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Beautiful book.
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In the course of 5 years, I’ve read this book nearly 17 times. That adds up to reading it once at least every 4 months, on an average. And I still return to this book like a bark seeking a lighthouse in the dark. When I first finished it, I was so overwhelmed by how much I related to it, I read it nearly 8 times before the year ended. By now I’ve memorized almost every scene and I still can’t shake off the feeling that I still have to learn a lot from it. Over the years, I realize that without knowing it, it has become my personal Bible – a beacon to keep me from straying from the path of kindness and compassion, no matter what.
With its baseless cruelty and what Coleridge poetically referred to as motiveless malignity, the world is in need of much motiveless kindness – a rugged determination to keep the world a quiet haven and not the callous, cruel place it constantly aspires to be.
To Kill A Mockingbird is one of those rare books that doesn’t give in to the belief that ”deep down, everybody’s actually good.” Not everybody is. And we must still persevere to see things from their perspective, and though we may not justify their ways, we must strive to understand them – though we might not follow them, we must try to be as kind to them as possible. And yet, there comes a time when some people need to be put down – we must follow the call of our conscience then, and yet be kind to them in the process, as much as we can.
Striving to follow this dictum, I have realized how difficult it is to be kind to others when I find I’m right. It is so easy to put down others bluntly, it is so easy to be critical and fair, but so difficult to consider for a moment what the other might be going through. How convenient it is to dismiss the hardships of others and say, “They had it coming!” and unburden our conscience of the probable guilt that perhaps we’ve been a bit too harsh.
How simple it is to stereotype people, classify them neatly into convenient square boxes and systematically deal with them based on those black-or-white prejudices! Robe a prejudice in the opaque, oppressive garment called Common Sense and display boldly the seal of Social Approval and you’ve solved the biggest difficulty of life – knowing how to treat people.
And yet, nothing could be farther than the truth. Rarely are people so simple as they seem. In Wilde’s words, “The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.” For you never know when a grumpy, rude, racist Mrs. Dubose might be fighting her own monsters or Ewell be, in fact trying to protect the last vestiges of honor he has, or Aunt Alexandra only trying to advocate the least painful way of life. And though we might not agree with any of them, like Atticus, we must see them for their peculiar situations and grant them a little leeway, make a little corner for them too, and yet, stand up for what is right in defiance of them.
It is this tricky rope-walking balance between prejudice and common sense, kindness and firmness, and justice and leeway that spurs me to revisit this little book every time I seem to falter. While I find it difficult to keep my cool in the midst of flagrant injustices and ensuing pain, I strive to strike a balance between giving in to despair and becoming too optimistic; between becoming indifferent, unkind, righteous and being compassionate, considerate. It is what keeps me from becoming paranoid or cynical with the unceasing drone of passivity, callousness, overwhelming prejudice and unyielding customs while still being alive to the pain of those very people I do not necessarily agree with.
In a country like India with its bizarre, incomprehensible equations and sequestrations of religion, class, caste, region, language, race, gender, sexuality and education, it takes a whole load of effort not to blow up one’s mind – people will kill each other over anything and everything. They’ll hate each other, isolate each other and cook up stories amongst themselves and leave it floating in the air. It takes every ounce of my energy not to hate my land and its majority people viciously. Yes, viciously.
But you see, I’ve got so much to learn to survive here – I have to stand up for myself when there will be hordes banging upon my door telling me to shut the hell up. And I’ll have to muster all the courage I have to tell them to go f*** themselves if they think I musn’t transcend the limits set for me. But I also have to learn not to hate them. Even if it sounds silly.
I know for one, Lee – I don’t care if you never wrote another work. I don’t care if Capote helped you write it, as many say. I’m glad somebody wrote this book, and somebody assigned this book as syllabus when I needed it the most. Five years ago, I hadn’t even heard of it. I read it in a single sitting. And then I read it several times over, taking my time, pondering over every page. I still do so. It is my favorite book ever.
With its baseless cruelty and what Coleridge poetically referred to as motiveless malignity, the world is in need of much motiveless kindness – a rugged determination to keep the world a quiet haven and not the callous, cruel place it constantly aspires to be.
To Kill A Mockingbird is one of those rare books that doesn’t give in to the belief that ”deep down, everybody’s actually good.” Not everybody is. And we must still persevere to see things from their perspective, and though we may not justify their ways, we must strive to understand them – though we might not follow them, we must try to be as kind to them as possible. And yet, there comes a time when some people need to be put down – we must follow the call of our conscience then, and yet be kind to them in the process, as much as we can.
Striving to follow this dictum, I have realized how difficult it is to be kind to others when I find I’m right. It is so easy to put down others bluntly, it is so easy to be critical and fair, but so difficult to consider for a moment what the other might be going through. How convenient it is to dismiss the hardships of others and say, “They had it coming!” and unburden our conscience of the probable guilt that perhaps we’ve been a bit too harsh.
