This article focuses on the stereotypes portrayed in the GCSE English Literature text To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee:

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Stereotyping: To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird sets out to challenge some stereotypes but it may also reinforce some alternative stereotypes. One common criticism of the novel is that the black characters are idealized. Lula is an exception, objecting to the appearance at First Purchase of the Finch children.

Harper Lee attacks the stereotype of the promiscuous and sexually voracious black man, but she endorses the stereotype of “White trash”, in the Ewell family. In the USA there are many people who disapprove of dependency on the state, and on welfare payments – both the poor Cunninghams and the wealthy (but emotionally poor) Radleys are proud of their self-reliance.

The stereotype of aristocratic white women is held up to ridicule – their virtue is seen as excessive delicacy, and they appear as selfish and hypocritical. Scout wants to be like a boy, because she likes to be active. In general, the novel depicts men more favourably – or perhaps it shows that men may commit worse actions but women are more spiteful in what they say. Perhaps only a woman can be so tough in depicting her own sex (in this respect, Harper Lee writes rather in the manner of Jane Austen).

In a novel with a huge cast of characters, there is no reason to avoid using stereotypes in every case. There are plenty of characters, from Atticus to Dolphus Raymond, from Miss Maudie to Boo Radley, who do not conform to any stereotype.

We hope this article helps with your GCSE English Literature revision. Be sure to check out the LearnThruMusic learning song “From the other Side” To Kill a Mocking Bird.

As part of our FREE character profiles for 12 key GCSE texts. We want to help you revise and learn GCSE English and GCSE English Literature to your full potential.

• Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch: 6 Year old daughter of Atticus and Sister of Jem. Scout is the narrator of the story. An intelligent and adventurous tom-boy Scout has a strong moral sense that is explored in the novel by her encounters with her own fears and the prejudices and racism of the American South.

• Atticus Finch: Father of Jem and Scout, Attics is a widowed lawyer who is respected amongst his community. Unlike much of the white community in the south, Atticus is committed to racial equality. Atticus’ good example and teaching give his children their strong sense of morality.

• Jeremy Atticus ‘Jem’ Finch: Son of Atticus and brother to Scout. Jem is a close and caring brother to Scout even though he is 4 years older. Jem is a typical American boy of the period and is daring and protective of his sister. Jem’s ideas about justice are badly affected by the unfair trial of Tom Robinson and he learns about his own prejudice through interaction with Boo Radley.

• Calpurnia: Cook to the Finch household. Calpurnia is the children’s link to the black community.
• Aunt Alexandra: Atticus’ sister. A perfect example of a white American woman in the south. Alexandra is very traditional ad would have Scout behave in a more ladylike fashion.

• Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley: A mysterious and reclusive man who has captured the imagination of the children with his strange ways. Initially feared by the children Boo shows that he is a good man when he helps and then saves them. Boo is a tragic example of an abused character hiding from the world. Like the Mockingbird Boo is badly treated even though he just wants to do good.

• Nathan Radley: Older brother of Boo. Nathan shares some of his fathers cruelty, seen when he blocks the hole in the tree that the children use to communicate with Boo.

• Bob Ewell: An unemployed drunk from a poor family. Bob accuses Tom Robinson of raping his daughter although he knows this was not the case. Bob is a racist and would rather have an innocent man punished than see his daughter with a black man. Bob represents the kind of racist attitudes in the south that Atticus is very much against.

• Mayella Ewell: Daughter of Bob Ewell. One pities Mayella for having such a drunken, abusive father however she goes along with accusing Tom Robinson.

• Charles Baker ‘Dill’ Harris: Jem and Scouts friend who stays in Maycomb for the Summer. Dill has a wild imagination and a fascination with Boo Radley.

• Miss Maudie Atkinson: A Neighbour and Friend of the Finch family. Although Sharp tongued Miss Maudie is the best adult friend of the children and shares Atticus’ liberal attitudes.

• Tom Robinson: A black field hand whose relationship with Mayella gets him wrongly accused of  rape and faces unfair justice. Another of Harper Lee’s mockingbirds.

• Link Deas: The employer of Tom Robinson, a good man who defends the character of Tom showing the opposite of the prevailing racist attitude.

• Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose: An old, grumpy, racist neighbour of the Finch family. Atticus respects her for the way she copes with her morphine addiction however the children, especially Jem, do not like her.

• Heck Tate: The Sheriff of Maycomb. A decent man in bad circumstances who is a major witness in the trial of Tom Robinson.

• Mr Underwood: Publisher of Maycomb’s newspaper and ally of Atticus.

• Mr Dolphus Raymond: A wealthy white man who unusually for the time has a black wife and prefers the company of black people. Rather than explain his choice to the largely racist public of Maycomb, Mr Raymond pretends to be a drunk to explain his behaviour.

• Mr Walter Cunningham: Father of Walter Cunningham who is a classmate of Scout, Mr Cunningham is a poor farmer. Part of the mob that attempt to lynch Tom Robinson, he learns a lesson when Scout through her innocence an politeness persuades him to break up the mob.

• Walter Cunningham: Mr Cunningham’s son. Classmate of Scout.

Texts we will be covering include:

1.    Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
2.    An Inspector Calls by JB Priestly
3.    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
4.    A view From the Bridge by Arthur Miller
5.    Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
6.    The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
7.    Othello by William Shakespeare
8.    Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
9.    Macbeth by William Shakespeare
10.  Lord of the Flies by William Golding
11.  Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austin
12.  Stone Cold by Robert Swindells