Archetypal Criticism In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

Literary criticism is informed, written analysis, evaluation of a work of literature based on literary theory. One literary theory is archetypal criticism which discusses reoccurring symbols, themes, and situations that operate on universal scales that are easily recognized and understandable by the reader. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee exhibits archetypal criticism. From the archetypes readers are able to understand the characters better and how their actions move the story along. Throughout the story, Harper Lee uses archetypes victim, mentor, and loss of innocence. The archetype victim is displayed in several characters. Tom Robinson is a victim of Maycomb’s prejudice when he was killed by prison guards, â€Å"They fired a†¦show more content†¦Scout and Jem have only heard rumors of Boo, prompting their curiosity to find out more, thus their actions lead to poking into Boo’s life on his property. Boo was falsely accused of being a monster, stabbing his father with scissors, all of which were gossip that spread like facts. The children and Maycomb itself blames Boo and secludes him based on rumors not experience. All in all Tom Robinson, Jem, and Boo displayed the victim archetype. The mentor archetype is shown in several characters. Mrs. Dubose was a mentor to Scout and Jem, as explained by Atticus when he said, â€Å"‘...I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know youre licked before you begin but you begin anyway an d you see it through no matter what’† (Lee 128). Mrs. Dubose’s fight against her addiction teaches them that they did not know the true story and pain she felt when she was still alive. By fighting that pain and slowly breaking from it, she showed courage, something that the kids needed later. She could have taken the easy way out but her will was strong and she dealt with it until she overcame it. This experience prepared the kids for the trial where they would face greater pain but would need the ability to remain resilient against attacks. Additionally, Aunt Alexandra was a mentor to Scout when Scout composed herself like a true lady, â€Å"With my best company manners I asked her is sheShow MoreRelatedThe Ability Of A Classic Book879 Words   |  4 Pagesparadigmatic or prominent, for instance, books like Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men and so forth, are listed in a list of great books. Either through an imprimatur or a readerâ⠂¬â„¢s opinion. Per Henrik Blidal, Casper Sylvest and Perter Wilson in ‘Classics of international Relations: Essays in criticism and appreciation’ they define a classic in five key ways; ‘the acknowledged or undisputed classic†, â€Å"the archetypal classic†, â€Å"the classic in the making†,† the overlooked classic† and