How simple it is to stereotype people, classify them neatly into convenient square boxes and systematically deal with them based on those black-or-white prejudices! Robe a prejudice in the opaque, oppressive garment called Common Sense and display boldly the seal of Social Approval and you’ve solved the biggest difficulty of life – knowing how to treat people.
And yet, nothing could be farther than the truth. Rarely are people so simple as they seem. In Wilde’s words, “The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.” For you never know when a grumpy, rude, racist Mrs. Dubose might be fighting her own monsters or Ewell be, in fact trying to protect the last vestiges of honor he has, or Aunt Alexandra only trying to advocate the least painful way of life. And though we might not agree with any of them, like Atticus, we must see them for their peculiar situations and grant them a little leeway, make a little corner for them too, and yet, stand up for what is right in defiance of them.
It is this tricky rope-walking balance between prejudice and common sense, kindness and firmness, and justice and leeway that spurs me to revisit this little book every time I seem to falter. While I find it difficult to keep my cool in the midst of flagrant injustices and ensuing pain, I strive to strike a balance between giving in to despair and becoming too optimistic; between becoming indifferent, unkind, righteous and being compassionate, considerate. It is what keeps me from becoming paranoid or cynical with the unceasing drone of passivity, callousness, overwhelming prejudice and unyielding customs while still being alive to the pain of those very people I do not necessarily agree with.
In a country like India with its bizarre, incomprehensible equations and sequestrations of religion, class, caste, region, language, race, gender, sexuality and education, it takes a whole load of effort not to blow up one’s mind – people will kill each other over anything and everything. They’ll hate each other, isolate each other and cook up stories amongst themselves and leave it floating in the air. It takes every ounce of my energy not to hate my land and its majority people viciously. Yes, viciously.
But you see, I’ve got so much to learn to survive here – I have to stand up for myself when there will be hordes banging upon my door telling me to shut the hell up. And I’ll have to muster all the courage I have to tell them to go f*** themselves if they think I musn’t transcend the limits set for me. But I also have to learn not to hate them. Even if it sounds silly.
I know for one, Lee – I don’t care if you never wrote another work. I don’t care if Capote helped you write it, as many say. I’m glad somebody wrote this book, and somebody assigned this book as syllabus when I needed it the most. Five years ago, I hadn’t even heard of it. I read it in a single sitting. And then I read it several times over, taking my time, pondering over every page. I still do so. It is my favorite book ever.
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A wonderful piece of literature, great characters, plot and prose. There is sadness and happiness, racism and equality, immaturity and maturity, injustice and redemption.
Atticus is a man we could all love and look up to a grounded just and fair man he sees beyond race and finds the goodness in people. His cook Calpurnia Is honest good black lady who you just gotta love in this story, she works for a nice family who are about to go through some obstacles and testing times.
A lot of the story is told through a young girl and is enjoyable to see things from a young perspective for example this excerpt...
"There was a man Dill had heard of who had a boat that he rowed across to a foggy island where all these babies were; you could order one— “That’s a lie. Aunty said God drops ‘em down the chimney. At least that’s what I think she said.” For once, Aunty’s diction had not been too clear.
"You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men."n
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest 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.”
Some trivia about the book and movie...
Finch was writer Harper Lee's mother's maiden name.
Despite the novel winning the Pulitzer Prize, the studios were not interested in buying up the film rights as they deemed it lacking in action, there was no love story and the villain doesn't get a big comeuppance. Producer Alan J. Pakula disagreed however and persuaded director Robert Mulligan that it would make a good film. Together they were able to convince Gregory Peck who readily agreed.
Truman Capote, who grew up with Harper Lee, also knew the inspiration for "Boo" Radley, and had planned to base a character on him in one of his short stories. After seeing how well the character was realized in Lee's novel, however, he decided against it.
Some images..
Harper Lee on the right.
http://more2read.com/?review=to-kill-a-mockingbird-by-harper-lee
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لا تقتل عصفوراً ساخراً
يالمأزق الكتابة عن الكتب المطروقة، تشعر بأنك وفي أي لحظة ستعيد كلام أحدهم، ستتعثر بكلماته وأفكاره، تشعر بصعوبة البحث عن صوتك، وكتابة شيء أصيل، تقول فيه ما لم يقل بعد.
ويالمأزق قراءة هذه الكتب ابتداءً، فحتى لو كنت لا تعرف تفاصيلها، إلا أن ما قيل وما كتب عنها عالق في ذهنك، يكاد يوجه انتباهك، بحيث يغدو النص كما قيل، لا كما يجب أن تقرؤه.
