When searching for optimism or pessimism in a novel, one of the first things taken into account is the title. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, is one of those books where the title gives nothing away, and is not understood until you have read the story. This book, first published in 1960, is in fact neither an optimistic, nor pessimistic novel. However, it shows detailed examples of each, shown in different parts of the …showed first 75 words of 831 total…

…showed last 75 words of 831 total…society, then Tom Robinson would not have been sent to jail. The pessimistic themes of the novel are truly expressed during that time. <Tab/>When "To Kill a Mockingbird" was first published, in 1960, it painted a true picture of Southern America during that time. Harper Lee expressed both the optimistic and pessimistic sides of society throughout the book. In the words of Scout Finch, "There's only one kind of folks. Folks."