TEACHING THE CULTURE OF LIFE:
To Kill a Mockingbird
A Culture of Life Studies movie review
To Kill a Mockingbird
Note to parents
• To Kill a Mockingbird centers on a rape trial. However, the actual
rape is not described other than “taking advantage of.”
• There are several uses of the “n” word in the film. Atticus tells
Scout not to use that word because it doesn’t treat other people
with the respect they deserve.
• The end of the film contains a dangerous situation for the children.
Someone follows them through a dark field and attacks them, but
they are saved.
BEFORE YOU WATCH
Brainstorm the following question before viewing the film: What are
some qualities that you admire in your father?
(1962)
GENRE: Drama
STARRING: Gregory Peck,
Mary Badham, Robert
Duvall
DIRECTED BY: Robert
Mulligan
RUNNING TIME: 2 hours
10 minutes
RECOMMENDED AGE:
Mature junior high school
and up
RATED: Not Rated (see
note to parents)
STORY SUMMARY
Based on the novel by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of a rape trial in the 1930s
through the perspective of a child. Scout Finch is a precocious six-year-old girl living in Maycomb,
Alabama, with her brother Jem and her father Atticus. Though the children call their father by his first
name, they have great respect for him and the cases that he argues as a lawyer. Atticus accepts the
case of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, even though Atticus knows that
he is putting his career and his family at risk in the prejudicial small town. While Tom Robinson awaits
trial, the story follows Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill through the summer and fall as they play, get
into mischief, and spy on their neighbors, namely the Radley’s mentally disabled son Boo.
Racism and prejudice play a large role leading up to the film’s climax. Just before the trial, the white
farmers of the community attempt to form a lynch mob for Tom Robinson. It is only when Scout and
Jem run to Atticus’ side and talk to the lynch mob as their neighbors and friends that the mob breaks
up and Tom is saved. The tension of the trial culminates in a speech by Atticus, imploring the
members of the jury to disregard the faulty evidence of the witnesses, Bob Ewell and his daughter,
and to vote in favor of justice and truth for Tom Robinson. The court pronounces Tom guilty. Tom is
shot while trying to escape during his transfer to prison.
© 2015 American Life League
In the fall after the trial, Bob Ewell, in a fit of vengeance, attacks Atticus’ children in a field, but gets killed
by the children’s quiet neighbor, Boo Radley.
To Kill a Mockingbird relates a powerful story of justice, defense of the helpless, and respect for human dignity.
LIFE THEME: DEFENSE OF THE DEFENSELESS
Atticus Finch, a lawyer who agrees to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman, exemplifies
the value of true justice. Atticus quickly discovers that his client, Tom Robinson, is innocent, but the racial
prejudices in the community make it impossible to exonerate him of the crime. Yet, the call of justice
motivates Atticus to prove Tom innocent. His respect for Tom is due to his own sense of morality and his
respect for life. He so firmly believes this that he is willing to put his own life, his family, and his career at
risk to defend someone who is unjustly accused. Atticus understands that all human beings deserve
dignity and respect, no matter their skin color or other people’s opinions.
Undaunted by what the majority thinks or says, Atticus tries to do the right thing and protect the innocent,
even if it means giving his life for another. When Atticus spends the night outside the jailhouse in order to
protect Tom Robinson, he knows that he is risking his life to protect an innocent man from being lynched by
an angry mob. The farmers’ anger and hatred blind them from seeing the dignity of the human person in
Atticus and Tom Robinson. When the children arrive unexpectedly, the mob tries to hide the horror of the
lynching from them by dragging Scout, Jem, and Dill away. Scout clings to Atticus and makes small talk with
some of the farmers in the mob. By recognizing one of the farmers, Scout brings some humanity back into
the situation. Scout reminds everyone that, whether rich or poor, they are all still neighbors and humans.