وفي هذه الرواية تبرز موضوعة (ثيمة) العنصرية بشكل ظاهر، بحيث تستولي على كل حديث أو مراجعة عن الكتاب، رغم أن العنصرية كموضوعة لا تشغل إلا النصف الثاني من الكتاب، فلذا يبدو النصف الأول للقارئ الذي جاء إلى الكتاب باحثاً عن آتيكوس في المحكمة، يبدو ذلك النصف مملاً، طويلاً ومقحماً على الرواية، وهو كذلك لو كانت العنصرية هي موضوعة الرواية، ولكنها برأيي ليست كذلك، فالموضوعة الرئيسية هي الطفولة في ولاية جنوبية، ومن هذه الموضوعة تتفرع الموضوعات الأخرى، فهناك موضوعة العلاقة بالأب وتحوله إلى نموذج، وهناك موضوعة العنصرية بالطبع، وهناك موضوعة العدالة، كل هذه الموضوعات تتجاور ضمن حبكة القصة، التي تروى على لسان ابنة آتيكوس سكاوت.
سكاوت طفلة عمرها ست سنوات، تعيش هي وأخيها جيم الذي يكبرها قليلاً مع والدهما الأرمل (آتيكوس فينش)، في مدينة مايكومب في ولاية آلاباما، في ثلاثينات القرن العشرين، ولأن القصة تروى من وجهة نظرها، فلذا تركز على ما يشغلها هي وجيم، فلذا تحدثنا عن المدرسة، وعن الجيران، وعن الجار الغريب (بو رادلي) الذي لا يظهر للأنظار بعدما طعن والده بمقص، إنها حياة طفلة ومغامراتها مع جيم وصديقهما ديل – يبدو أنها استوحت شخصيته من ترومان كابوتي نفسه، صديقها منذ الطفولة -، من كل هذه الحكايات الصغيرة يبرز آتيكوس فينش، الأب الذي يتعامل مع أطفاله بأسلوب تربوي رائع، يحاورهم، يعلمهم، يعقد معهم الصفقات الصغيرة، لقد كتبت هذه الرواية بروح أنثى، تلتقط الأشياء الصغيرة التي ربما لا يلتفت لها كثيراً، ولهذا اعتبرت الرواية شبه تعليمية، مناسبة لتدرس في المدارس.
من أبرز اللحظات التي التقطتها المؤلفة، هي اللحظة التي كان فيها جيم وسكاوت يتبرمان من كبر سن والدهما، ويعتبرانه عجوزاً، عندها بعثت كلباً مسعوراً يطوف الحي ليتعرف الطفلان على موهبة مخفية لوالدهما، وهي أنه رامٍ بارع، يصيب الكلب بطلقة واحدة، وبلا نظارته، بحيث يفقد جيم لسانه، ولا يدري ماذا يقول لوالده الذي لم يعد عجوزاً الآن.
إن آتيكوس في الرواية وقبل أن يكون ذلك الرجل الأخلاقي الذي يرفض العنصرية والظلم، والذي يحلم بأن يتساوى الناس أمام القضاء، بحيث يحصل الأسود على ذات الحقوق التي يحصل عليها البيض، وقبل أن يكون ذلك الأب الذي يعامل طفليه بكرامة واحترام، إنه قبل هذا الجار الذي يصبر على أذى جارته العجوز، ويعلم طفليه كيف يعاملانها باحترام، وعندما تتهجم العجوز السليطة اللسان على جيم وأخته وتشتم والدهما، فيغضب جيم ويخرب حديقتها، يلزمه والده عندها بأن يحقق لها ما تطلبه لتسامحه وهو أن يقرأ لها ولمدة شهر كامل، إنها مهمة رهيبة، ولكن جيم يقوم بها تصحبه أخته، وفي النهاية وبعدما تموت العجوز يستخرج لهما آتيكوس الدرس، لقد كانت تلك العجوز مدمنة، عانت كثيراً لتتخلص من إدمانها قبل أن تموت، لقد كانت تعاني الألم وتتحمل، حتى خرجت من هذه الدنيا صافية، إنها برواية أخرى بطلة.
يأتي بعد هذا كله آتيكوس المحامي الذي يتصدى لقضية رجل أسود متهم باغتصاب فتاة بيضاء، إنها قضية خاسرة، في ولاية عنصرية، لا يمكن للمحلفين فيها إلا أن يدي��وا الرجل، مذنباً كان أو غير مذنب، ولكن آتيكوس يبرز المثال الأخلاقي أمام أبنائه وأمام الجميع، يتحمل تعرض المجتمع له ولأبنائه، يخاطر بحياته عندما يقف عند باب السجن في وجه عصبة مسلحة جاءت ليلاً لتغتال الرجل الأسود.
تأتي بعد ذلك أشهر فصول الرواية، المحاكمة التي جسدها على الشاشة وباقتدار الممثل الراحل جريجوري بِك، في تلك المحاكمة نتعرف على المدعين، الفتاة البيضاء ووالدها السكير، ونتعرف على المتهم توم روبنسون، نتابع التفاصيل التي يجلي فيها آتيكوس الظلم الواقع على توم، ورغم ذلك وكما هو متوقع تحكم المحكمة عليه.
