Chapter 1

Key Events/Ideas 

• The Finch family have fallen on hard times since the abolition of slavery 
• Atticus is connected to almost all the white families in the town 
• Fear in the community regarding the Radley place 
• Jem touches the Radley house – there is movement inside – the boundary begins to break down 
• Atticus shown to dislike criminal law 

Key Quotations 

• "Maycomb county had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but itself" 
• "Flick. A tiny, almost invisible movement, and the house was still" 
• "That was probably the beginning of my father's profound distaste for the practice of criminal law" 

Context 

• The story will be set in the American South – beginning in 1933 
• Although slavery has been abolished, racism is still very much evident 

Why does Lee start the novel with a detailed history of the Finch family? 

• Gives insight into their lives and the way they think 

• Connects us to the character as you start to know them through their life 
• Sets the scene 
• Shows the Finches as a rich family fallen on hard times after the abolition of slavery which they made their fortune on – they now have to pay people 
• Simon Finch – slave owner – very hardworking 
• The depression 

• Alexandra's husband "spent most of his time lying in a hammock by the river waiting for his trot lines to fill" - not very hardworking – sense of degeneration 
• Everyone knows everyone – common knowledge 

What do we learn about Maycomb and social/historical context? 

• Harper Lee grew up in the south and feels the need to explain what it was like there 

• Slavery may have been abolished but racism still exists – even unwitting racism 
• Very close-knit community where everyone knows everyone's families and lives 
• Relatively uneducated people 
• Everything is poor after the depression 
• The Cunninghams can't pay for Atticus' work in money so they make him stuff 

• "Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself." Famous quote from FDR's first inaugural speech (1932) – anchors the story in 1933 and suggests that nothing is happening, time is stretching out – when nothing is going on and something happens everyone will be interested 

• Atticus is not tainted by the history of the Finch family because he made his own way 
• Started with nothing and went to law school 
• Set up a practice in Maycomb because he likes the people although he sees their flaws 

• Gives the reader someone to latch on to – someone to relate to 
• Shows that racism is such a social norm that Atticus likes people who are racist despite not being racist at all 

What do you know about Boo Radley and the Radley Place in general? 

• People will not even walk past the house – superstition 

• Nothing is happening in Maycomb so all the adults and children are invested in the Radley saga 
• Children use it as a way to play 
• Derelict house – starting to look like a gothic house that reflects the rumours about it 
• There is a febrile atmosphere – small things blown out of proportion 
• Reputation means everything – Mr Radley locks his son up – creates the rumours 

• Context – boys were arrested because of use of profane language in front of women – need to be sheltered and protected – vulnerable  
• The other boys went to the military school and were not talked about