To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
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Book Reviews of To Kill a Mockingbird
Book Review: Wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that was written in 1960 by Harper Lee about Jem and Scout Finch growing up in Maycomb County, Alabama. Their father, Atticus, is a well-respected lawyer who is assigned to the case of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is an African-American man who is unjustly charged with committing a crime against Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Although Tom Robinson's case is predictably lost because of the racial and prejudicial beliefs that existed at the time, Atticus feels obligated to accept Tom Robinson's case. Atticus Finch is a strong person who is well ahead of the times, who believes in Tom and who wishes to help him as much as possible. He also wants to set an example to his children against the prejudicial beliefs that they are growing up around. Besides Atticus, Jem and Scout, there are many other important characters in the book, especially as it progresses.As the book advances, the characters change. They evolve, become more or less important, and fall in and out of the story. For example, in the first part of the book, Miss Caroline is one of the main characters. She is Scout's first grade teacher, and it is in her classroom that Scout faces the first injustice done to her. Dill, who spends summers with his aunt, Rachel Haverford, in Maycomb, is also an important character in the first part of the book. He plays an important role in being a friend to Jem and Scout and brings out more information about Boo Radley. On the other hand, Boo Radley does not play an important role consistently throughout the book. In the beginning, he leaves gifts for the Finch children. After he can no longer do that, he is not heard from until the resolution of the novel, when he saves their life. Miss Maudie, the Finch's neighbor, is important through out the book. She is always around the help the children and shares her wisdom. Calpurnia, the black woman who works at the Finch's household, is also important throughout the book. She serves as a good example of the African-American community to the children. Another member of the household is Aunt Alexandra, Atticus Finch's sister. In the midst of the main conflict, she moves to Maycomb to live with her brother's family. At first there are many conflicts, but soon Aunt Alexandra is loved as part of the family in her own way. She is supportive of her brother, Atticus, even when she disagrees with him about the Robinson case. Atticus's client, Tom Robinson, is very important to the plot of the story, although he is not the main character. When the conflict is examined, he is the main protagonist. The Ewell family is in the story more than Tom, although they are featured as the antagonists. Other characters are Judge Taylor, who presides over Tom Robinson's case, Heck Tate, the county sheriff, Mr. Underwood, owner of The Maycomb Tribune, and Mrs. Dubose, an elderly neighbor.
Although this book was published in 1960, it is set in the 1930s in Maycomb County, Alabama. It is a town that is full of southern pride, where everyone knows everyone else, where rarely does someone leave, and where judgments are formed about people from their last name. Because each family has a position in the county, and each person in that family just follows in the way their ancestors lived and behaved. Each class just keeps to themselves. It would seem like the town was divided into the townspeople, the Negroes, the country folk, and the people who live in trash despite their skin color. This story could happen anywhere, but the setting definitely accelerated the pace and depth of the plot.
The author's purpose was to write a novel that explored the issue of prejudice in a way that everyone can feel and relate to. By writing through the eyes of a young girl from ages six to eight, it allows readers to look at complex, controversial issues in a simple, innocent way. Scout asks simple questions such as "Why? Why does this happen? Why is this going on?" Harper Lee makes the reader feel angry at the twisted prejudice that existed for so long. I think that the author accomplished her purpose the instant her successful book was published and later won the Pulitzer Prize.
I can understand why this book has become a classic piece of American literature. The book conveys many emotions and completely shows the injustice and desperate feelings of humanity. The first half of the book focuses on building the atmosphere of the town and of the Finches and other residents. You learn of the school, the neighbors, the opinions of the town, and become familiar with the important character's lives. Then, you are thrown into the midst of Tom Robinson's trial. The whole community must face their personal prejudices and angry feelings of injustice and helplessness. You can see how the behavior of others affects the feelings and opinions of a person. I think that this is an important book that still holds a lot of meaning.