لا تتجلى بشاعة العنصرية برأيي في الحكم على توم، ولا في الطريقة المهينة التي يعامله الإدعاء بها، ولا في نعت الناس لآتيكوس بأنه (محب للزنوج)، إن العنصرية تبرز أولاً في الحادثة ذاتها، في رغبة فتاة بيضاء مهجورة برجل أسود، والحالة الخانعة التي وجد نفسه فيها بحكم لونه، بحيث صار ينفذ لها ما تطلبه من أعمال منزلية، حتى جاء اليوم الذي تحرشت به فيه، وتتجلى العنصرية في اتهامها له باغتصابها انتقاماً من رفضه لها، وتتجلى أخيراً في محاولة توم اليائسة للهروب من السجن، حيث يقتل وتنتهي مأساته بجثة دامية، لماذا حاول توم الهروب؟ ألم يعده آتيكوس بالعمل على قضيته وأخذها إلى المحكمة الدستورية بعيداً عن هذه الولاية العنصرية؟ لم يحاول رجل بيد واحدة الهرب؟ لأنه بكل بساطة وضع في زاوية ضيقة بحيث لم يعد قادراً على التفكير والثقة بأحد، فلذا جرب الشيء الوحيد الذي يعرفه الهرب، هرب من الفتاة البيضاء التي حاولت تقبيله، فانتهى إلى المحكمة، ثم هرب من الرجل الأبيض الذي يريد أن يسجنه فانتهى إلى المشرحة، إن مأساته ليست في أنه قتل، بل في أنه مهزوم منذ البداية، قبل حتى أن يولد.
إن فهم هذا جيداً، يجعلنا نقدر ما قام به الحقوقيون في أمريكا على مدى سنوات طويلة، وعذابات لا تنتهي، ليقضوا على العنصرية، ويغيروا قناعات الناس وأفكارهم، بحيث تتم محاصرة العنصريين في زمننا هذا، حتى لا يجرأ أحدهم على التصريح بعنصريته علناً.
تنتهي الرواية بحادثة تغلق الدائرة، الجار الذي كان الأطفال يحشرون أنوفهم في حياته (بو برادلي) يتدخل لينقذ حياتهم من المجرم الوحش الذي لم يكتفِ بحياة توم روبنسون، فحاول قتل أبناء المحامي الذي أذله وفضحه في المحكمة، ولكنه انتهى مجندلاً في شارع مظلم، هكذا تنقلب الأشياء في أعيننا، فالرجل الأبيض هو الشر مجسداً، يسكر ويضرب ابنته، ثم يجعلها تقود رجلاً بريئاً إلى حتفه، ثم يحاول اغتيال أطفال لا ذنب لهم، والرجل الآخر الذي ينظر له المجتمع على أنه مختل محبوس في منزله، هو صورة الخير، إنها الدنيا مقلوبة في أعيننا، ولكنها صحيحة تماماً وفي موضعها في عيني طفلة صغيرة كسكاوت.
يالمأزق الكتابة عن الكتب المطروقة، تشعر بأنك وفي أي لحظة ستعيد كلام أحدهم، ستتعثر بكلماته وأفكاره، تشعر بصعوبة البحث عن صوتك، وكتابة شيء أصيل، تقول فيه ما لم يقل بعد.
ويالمأزق قراءة هذه الكتب ابتداءً، فحتى لو كنت لا تعرف تفاصيلها، إلا أن ما قيل وما كتب عنها عالق في ذهنك، يكاد يوجه انتباهك، بحيث يغدو النص كما قيل، لا كما يجب أن تقرؤه.
وفي هذه الرواية تبرز موضوعة (ثيمة) العنصرية بشكل ظاهر، بحيث تستولي على كل حديث أو مراجعة عن الكتاب، رغم أن العنصرية كموضوعة لا تشغل إلا النصف الثاني من الكتاب، فلذا يبدو النصف الأول للقارئ الذي جاء إلى الكتاب باحثاً عن آتيكوس في المحكمة، يبدو ذلك النصف مملاً، طويلاً ومقحماً على الرواية، وهو كذلك لو كانت العنصرية هي موضوعة الرواية، ولكنها برأيي ليست كذلك، فالموضوعة الرئيسية هي الطفولة في ولاية جنوبية، ومن هذه الموضوعة تتفرع الموضوعات الأخرى، فهناك موضوعة العلاقة بالأب وتحوله إلى نموذج، وهناك موضوعة العنصرية بالطبع، وهناك موضوعة العدالة، كل هذه الموضوعات تتجاور ضمن حبكة القصة، التي تروى على لسان ابنة آتيكوس سكاوت.
