To Kill a Mockingbird question

Just rename it 'To Kill a Mockingjay' and it will sell like crazy

I'm not sure I would say this novel was powerful to tell you the truth. I think it served more as an educational piece of history.

For something to be powerful or moving, it would have to relate to current events.

I absolutely think so. People are fascinated by high profile court cases even today and think about how racism polarized the Trayvon Martin case.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD depends upon its setting in the Jim Crow/pre-civil rights movement south with its overt racism for its emotional power. In contrast, the racism of today is subtle. The legal scenes and the threat to the Finch family do not translate to modern conditions. So the book is dependent on its time and place, like many great books. That does not diminish it in the least.

I think if it was set in modern times it would have an equal impact but for different things and in a different way. The fact that Atticus was a liberal single parent would be unremarkable. The trial and the lynching would have considerably more shock value. Of course, we wouldn't automatically visualize Gregory Peck whenever we think of Atticus either...

I feel like when reading, you get into the mindset of the date in which the book was set, which therefore allows you to understand the thoughts and feelings of the characters back then in regards to the way that society was working. You come out of the book having learnt about the issues of that time, which were much more shocking in the past. I feel like a modern version wouldn't have the same impact because society has changed. It is a lesson in both history and morals.

It's a timeless book and racism is far from dead, but I believe much of what made this realistic then might be seen as less believable now, and that would lessen the impact.

We've made progress in attitudes toward people of another race and people with mental health issues - don't forget Bo Radley.

Elizabeth Spencer wrote "The Voice at the Back Door" in 1956 and in some ways paved the way for To Kill a Mockingbird. The reception was so hostile, Ms. Spencer left not just Mississippi but the US. She moved to Italy and wrote Light in the Piazza. If you haven't read Voice, it's worth tracking down.

No it would not have the same impact, but I read it 45 years ago and it was amazing! Read any book over 40 years and it would be the same!

The book being about injustice, it will be as valid today as it was back then, since the fundamental social conditions do not seem to have changed a bit. An amazing example was the Zimmerman case.

The book ends with all key players who are supposed to fight for justice engage in a white-collar murder cover-up, and an innocent child witness becomes part of it. Is this the meaning of "To Kill a Mocking-Bird"?

The book was amazing. I dont think it would have the same meaning if it was writen in todays time.

The situation of a black man accused of a sex crime because he spoke to a white woman--and he, a black man, "felt sorry"for the girl--wouldn't happen today, so readers wouldn't feel the indignation we felt back then. It's more a piece of history nowadays.

Well it depends if the setting is in present day. Does racism still happen in the south and through out the rest of the country? Yes. But it is not as prevalent and when it does happen people are indenial/naive about it. If it was written today but kept the setting and timeframe it still would not have as much of an impact. First it would not be considered a classic until many decades later. Kids would not have to read this book in school. It would also take away from the author. This was written in time when women were also fighting for their rights (not to take away from what people of color endured) so that alone has a great significance on the book. Would it still be a good book? Probably. But not the same impact at all.

This book was originally written to show how unfair segregation was. It would not have the same effect because people in the 20th century would not feel the same as we feel when we read the book.

I don't believe it would have the same impact if the story remained untouched. However with a modern day twist it would be an iconic and extremely influential novel. The book is timeless but the story isn't.

No, because racism isn't as big of an issue these days.

I think the book was amazing, but I don't believe it would have the same affect in today's world, but still a remarkable book.

It's a very important question. Right up there with "What if Eleanor Roosevelt Could Fly?"

I think in today it'd work as a bit of an exposé and some ways could draw more attention. Back when Mockingbird was written, that kind of racial intolerance was quite acceptable in many parts of Western society. Nowadays, all Western countries whether it be Australia, USA, NZ, Canada, UK, France etc try and pride themselves on how multicultural and tolerant they are of other races and cultures. We all know of pockets where the attitudes have still not changed much since the old days but we very rarely speak about such filth.
If something similar were written today about one of these enclaves where this attitude is still bred, it would be a fantastic way to not only expose these attitudes but stir the political pot.

The timeframe is important to the story and changing it changes the story, plot and characters. I am reading Follett's World without End right now it would not be the same story if it was not in a Medieval time frame.

Reduced impact definitely. But perhaps if the book's theme changed from racism to gay-rights then it could have a similar level of impact.

Atticus stands up against racism at a time when no one was going to pat him on the back and say good job. There were no organizations that would run to help him fight a civil rights case. He stood alone. That couldn't happen today. That isn't to say that you couldn't write a good story about racism today. Organizations like the Innocence Project fight to free innocent men and women who were convicted because of racism. I am sure you could write a good fictional story based on one of their cases.

Yes, because at the core of this story is a powerful message. Stand up for what you believe is right in your heart. When it's not popular. When it hurts. For every time there will always be someone who is brave enough to stand up.

If the plot were moved to the present day then its impact would be reduced. However, if it were published for the first time as it's written, it would eventually attain the same status. It's a great book.

if it were written in today's time, it would still have the same impact according to me. the setting might have been different; instead of racial discrimination the author might have written maybe about LGBT rights. what i'm trying to say is that the beauty of this book does not lie in the book's backdrop but the profound message it conveys.

I think it would still be a very powerful book if the setting, timewise, remained the same. For example, think of how powerful "The Help" and "Fried Green Tomatoes" are, and they were written much later, but retained the setting.

No it wouldn't. This book was published in 1960, in the very midst of the civil rights movement. Part of what makes this book so great is the bravery. It was written by a southern woman during a tumultuous time, a time when not all white Americans believed that African Americans were their equals. (I am painfully aware that not all white Americans feel that they are now, but the overwhelming majority do.)

I actually thought of that when I finished the book.
If the book was written in the present days, it wouldn't draw much attention.
But, in fact, the book imparts a very important message for people of all times so I think that that's what everyone who reads it should point out of it. Racism still exists, of course in a much lower scale, but it's still here. So people should reflect more on it, and become even more tolerant and fully accept the fact that we might have different skin color, but we are all human and everyone should treat the other equally and respectfully.
And sure, the liberalism of Atticus would be totally ignored if the book was written now, since it is a very common thing for our society.

I really loved this book because of Atticus! the way he raised his children and the way he acted.he was a daring role model!
I think that if it was written in the present it wouldn't be so impressive as a character because of our times freedom!

I'm with you Jennifer, it would not have the same impact. It would necessarily be judged based on literary merit, and that fresh evaluation would find it wanting. It is only so loved now because few are willing to part with the consensus and criticize it.

Do you mean if it was set in the present day, or if it had been written as a work of historical fiction in the last ten or so years?

This is all a big who cares.

weweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewer

It would not even remotely be the same story at all...I mean that's like saying if I wrote a Holocaust story today would it have the same impact as the Diary of Anne Frank??