Book Review: A great book
Summary: 5 Stars
Different people view the same events in different ways. In Harper Lee's novel, "To Kill A Mockingbird", similar occurrences are interpreted in a wide variety because of beliefs, morals and values. These non-uniform perspectives are what make each character so tangible.Every event that occurs in the novel is trans scripted through the eyes of Scout Finch. Each character perspective, therefore, becomes an aspect of her point of view. Her brother's courage is an excellent example of this. "Jem was a born hero", pronounces a simple opinion of how Jem is deep down being admired by Scout, even though the two often have trouble getting along. It is the subconscious bonds between the two that keep them from slipping away when times get rough. However, Scout is seldom pleased about her brother's journey into manhood. When Calpurnia tells Scout that Jem is just about Mr. Jem, Scout scoffs "He ain't that old. All he needs is someone to beat him up, and I ain't big enough", rationalizing how Scout respects her brother, yet the respect will not extend so far as to consider him an equal to any adults. To Scout, Jem just requires assistance in assuring him he's not as old as he thinks. Scout just isn't up to the challenge. However, because Scout has such a strong admiration for her brother, much of his masculinity rubs off. This is also due to the fact that Scout never had a true mother. Most displeased with Scout's un-ladylike behavior is Aunt Alexandria, who becomes aggravated when she learns that Scout wants to be friends with a poor, uneducated Cunningham. "You're enough of a problem to your father as it is", demonstrates Aunt Alexandria's quest to make Scout behave in a more feminine way only leads to more static between the two. Scout clearly has an agenda all her own. Not Alexandria, not Jem, not even Atticus can change her attitude.
Atticus is a father, a lawyer, and a human being. But in many ways, he is more than all of those. To Miss Maudie, he is a symbol of respect and gratitude. "Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we're paying the highest tribute we can pay a man. We trust him to do right" exemplifies how Miss Maudie's intelligence enables her to take everything Atticus does that she may not agree with, and respect him for daring to accomplish the things no other man could challenge. Atticus could just as well give up on the trial, or stop caring, but his will is too strong. He could never allow himself to betray another man. When the townspeople send Atticus their gifts of redemption, Atticus, while impressed, must also say "They must never do this again. Times are too hard", demonstrating Atticus, while he is obviously being respected, holds an equal respect for the people of Maycomb. He knows that it wasn't easy for so many of the families to show how grateful they were. In this way, Atticus shows he has humility for everything he does. Because of his pending antiviolence beliefs, Atticus rarely becomes angry. Instead, he forces himself to realize that as horrible as people sometimes seem, they're still human. "If spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that's something I will gladly take", describes the father's best method of defense is to not lower himself to the level of Bob Ewell. By doing this, Atticus can avoid a serious complication, while standing up for his personal beliefs and keeping his dignity. More people than he may realize approve his courage and honesty. Miss Maudie's appreciation runs farther than anyone else, even Atticus' own family. She has nothing but praise for every action he makes. "If Atticus Finch drank until he was drunk he wouldn't be as hard as some men are at their best", associates the fact that if the worst of Atticus could suddenly be brought out of him, if his superiority began to deteriorate, if he was no longer the cunning, respectful man he was, he would still be a better man than a person like Bob Ewell could ever become. This statement proves that no one is as proud of Atticus as Miss Maudie. And yet, Atticus very rarely shows that he is proud of himself. "If I didn't [defend Tom Robinson] I couldn't hold my head up in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldnt even tell you or Jem not to do something again" is a perfect example of a summary of Atticus' beliefs and values. He must defend a man with no hopes of winning against a racist jury and a clever lawyer while attempting to keep his dignity and father two growing children. Will he gain a sense of accomplishment from all this? Perhaps. The feeling that the right thing has been done? Probably. Just proving that he did the best he could, and that he tried his hardest? Definitely. That is his only reward, but for Atticus it is more than enough.