سكاوت طفلة عمرها ست سنوات، تعيش هي وأخيها جيم الذي يكبرها قليلاً مع والدهما الأرمل (آتيكوس فينش)، في مدينة مايكومب في ولاية آلاباما، في ثلاثينات القرن العشرين، ولأن القصة تروى من وجهة نظرها، فلذا تركز على ما يشغلها هي وجيم، فلذا تحدثنا عن المدرسة، وعن الجيران، وعن الجار الغريب (بو رادلي) الذي لا يظهر للأنظار بعدما طعن والده بمقص، إنها حياة طفلة ومغامراتها مع جيم وصديقهما ديل – يبدو أنها استوحت شخصيته من ترومان كابوتي نفسه، صديقها منذ الطفولة -، من كل هذه الحكايات الصغيرة يبرز آتيكوس فينش، الأب الذي يتعامل مع أطفاله بأسلوب تربوي رائع، يحاورهم، يعلمهم، يعقد معهم الصفقات الصغيرة، لقد كتبت هذه الرواية بروح أنثى، تلتقط الأشياء الصغيرة التي ربما لا يلتفت لها كثيراً، ولهذا اعتبرت الرواية شبه تعليمية، مناسبة لتدرس في المدارس.
من أبرز اللحظات التي التقطتها المؤلفة، هي اللحظة التي كان فيها جيم وسكاوت يتبرمان من كبر سن والدهما، ويعتبرانه عجوزاً، عندها بعثت كلباً مسعوراً يطوف الحي ليتعرف الطفلان على موهبة مخفية لوالدهما، وهي أنه رامٍ بارع، يصيب الكلب بطلقة واحدة، وبلا نظارته، بحيث يفقد جيم لسانه، ولا يدري ماذا يقول لوالده الذي لم يعد عجوزاً الآن.
إن آتيكوس في الرواية وقبل أن يكون ذلك الرجل الأخلاقي الذي يرفض العنصرية والظلم، والذي يحلم بأن يتساوى الناس أمام القضاء، بحيث يحصل الأسود على ذات الحقوق التي يحصل عليها البيض، وقبل أن يكون ذلك الأب الذي يعامل طفليه بكرامة واحترام، إنه قبل هذا الجار الذي يصبر على أذى جارته العجوز، ويعلم طفليه كيف يعاملانها باحترام، وعندما تتهجم العجوز السليطة اللسان على جيم وأخته وتشتم والدهما، فيغضب جيم ويخرب حديقتها، يلزمه والده عندها بأن يحقق لها ما تطلبه لتسامحه وهو أن يقرأ لها ولمدة شهر كامل، إنها مهمة رهيبة، ولكن جيم يقوم بها تصحبه أخته، وفي النهاية وبعدما تموت العجوز يستخرج لهما آتيكوس الدرس، لقد كانت تلك العجوز مدمنة، عانت كثيراً لتتخلص من إدمانها قبل أن تموت، لقد كانت تعاني الألم وتتحمل، حتى خرجت من هذه الدنيا صافية، إنها برواية أخرى بطلة.
يأتي بعد هذا كله آتيكوس المحامي الذي يتصدى لقضية رجل أسود متهم باغتصاب فتاة بيضاء، إنها قضية خاسرة، في ولاية عنصرية، لا يمكن للمحلفين فيها إلا أن يدي��وا الرجل، مذنباً كان أو غير مذنب، ولكن آتيكوس يبرز المثال الأخلاقي أمام أبنائه وأمام الجميع، يتحمل تعرض المجتمع له ولأبنائه، يخاطر بحياته عندما يقف عند باب السجن في وجه عصبة مسلحة جاءت ليلاً لتغتال الرجل الأسود.
تأتي بعد ذلك أشهر فصول الرواية، المحاكمة التي جسدها على الشاشة وباقتدار الممثل الراحل جريجوري بِك، في تلك المحاكمة نتعرف على المدعين، الفتاة البيضاء ووالدها السكير، ونتعرف على المتهم توم روبنسون، نتابع التفاصيل التي يجلي فيها آتيكوس الظلم الواقع على توم، ورغم ذلك وكما هو متوقع تحكم المحكمة عليه.
لا تتجلى بشاعة العنصرية برأيي في الحكم على توم، ولا في الطريقة المهينة التي يعامله الإدعاء بها، ولا في نعت الناس لآتيكوس بأنه (محب للزنوج)، إن العنصرية تبرز أولاً في الحادثة ذاتها، في رغبة فتاة بيضاء مهجورة برجل أسود، والحالة الخانعة التي وجد نفسه فيها بحكم لونه، بحيث صار ينفذ لها ما تطلبه من أعمال منزلية، حتى جاء اليوم الذي تحرشت به فيه، وتتجلى العنصرية في اتهامها له باغتصابها انتقاماً من رفضه لها، وتتجلى أخيراً في محاولة توم اليائسة للهروب من السجن، حيث يقتل وتنتهي مأساته بجثة دامية، لماذا حاول توم الهروب؟ ألم يعده آتيكوس بالعمل على قضيته وأخذها إلى المحكمة الدستورية بعيداً عن هذه الولاية العنصرية؟ لم يحاول رجل بيد واحدة الهرب؟ لأنه بكل بساطة وضع في زاوية ضيقة بحيث لم يعد قادراً على التفكير والثقة بأحد، فلذا جرب الشيء الوحيد الذي يعرفه الهرب، هرب من الفتاة البيضاء التي حاولت تقبيله، فانتهى إلى المحكمة، ثم هرب من الرجل الأبيض الذي يريد أن يسجنه فانتهى إلى المشرحة، إن مأساته ليست في أنه قتل، بل في أنه مهزوم منذ البداية، قبل حتى أن يولد.
