Samantha Chin

Task 2: Lecture – give a lecture as Harper Lee to year 10 students about the legacy of
your novel.  How do you feel about the impact of the novel and has it achieved your
purpose?

Statement of Intention
For my creative piece, I choose to write a lecture given by Harper Lee to year 10 students
about the objective of writing the novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird.’ Using first-person
language with a conversational tone in my lecture, I wanted to explore the legacy of ‘To Kill
A Mockingbird’ and Lee’s purpose for writing the novel. Directed at year 10 students, an
informal structure will allow students to enquire on Harper Lee’s perspective on a personal
level. A deeper understanding of the intended impact of the novel will also allow me to
evaluate the underlying message within ‘To Kill A Mockingbird.’ Set during the Depression
era in the 1930s, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ provides readers with exposure to the historical
background of current events during the time. The lecture will explore the importance of
comprehending the deeply rooted history of the social justice and civil rights struggle in the
South.

Script of lecture
Good morning students let me start off by introducing. I’m Harper Lee, the author of To Kill A
Mockingbird, which you’re currently studying, and “I was born in a little town called Monroeville,
Alabama, on April 28, 1926.” I went to school in the local grammar school, went to high school there,
and then went to the University of Alabama School of Law. That's about it, as far as education goes.

I want to make it clear that Mockingbird is not an autobiography, but rather an example of how an
author "should write about what they know and write truthfully". Nevertheless, several people and
events from my childhood may have influenced certain aspects of my novel.  

As you know, Mockingbird takes place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during 1930s. The
events of the novel fall within the Great Depression era which is reflected in the poverty that affects
all of the residents of Maycomb. Racism, sexism and injustice were all very real issues that the
people of the time and place struggled with. Since I grew up during the 1930s, I’m also quite familiar
with the social and racial prejudice in the American Deep South.

Some of you may know that my father, Amasa Coleman Lee, was a lawyer who once defended two
black men accused of murdering a white storekeeper. Both the father and son were convicted but
were hanged. Many of you may relate him to Atticus Finch. In my novel, Atticus serves to contrast
the popular opinion and attitudes of Maycomb. He is also the moral centre of the novel and does
what no one is really willing to do, defend an innocent black man who has been accused of rape. The
majority of the people in Maycomb would just let the mob mentality lynch Tom but Atticus doesn't
let that happen. Who here respects and admires Atticus Finch? Who here agrees that Tom
Robinson’s trial was unjust? Well, I guess my purpose has been fulfilled. My intent of writing this
book is to show others how unreasonable the culture of the South was regarding discrimination
against blacks. I wanted to get readers thinking not only about the way people were treated in the
past, but how we should be treating people nowadays. The themes of moral and ethical
development, the power of stereotyping and prejudice, the forces that shape the way people
respond to difference, the role of upstanders in responding to injustice and the importance of
empathy and acceptance are aspects of society that are just as relevant today as they were in 1960.
If we don’t review our history, we’re doomed to repeat our previous mistakes. We’re bound to
Samantha Chin

experience racism in our society but as long as we have people like Atticus Finch in our world, society
will continue to thrive as it is.

To be honest, “I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird, I didn’t even expect the book
to sell in the first place.” My reaction to my novel’s success “was one of sheer numbness” and in
some ways it was “frightening.” To this day I’m still shocked at the fact that my book was even made
into a movie. Did you know that when I was invited to the set of the movie I cried after I saw Gregory
Peck in costume, he looked so similar to my father. I have nothing but gratitude for the people who
made the film. When I went out and looked at them filming it, there seemed to be such a general
kindness, perhaps even respect, for the material they were working with. “I was delighted, touched,
happy, and exceedingly grateful.” I’m also fortunate that my novel was assigned so widely across
schools. I believe that the first step to a world without social and racial prejudice is teaching the
young generations about the hardships of the 1930s that influenced corruption of the human
mindset. I hope that the legacy of my novel will forever be remembered by generations for decades
to come. Who knows, maybe one of you guys may become the next Atticus Finch of this generation.