Through Atticus’ example, his children learn the importance of trying to understand other people. Until
Scout and Jem meet Boo Radley face to face, they believe the gossip about him and even help spread lies
about their neighbor themselves. Little do they know that Boo Radley wants to be their friend. It is only
after he saves their lives that he is able to earn their respect instead of their taunting. Watching Atticus
deal with the outcries of a racially charged town, Scout and Jem realize that, like Tom Robinson, Boo
Radley needs their protection.
To Kill a Mockingbird powerfully shows that anyone, even humble farmers, can lose respect for the
human person. It only takes a just and honest person like Atticus, or even a small voice like Scout, to
defend the defenseless.
HOW CAN I APPLY THIS TO MY LIFE?
Standing up for the defenseless is hard; speaking out against injustice is even harder, especially when all of
your friends and neighbors disagree with you. Atticus knows that protecting Tom Robinson is the right thing
to do—even if it means that he will lose business, friends, and respect in the town.
In today’s world, speaking out against immorality can be uncomfortable. Pro-life activists and sidewalk
counselors who stand outside abortion clinics in order to offer women the help that they deserve will tell
you that they have lost friends and business opportunities because of their work to save preborn babies.
Think about this: If you had the opportunity to save a single human life, what would you be willing to sacrifice?
Don’t ever be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. Taking a stand against injustice, whether you win
or lose and whether or not you lose friends or prestige, is always the right decision. Sometimes real change
only happens when people start standing up for what they believe in—even if they are the only voice that is
© 2015 American Life League
denouncing the injustice. Evils like racism and abortion still exist, but all it takes is for one person—like
you—to stand up and do something about it. Don’t wait for other people to change the world. Change
starts with you.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How does To Kill a Mockingbird portray family values?
Family values are strong in the Finch household. Even though Atticus’ wife is dead, the children still
remember their mother and talk about her frequently. Life without Mrs. Finch is very hard, particularly
as Scout grows up. Even though they have lost their mother, Scout and Jem have a firm understanding
of family life—that a family consists of a father, a mother, and their children. Dill’s situation of not having
a father puzzles Scout because, in Scout’s eyes, everyone must have a father. Tom Robinson’s family stays
strong together through their trials. It is only the members of Bob Ewell’s family who live in the shadow
of fear from their father.
2. How is Atticus a strong moral character? (Answers may vary, but some examples are below.)
• Atticus is a kind lawyer who has mercy and pity for his clients. He accepts food and other things
in exchange for payment for his services.
• Atticus is a good father who disciplines his children with love. There are a lot of ugly things in the
world. Atticus wishes he could keep them away from his children, but he knows it’s not possible, so
he tries to teach them lessons as they encounter these “ugly things.”
• Atticus has an overwhelming sense of justice. When he accepts Tom Robinson’s case, it seems like a
customary procedure, but the tension in the scene and the mention of Atticus’ children show just how
much Atticus is putting at stake. Atticus knows that if he doesn’t defend Tom Robinson, he won’t be
able to hold his head up or tell his children how to act.
• Atticus fights for the sake of justice, not because of self-motivation. When Bob Ewell spits on Atticus
before the trial, Atticus shows that he can rise above pettiness. He simply wipes his face and steps
into the car without a word.
3. How is justice portrayed in the film? (Answers may vary, but some examples are below.)
• Atticus works to defend the innocent Tom Robinson, even at the expense of his family, career, and
respect in the town.
• Atticus’ sense of justice is so strong that he even contemplates turning Jem in for the killing of Bob
Ewell, thinking it was self-defense.
• Boo Radley kills Bob Ewell in order to defend the children. He does not understand the gravity of his
actions, other than the need to protect the innocent children. The sheriff decides that it would be
more just to leave Boo Radley alone. True justice for Tom Robinson’s death, it seems, was achieved
through the accidental death of Bob Ewell.
4. During the trial, Atticus says that Maella Ewell is putting a man’s life at stake to get rid of her own
guilt. In today’s society, how do we see people put innocent lives at risk in order to cover up guilt?
Answers may vary, but discuss how abortion kills an innocent human being in order to cover up the guilt
of having an unplanned pregnancy. Why would there be any need for secrecy in an abortion if it were a
simple medical procedure?
© 2015 American Life League