Auckland Deep Thinkers Sunday Lunch Book Club: "To Kill a Mockingbird"

If the weather is good, we'll be by the Bandstand. If not so good, we'll be in the Wintergarden cafe.

This month's book is Harper Lee’s 'To Kill a Mockingbird' which remains a timeless lens for examining race, empathy, gender, morality, and prejudice. Its themes continue to spark debate in classrooms, book clubs, and public discourse because they mirror ongoing struggles in modern society.

Key Modern Discussion Points

1. Racial Injustice and Systemic Bias

• The trial of Tom Robinson highlights how racism permeates legal and social systems.
• Modern parallels: debates about systemic racism, police brutality, and unequal access to justice.

2. Empathy and Perspective-Taking

• Atticus Finch’s advice to “climb into another person’s skin and walk around in it” remains a powerful call for empathy.
• Modern relevance: discussions around diversity, inclusion, and understanding marginalized voices.

3. Gender Roles and Expectations

• Scout struggles against societal expectations of femininity, learning from figures like Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra, and Miss Maudie.
• Modern parallels: gender equality, feminism, and the dismantling of rigid gender norms.

4. Moral Courage and Integrity

• Atticus embodies moral integrity by defending Tom Robinson despite community backlash.
• Modern resonance: standing up for truth and justice in polarized societies, whistleblowing, and activism.

5. Childhood, Innocence, and Coming of Age

• Scout and Jem’s journey reflects the loss of innocence when confronted with injustice.
• Modern relevance: how children today grapple with exposure to social inequality, climate anxiety, and political division.

6. Fear of the “Other”

• Boo Radley symbolizes how communities stigmatize outsiders.
• Modern parallels: xenophobia, stigma around mental health, and prejudice against marginalized groups.

7. Religion and Morality

• Miss Maudie critiques those who use religion as a weapon rather than a source of compassion.
• Modern resonance: debates about the role of religion in politics, morality, and social justice

The problems with To Kill a Mockingbird for a modern audience often center on its racial framing, limited perspectives, and outdated social norms. While the novel remains a classic, many readers today critique aspects that feel problematic or incomplete.

Key Issues Raised

1. White Savior Narrative

• Atticus Finch is portrayed as the moral hero who defends Tom Robinson, but the story centers on his courage rather than Tom’s humanity.
• Modern readers argue this sidelines Black voices and reinforces a paternalistic framing of racial justice.

2. Marginalization of Black Characters

• Tom Robinson and Calpurnia are crucial to the plot but lack depth or agency.
• Their experiences are filtered through Scout’s perspective, limiting authentic representation of Black lives.

3. Simplistic Treatment of Racism

• Racism is depicted as individual prejudice rather than systemic oppression.
• Modern discussions emphasize structural inequality, which the novel does not fully address.

4. Gender Norms and Limitations

• Scout’s tomboyishness is framed as resistance to traditional femininity, but the novel still reinforces rigid gender roles.
• Aunt Alexandra’s expectations reflect outdated views of women’s place in society.

5. Idealization of Atticus Finch

• Atticus is often held up as a flawless moral compass, which can obscure the complexity of allyship and the limitations of “good intentions.”
• Later scholarship and even Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman complicate this image.

6. Treatment of Poverty and Class

• The novel depicts poor white families (like the Ewells) as ignorant and immoral, reinforcing stereotypes.
• Modern readers critique the lack of nuance in how class intersects with race and opportunity.

7. Limited Scope of Justice

• The novel ends without systemic change—Tom Robinson dies, and the community remains largely unchanged.
• For modern audiences, this lack of resolution feels unsatisfying and highlights the limits of individual heroism.

CUSTOMS:
You must register and be on the “Attendees - Going” list to attend.
Please bring $2 to cover Meetup costs.

RSVP POLICY:
RSVPs and cancellations will be accepted up until 6 hours before the start of the meetup so that people who feel unwell on the day have time to change their RSVP and allow someone else to attend.

Please only click 'attend' if you are going to come, and remember to change your RSVP if you need to change plans.

No-shows will be removed from the group; i.e. being registered to attend and not attending will be considered a 'No Show'.
This RSVP policy has become necessary due to the high number of last-minute withdrawals and non-attendance. This unfairly causes people on the Waiting List to miss out. Thanks for your cooperation.