English - To kill a mockingbird - Last entry
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"To kill a mockingbird" has been a pleasure to read, which has given me a lot of new perspectives in life and on the world we all live in. Although it has its ups and downs, I consider this book as a great reading project in schools all over the world. You just have to be in the right age to actually understand and learn something from it. My recommendation is that you're at least 14 years old when you read this book. In addition to that, the great thing with this novel is that you are never too old to read it. It has been a marvellous book for the world and will continue to be further ahead.
The language is one of many things that makes this novel great. It's extremely formal which makes it more sophisticated. Though, the problem with this, is that words and sentences can be difficult to understand and translate. For example at p.250 line.23 we have the word "hieroglyphic". Words like these, results with confusion for the reader. On the other hand, the advanced language makes the book more professional and believable considering the time period were the novel takes place, in the thirties. The complex and polite language is also shown in the dialogues between the characters in the novel. Such as in the trial which begins around p.202, were we have a situation when Atticus interrogate Mayella Ewell. He asks her "When he's - riled, ha he ever beaten you?" she answer him with "My paw's never touched a hair o' my head in my life*. As you can see Harper. Lee has also written the dialogues in the way people spoke at this time in Alabama. Sometimes it's hard to understand what they're saying, however it makes the characters more realistic.
My biggest issue was the introduction in the novel. It was very slow and annoying to read. However, i feel that it was necessary to have such a beginning. Because she built up all the characters, you got to know who they are, their personalities and interests. As a result of that, the beginning helped you a lot further on in the book. For instance, when a dramatic or eventful scene takes place, you can guess how the characters are going to react and handle the situation. For that reason, you get captured when you read it. Like the time when aunt Alexandra told Scout that she soon would be interested in clothes and boys (p.140 line.25). In the introduction you find out that Scout is very stubborn and acts like a tomboy, therefore you could guess that her reaction the the statement, she would refuse.
My thoughts are that the trial is not the conflict in this novel, it only set the base. Because the reactions after the trial, are the ones who causes bigger problem. Everything starts when Tom Robinson gets convicted for raping Mayella Ewell (around p.200), even though he was innocent. Tom Robinson is known as a mockingbird, and as you all know "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (p.99). So the reaction to the death of Tom Robinson, made for example Atticus really sad, because he had never done something wrong, never harmed someone and more. But, Tom Robinson is not the only who's titled as a mockingbird in the novel, we also have Mr. Arthur Radley (aka Boo Radley). He's the same as Tom, an innocent man that has been given a role from the society who doesn't even know him. For example, they call him things like "crazy" at p.51 line.7. This unfairly treatment to a person who has not done anything against people, instead, his been helping them. Near to to the ending of the book (p.288), we have a situation were Mr. Bob Ewell attacks Scout and Jem in a dark evening. Jem gets seriously injured, but who's the one interrupting the event and protects Scout? Mr. Boo Radley. Unfortunately, Mr. Ewell was killed by Boo (p.294 line.5), but from my point of view, for a good cause, protecting Scout and Jem. For that reason, Mr.Boo Radley can also sees as a mockingbird, therefore, it would be a sin to kill him, not just according to me but also the sheriff who defends Boo by covering up the murdur with a new story. "Mr Ewell fell on his knife." (p.304 line.29).
In a discussion between Jem an Scout, Jem tells her that "There's four kinds of folks in the world. There's the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there's the kind like Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump and the Negroes" (p.249 line.28). In Sweden, we don't have the exact same system, but I can still see some similarities. Negroes represents the immigrants in todays society were they are not equally treated as the rest of us. The majority in Sweden consists the same as the Finch family, normal people with normal economy. The Cunninghams in Sweden equals to the poor people with low economics.
Atticus is truly a magnificent and strong human being/character, were he sees things in people that no one else does. Even though he has taken hard criticism during his life as a lawyer, he wouldn't judge anyone based on the way he/she looked, more important is that he doesn't rely on what other people say. Because, we are all imperfect people with our personal flaws.
This scene is taken from the movie "To kill a mockingbird" which is based on the novel by Harper. Lee. This quote (by Atticus) represent Atticus sight on every person despite their background or ethnicity.
(In this gif we see Atticus and Jean Louise "Scout" on their front porch)
Harper. Lee wrote this book, not only to point out the horrible racism in Alabama during the thirties, but also to prevent that innocent people gets accused, based on their personality, background and ethnicity. She has personally experienced living in a racist area in the thirties, when she was born in Alabama 1926. The novel is based on her life and what her community looked like. People presupposed statements about pther civilians, based on their actions and more. I would say that the message in this novel is that more people should behave more like Atticus.