إن فهم هذا جيداً، يجعلنا نقدر ما قام به الحقوقيون في أمريكا على مدى سنوات طويلة، وعذابات لا تنتهي، ليقضوا على العنصرية، ويغيروا قناعات الناس وأفكارهم، بحيث تتم محاصرة العنصريين في زمننا هذا، حتى لا يجرأ أحدهم على التصريح بعنصريته علناً.
تنتهي الرواية بحادثة تغلق الدائرة، الجار الذي كان الأطفال يحشرون أنوفهم في حياته (بو برادلي) يتدخل لينقذ حياتهم من المجرم الوحش الذي لم يكتفِ بحياة توم روبنسون، فحاول قتل أبناء المحامي الذي أذله وفضحه في المحكمة، ولكنه انتهى مجندلاً في شارع مظلم، هكذا تنقلب الأشياء في أعيننا، فالرجل الأبيض هو الشر مجسداً، يسكر ويضرب ابنته، ثم يجعلها تقود رجلاً بريئاً إلى حتفه، ثم يحاول اغتيال أطفال لا ذنب لهم، والرجل الآخر الذي ينظر له المجتمع على أنه مختل محبوس في منزله، هو صورة الخير، إنها الدنيا مقلوبة في أعيننا، ولكنها صحيحة تماماً وفي موضعها في عيني طفلة صغيرة كسكاوت.
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I can't quite remember how many times I have read this Pulitzer prize winning, coming of age, Southern American classic novel, I first read this most loved of books at school and I think this is the fifth of my readings in these most anxious of times. The novel spawned the unforgettable award winning film starring Gregory Peck playing the unforgettable role of the most iconic lawyer of all time, the compassionate Atticus Finch. I think there cannot be many who are unaware of this timeless, emotionally compelling story and its characters, it is embedded so deeply in our cultural history, life and memories. Set amidst the harsh realities of 1930s Alabama in the small town of Maycomb, it touches on the most universal of themes of race, class, gender, inequality, injustice, hypocrisy, cruelty, hate, courage, the power of kindness, family and innocence, seen through the eyes of the young Scout (Jean Louise) and her brother, Jem, the children of Atticus.
This novel still inspires wonder, with its message of it being a sin to kill a mockingbird, it was a joy to re-encounter Boo Radley, Calpurnia and Tom Robinson et al, my love for it remains strong and undiminished, it is still one of my all time favourites, and I can see future generations loving it as much as me. Many thanks to Random House Cornerstone who are publishing a special edition.
This novel still inspires wonder, with its message of it being a sin to kill a mockingbird, it was a joy to re-encounter Boo Radley, Calpurnia and Tom Robinson et al, my love for it remains strong and undiminished, it is still one of my all time favourites, and I can see future generations loving it as much as me. Many thanks to Random House Cornerstone who are publishing a special edition.
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Τα ***** αστέρια ως ανώτερη κλίμακα αξιολόγησης γι αυτό το βιβλίο τα δίνω αποκλειστικά και μόνο για την αφήγηση σε πρώτο πρόσωπο της πρόωρα ώριμης οκταχρονης ηρωίδας και ένα άρωμα τρυφερότητας,αθωότητας,φαντασίας και ηθικής πίστης που σου μεταδίδει η συγγραφέας απο την αρχή ως το τέλος και σε κάνει να αφοσιωθεις άνευ όρων.
Δυο παιδάκια μεγαλώνουν στο Μέικομπ μια μικρή πόλη της Αλαμπάμα,γεμάτη ρατσισμό,σκληρότητα,αδικία και εμπάθεια ανάμεσα στους διαφορετικούς χαρακτηρες της.
Μπαμπάς τους ειναι μάλλον ο καλύτερος πατέρας που θα μπορούσε να σταθεί σε λογοτεχνικό έργο εποχής. Ο Άττικους ειναι χήρος, δικηγόρος στο επάγγελμα, προσπαθεί να μεγαλώσει δυο παιδιά με αξίες και ιδεώδη με ευαισθησία και συμπόνια και με απόλυτη δικαιοσύνη. Ειναι ένας μπαμπάς γλυκός και αυστηρός με απόλυτη ελευθερία και μέτρο διδάσκει στα παιδιά του να αγαπούν και να σέβονται όλους τους ανθρώπους ανεξαιρέτως χρώματος ή κοινωνικής θέσης.
‘’Σκοτώστε όσες κίσσες θέλετε, αν μπορείτε να τις πετύχετε, αλλά να θυμάστε, είναι αμαρτία να σκοτώνεις τα κοτσύφια’’. Αυτή ειναι η συμβολική συμβουλή του προς τα παιδιά του.