Book Review: Forever A Part of Your Personal Library
Summary: 5 Stars
Atticus Finch, the unforgettable protagonist of Harper Lee's masterpiece, To Kill A Mockingbird, provides the premise for the novel early on when he states to his daughter, Scout, "You never really know about another person until you walk around in his skin for a while and feel it. Then you start to see what life is like from his eyes." Told in the first person, the book is narrated by eight-year-old Jean-Louse "Scout" Finch, a motherless tomboy, who encounters many adventures and learns several lessons in the rural town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. With Scout's elder brother, Jem, by her side, she struggles to accept the racial and economic barriers which had, for too long, separated the townspeople of Maycomb. To Kill A Mockingbird is a love letter to a community steeped in hypocrisy and injustice; the novel suggests that the chains of the Old South would eventually change due, in part, to individuals such as Scout's sagacious and determined father, Atticus. When Scout's father, a local prominent attorney, agrees to defend a local Negro worker accused of raping a white woman, Scout begins to recognize the cancer that has all but choked Maycomb out of existence. As a result of the trial Scout loses her innocence and gains the wisdom that despite ancient grudges it is time for a change in Maycomb. Characterization is a vital ingredient to the success of To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee breathes life into all of her characters; she provides them with not only an outward appearance that rings true, but with also a motivation to every action that is plausible because the author makes the reader walk in each character's shoes. The novel possesses as many memorable figures as any other novel in American history. In particular, Scout, who narrates the book, is transformed from a highly naive and impulsive little girl to a perceptive and sensitive individual by novel's end. Jem, Scout's brother, converts from boyhood to manhood and gains a new respect an understanding for his surroundings. Unlike his children, Atticus remains remarkably true to his character throughout Lee's memoir. His character is so unforgettable that he remains as the most conspicuous role model for both fathers and lawyers in American literature forty years after the publication of the book. Another memorable figure in the novel, Tom Robinson, is a hardworking, caring, and honest "Negro" who is falsely accused of raping a white woman. Tom symbolizes the plight of all African Americans at the time where prejudice and injustice were commonplace. Perhaps the most compelling figure in Lee's work is the mysterious phantom of the town, Arthur Radley. He remains inside his house down the street from the Finches', a recluse who is neither seen nor heard. Arthur, better known as "Boo", provides the basis for many rumors and stories that keep the gossips guessing in the small community. "Boo" is thus held responsible for many ills and faults of the town. The mystery of "Boo" dominates the imagination and nightmares of Scout and Jem. The characters of the novel contain weaknesses as well as strengths. Lee's novel possesses accurate points of view for the time period that adds to the incredible realism that is conveyed through each individual's personality. Harper Lee's descriptive style provides the reader with remarkable characters and remarkable settings. The attention Lee focuses on small details brings To Kill a Mockingbird to life. Most scenes are enhanced by strong dialogue; dialogue that is particularly evident in the riveting courtroom scene that stays with the reader long after he or she has put it down. An example of Harper Lee's vibrant prose can be found when she sets the scene for 1933 Maycomb: "Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow, it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer's day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were soft like teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum." The several themes communicated through Harper Lee's brilliant plausible characters tie the novel together creating a beautiful masterpiece. A classic that ten years from now you will be able to pick up again and enjoy even more the second or third time. I am thankful to Harper Lee for allowing me to imagine walking around in the shoes of her characters.Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird
Summary: 4 Stars
Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird, is a book that I loved to read. Lee portrayed the literary device theme, very well. You should put yourself in other people's shoes so that you don't prejudge them explains what the theme of this is. Within theme, a major topic is where the central character and narrator of this book, Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout changed from an immature girl in overalls, to a mature, young lady. Many characters affected this change, among those would be her older brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, better known as Jem. Scout looked up to Jem and followed in his footsteps. For example, when Jem and Dill Harris were planning to go to Boo Radly's house to place a note on the window Scout insisted that she tag along. Jem also tried to keep her safe like in the end when he tried to stop Bob Ewell from hurting her, even though it would only redirect the attack to him.
Another character that affected Scout would be her Aunt Alexandre, a person that Scout did not favor much throughout the book. Her Aunt desperately attempted to turn Scout into a young lady. Alexandre always contradicted what Atticus said, and never agreed with his ways of raising children. when Aunt Alexandre had a party for her friends, and Scout tried to impress the women by being extremely polite. Normally, Scout would be wearing overalls and she would speak her mind rather than think of how she'd make other people feel if she was rude. Atticus wouldn't have minded that so much, but it would have driven her Aunt up the walls. Aurther "Boo" Radly is also another character with a great influence on Scout. He taught her to not judge people before you actually know them. Throughout the entire story, Scout and Jem would continuously try to get a glance at Boo. They harassed him on a near daily basis just to try and see him. Through all this, Boo left gifts for them in a hole in an old, dead tree, and in the end he saved their lives from Mr. Ewell. An example of how they harassed him was putting on plays that were supposed to be about him and the Radly family, but an example of his kindness was putting a blanket around Scout one night when she and Jem were watching Mrs. Maudie's house burn down.
The final character that had a major influence on the life of Scout was Calpurnia, the Finch's cook. Calpurnia, a black, strong-willed woman taught Scout to not be prejudice by taking two white children (Scout and Jem) to her all black church. While Jem was going through his maturing stage, he often left Scout out because he didn't want her around. Whenever he did this Calpurnia was there for Scout, and open-heartedly invited her to help in the kitchen. This helped to make Scout feel wanted. The most significant symbol in the novel appears in the title - the mockingbird. It is a sin to kill a mockingbird because all they do is go about their own way singing and not making trouble for anyone. The mockingbird symbolizes how people try to mind their own business, but society won't let them. Dill Harris would be a symbol of the mockingbird, because he is a victim of society. Dill was repeatedly shipped from relative to relative because his mother didn't want him around. He ran away because he finally realized that he was unwanted by his own family.
