren’t perfect, but at the same time, they’re lifelike and can be easily related to by the reader. At the beginning of the story, the narrator, Scout, explains how normal the Finch family is, but also goes into detail on the loss of their mother. In addition, Scout explains Atticus’s parenting skills and the age difference between herself and her brother, Jem. In the story, she says:
We lived on the main residential street in town— Atticus, Jem and I, plus Calpurnia our cook. Jem and I found our father satisfactory: he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment.
[…]
Our mother died when I was two, so I never felt her absence. She was a Graham from Montgomery; Atticus met her when he was first elected to the state legislature. He was middle-aged then, she was fifteen years his junior. Jem was the product of their first year of marriage; four years later I was born, and two years later our mother died from a sudden heart attack.
[…]
When he was like that, I knew better than to bother him. (6)
Scout explains that they “lived on the main residential street in town,” showing that their home is not too ideal, nor is it unreasonably downgraded, but instead, relatably middle class. On the other hand, Scout also says “[their] mother died when [they were young].” In most cases, this tragedy makes a family unique, and for the Finch family, this makes them flawed and three-dimensional. Though this cannot be related to by most readers, it gives the story a uniquely tragic twist, making it engaging, while still reasonably relatable. Because the book contains uniquely relatable protagonists, the second criterion is met, and yet again, the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee should be considered a timeless classic. Over the course of the story, there is an implied context of societal class rankings, and at one point, Scout says, “He ain’t company, Cal, he’s just a Cunningham-” during an over-the-table conversation between Scout and Calpurnia, their cook. This shows that Scout is not some stereotypical liberal character, but instead, is someone who has her own biases and flawed thinking. Calpurnia later replies with, “Hush your mouth! Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo‘ comp’ny, and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo‘ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin‘ ’em—if you can’t act fit to eat at the table you can just set here and eat in the kitchen!” (26) People in general tend to profile people based on their wealth; it is just a human characteristic. Because of this, most readers can relate to the thoughts that Scout has about the Cunninghams, who, in this society, are considered “less wealthy.” When Scout downgrades Walter by saying that “he’s just a Cunningham,” Calpurnia loses her temper and reprimands Scout by explaining that “anybody [who] sets foot [in their house] is [their] comp[an]y.” Most readers would not have a syrup devouring neighbor, and though this is unique to the Finch family, they are still relatable and lifelike to the reader. The second criterion is met again, proving that To Kill a Mockingbird definitely should be considered a timeless classic.
Some critics may argue that To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is not a timeless classic because of Atticus’s canned and stereotypically philosophical statements. In the story, Atticus is a highly liberal character, and most of the popular quotes from this book are indeed from Atticus. Admittedly, it is true that Atticus is a philosophical person, and almost every line he says teaches something meaningful. This cannot be taken as a negative, but instead makes the story more meaningful. While talking to his children, at one point in the story, Atticus says, “There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn’t be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life.” Though this quote may seem like a philosophical hoax to some, it adds to the meaning of the story and helps the reader form a personal connection with Atticus. For a split-second, the reader gets a peek inside Atticus’ brain and is able to determine the outcome of the story, and in this case, the outcome of the trial. This describes the major theme of the story as well and holds up the structure of the book in that “white men’s words [win over] black men’s.” Clearly, Atticus’s quotes give the story structure, and in the end, add up to the moral or theme of the story.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee should be considered a timeless classic because of its use of a symbol to convey a significant theme and its three dimensional and lifelike characters. This novel is required reading in high schools all over the nation, and it should continue to be required in years to come. This book is definitely a timeless classic, and because of its significant morals, it should be discussed at schools to uncover its hidden meaning. At Cupertino High School, this book has been read for several years, and it has been helping students improve their daily lives.