Αυτός ο μπαμπάς λοιπόν αναλαμβάνει να υπερασπιστεί στο δικαστήριο - παρά τις άσχημες αντιδράσεις της κοινωνίας- έναν νεγρο εργάτη που κατηγορείται πως βίασε μια λευκή περιθωριακή κοπέλα. Παρα τις μεγάλες εντάσεις και ολες τις αποδείξεις αθωότητας του κατηγορουμένου,το δικαστήριο τον καταδικάζει και στην προσπάθεια του να δραπετεύσει σκοτώνεται.
Παει το πρώτο κοτσυφακι.....
Το δεύτερο κοτσυφακι ....της ιστορίας μας ειναι ο Μπού ένας ερημίτης γείτονας που ζει κλεισμένος στην μοναχικότητα του χρονια ολόκληρα και παίρνει τρομακτικές διαστάσεις η παρουσία του στα μάτια των μικρών μας ηρώων. Ο ήσυχος και αθώος Μπού δέχεται το φόβο της κοινότητας όμως στο τέλος η πράξη του ειναι η σπουδαιότερη και η πιο σωτήρια.
Μια τρυφερή μάτια στον σκληρό κόσμο που μας θυμίζει πως η αλλαγή προς το καλό ξεκινάει απο τα φρέσκα μυαλά και τα αθώα μάτια των παιδιών.
«Δε θα καταλάβεις πραγματικά έναν άνθρωπο μέχρι να σκεφτείς τα πράγματα από τη δική του οπτική γωνία – μέχρι να βάλεις τα παπούτσια του και να περπατήσεις με αυτά»
✍
Δυο παιδάκια μεγαλώνουν στο Μέικομπ μια μικρή πόλη της Αλαμπάμα,γεμάτη ρατσισμό,σκληρότητα,αδικία και εμπάθεια ανάμεσα στους διαφορετικούς χαρακτηρες της.
Μπαμπάς τους ειναι μάλλον ο καλύτερος πατέρας που θα μπορούσε να σταθεί σε λογοτεχνικό έργο εποχής. Ο Άττικους ειναι χήρος, δικηγόρος στο επάγγελμα, προσπαθεί να μεγαλώσει δυο παιδιά με αξίες και ιδεώδη με ευαισθησία και συμπόνια και με απόλυτη δικαιοσύνη. Ειναι ένας μπαμπάς γλυκός και αυστηρός με απόλυτη ελευθερία και μέτρο διδάσκει στα παιδιά του να αγαπούν και να σέβονται όλους τους ανθρώπους ανεξαιρέτως χρώματος ή κοινωνικής θέσης.
‘’Σκοτώστε όσες κίσσες θέλετε, αν μπορείτε να τις πετύχετε, αλλά να θυμάστε, είναι αμαρτία να σκοτώνεις τα κοτσύφια’’. Αυτή ειναι η συμβολική συμβουλή του προς τα παιδιά του.
Αυτός ο μπαμπάς λοιπόν αναλαμβάνει να υπερασπιστεί στο δικαστήριο - παρά τις άσχημες αντιδράσεις της κοινωνίας- έναν νεγρο εργάτη που κατηγορείται πως βίασε μια λευκή περιθωριακή κοπέλα. Παρα τις μεγάλες εντάσεις και ολες τις αποδείξεις αθωότητας του κατηγορουμένου,το δικαστήριο τον καταδικάζει και στην προσπάθεια του να δραπετεύσει σκοτώνεται.
Παει το πρώτο κοτσυφακι.....
Το δεύτερο κοτσυφακι ....της ιστορίας μας ειναι ο Μπού ένας ερημίτης γείτονας που ζει κλεισμένος στην μοναχικότητα του χρονια ολόκληρα και παίρνει τρομακτικές διαστάσεις η παρουσία του στα μάτια των μικρών μας ηρώων. Ο ήσυχος και αθώος Μπού δέχεται το φόβο της κοινότητας όμως στο τέλος η πράξη του ειναι η σπουδαιότερη και η πιο σωτήρια.
Μια τρυφερή μάτια στον σκληρό κόσμο που μας θυμίζει πως η αλλαγή προς το καλό ξεκινάει απο τα φρέσκα μυαλά και τα αθώα μάτια των παιδιών.
«Δε θα καταλάβεις πραγματικά έναν άνθρωπο μέχρι να σκεφτείς τα πράγματα από τη δική του οπτική γωνία – μέχρι να βάλεις τα παπούτσια του και να περπατήσεις με αυτά»
✍
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„Да убиеш присмехулник“ е изключително силен и човешки роман! С голямо удоволствие си припомних тази очарователна история. В нея става дума за расизма и други сериозни проблеми на американското общество, обаче е съвсем разбираемо и увлекателно написана. Действието се развива в малко градче в Алабама през 30-те години на миналия век, като през погледа на малко момиче проследяваме трудния начин на живот и осъзнаваме жестокостта на предразсъдъците...