Boo Radly is also a symbol of the mockingbird because he locked himself up in his house and doesn't bother anyone, but society judges him with no reason. People would blame things on him and Jem and Scout would harass him, and all because he just goes about his own business.
Tom Robinson, an innocent black man, is also a symbol of the mockingbird because he was judged by society when he was blamed for a crime that everyone knew he didn't commit. He was trying to be nice, and help Mayella Ewell whenever he was asked to, and for this she made him out to be guilty of a great crime, and even when Atticus proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that he was innocent, he was found guilty. A quote to support the theme of you should put yourself in other people's shoes so that you don't prejudge them is from Atticus Finch, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." In the case of Tom Robinson, prejudice plays around the trial. In this trial Bob Ewell blamed Tom for the rape of his daughter Mayella. This trial was a trial of black against white. Prejudice was one of the largest problems of judging. Though judging is a huge problem then and now it will never be solved. This book is based on reality and therefore is interesting.
Book Review: To Kill A Mockingbird: A book of Symbolism
Summary: 5 Stars
To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb Country. It is a small town where everyone knows each other and is fairly close. The book is told in first person from Scout Finch's point of view. Her, her brother Jem and her father Atticus Finch live in a house in Maycomb with their black servant Calpurina. Atticus, who is a lawyer, is hired to defend a black man in court who was accused for raping a white women. Although Atticus is uneasy about defending the man, he knows it is the right thing to do, although the whole town talks about him behind is back for years to come, calling him a n**** lover. Thefamily finds out what it is like, to stand up for what you believe in. This is somewhat hard for Scout and Jem because of their short tempers however they try their best to be the
better person and look away when people call their father names. The book also shows Jem and Scout and how they grow up over the years with exciting tales, adventures and
journeys. Their memories and tales are irreplaceable. Most of this excitement is over the summer with their friend Dill, who comes to Maycomb every summer to stay with his
aunt. The three children go about the years, wondering about the mysteries of Boo Radley the Finch's neighbor, who hasn't been seen to anyone in the town in many years, rumor
has it he is dead. Together they encounter childhood adventures, which don't seem so dramatic when they grow up, however at the time were very important. The main focus in the book is on the loss of innocence and also bravery.
This book is extremely well written, and has many strengths. One technique used in Harper Lee's writing that is extremely effective is symbolism. In fact, it is such a big
part of Lee's writing that even the title of her book is the united symbol throughout the novel. To Kill a Mockingbird is a very meaningful phrase in the book. For example when
they explain why you should never kill a mockingbird in the middle of the book,"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't next in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." The mockingbird represents innocence throughout the novel. Since the basic theme is the loss of innocence, the characters are
saying that you should never loose the innocence, kill an innocent bird. In the book so many things end up to be not as innocent, so different then they are thought to be in the
beginning. For example the town of Maycomb was such a sweet little innocent town. Everyone was friendly, it was the perfect life. However in the ending we realize that truly
Maycomb and the people who did live there were not so innocent, but in fact extremely racist. This entire part of the book that makes you wonder about what the title and the theme really do mean, is a great strength in the book.
Another strength in To Kill a Mockingbird is the ending. So many different events occur in the book and the ending ties everything together. The ending is not happy,
however it gives you a reassurance that everything is going to be all right and there are almost no unanswered questions. Even Scout who is still but a child has many of her
questions about life almost figured out, and has been throughout many experiences people her age might never be in. "As I made my way home I thought, Jem and I would get grown but there wasn't much else left for us to learn, except possibly algebra."
This book did not have many weaknesses at all. The beginning is a little slow moving however. For example some things are explained in detail that have no meaning to
the plot or story line. For example some of the scenes at school , and some of the scenes over their first summers with Dill. Other than that there are no weaknesses.
Over all, I think this was one of the best novels I have ever read. Not only does it have a wonderful and in depth plot, but the characters in it seem like you could be there
friends. They are described with so much detail, that when you are done reading, you want to read more about what happens to them. For example does Scout ever become ladylike, and do more people in the town except Atticus for defending the Negro, Tom Robinson in court. After reading this novel you feel like you can do anything you put your heart to, and you can stand up for what you believed. This is so because every character does this
sometime in the book.