„Мисис Моди престана да се люлее и гласът й стана суров.
— Много си малка, за да го разбереш, но понякога библията в ръцете на един човек е по-страшна, отколкото бутилка уиски в ръцете на… баща ти например.
— Атикус никога не пие уиски! — възмутих се аз. — През целия си живот той не е сложил капка уиски в устата си… А, не, пил е! Каза ми, че веднъж пийнал и не го харесал.
Мисис Моди се разсмя.
— Не исках да кажа това. Мисълта ми беше, че ако Атикус Финч се напие, пак няма да бъде толкова лош, колкото другите хора в най-добрия им вид.“
„— Почти всички мислят, че те са прави, а ти не си…
— Те имат право да мислят така и тяхното мнение трябва да се уважава — каза Атикус, — но за да живея в мир с хората, трябва да живея в мир със себе си. Единственото нещо, което не се подчинява на мнозинството, е съвестта на човека.“
„Но в едно отношение всички хора в нашата страна са равни — една човешка институция прави бедния равен на Рокфелер, глупавия — равен на Айнщайн и неграмотния — равен на университетски ректор. Тази институция, господа, е съдът. Той може да бъде върховният съд на Съединените щати или най-скромният градски съд в страната, или този почтен съд, където вие сега заседавате. Нашите съдилища имат някои недостатъци, но съдилищата са великите уравнители в тази страна и в нашите съдилища всички хора са равни.
Аз не съм идеалист, но вярвам твърдо в съвършенството на нашите съдилища и в института на съдебните заседатели — това за мен не е идеал, а съществуваща реалност. Господа, като цяло съдът не е по-добър от всеки от нас, които заседават тук. Даден съд е толкова разумен, колкото са разумни неговите съдебни заседатели, а съдебните заседатели са толкова разумни като цяло, колкото е всеки от вас поотделно.“
„Мисис Моди престана да се люлее и гласът й стана суров.
— Много си малка, за да го разбереш, но понякога библията в ръцете на един човек е по-страшна, отколкото бутилка уиски в ръцете на… баща ти например.
— Атикус никога не пие уиски! — възмутих се аз. — През целия си живот той не е сложил капка уиски в устата си… А, не, пил е! Каза ми, че веднъж пийнал и не го харесал.
Мисис Моди се разсмя.
— Не исках да кажа това. Мисълта ми беше, че ако Атикус Финч се напие, пак няма да бъде толкова лош, колкото другите хора в най-добрия им вид.“
„— Почти всички мислят, че те са прави, а ти не си…
— Те имат право да мислят така и тяхното мнение трябва да се уважава — каза Атикус, — но за да живея в мир с хората, трябва да живея в мир със себе си. Единственото нещо, което не се подчинява на мнозинството, е съвестта на човека.“
„Но в едно отношение всички хора в нашата страна са равни — една човешка институция прави бедния равен на Рокфелер, глупавия — равен на Айнщайн и неграмотния — равен на университетски ректор. Тази институция, господа, е съдът. Той може да бъде върховният съд на Съединените щати или най-скромният градски съд в страната, или този почтен съд, където вие сега заседавате. Нашите съдилища имат някои недостатъци, но съдилищата са великите уравнители в тази страна и в нашите съдилища всички хора са равни.
Аз не съм идеалист, но вярвам твърдо в съвършенството на нашите съдилища и в института на съдебните заседатели — това за мен не е идеал, а съществуваща реалност. Господа, като цяло съдът не е по-добър от всеки от нас, които заседават тук. Даден съд е толкова разумен, колкото са разумни неговите съдебни заседатели, а съдебните заседатели са толкова разумни като цяло, колкото е всеки от вас поотделно.“
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Still five stars.
. . . It's a sin to kill a mockingbird . . .
. . . let the dead bury the dead . . .
. . . he was real nice . . . most people are . . . when you finally see them . . .
A well written novel about humanity, our differences, our beliefs, and our innocence. Told from the viewpoint of Scout who has yet to develop strong beliefs, prejudices, etc. - her mind is a blank canvas to learn about the world and its happiness and sorrows, its prejudice and tolerance, its fairness and injustice. Jen, Dill, and Atticus serve as her companions and guides on this journey. The characters they meet along the way are examples of the best and worst in all of us.
Even after all these years, there is still a lot we can learn from this book.
. . . It's a sin to kill a mockingbird . . .
. . . let the dead bury the dead . . .
. . . he was real nice . . . most people are . . . when you finally see them . . .
A well written novel about humanity, our differences, our beliefs, and our innocence. Told from the viewpoint of Scout who has yet to develop strong beliefs, prejudices, etc. - her mind is a blank canvas to learn about the world and its happiness and sorrows, its prejudice and tolerance, its fairness and injustice. Jen, Dill, and Atticus serve as her companions and guides on this journey. The characters they meet along the way are examples of the best and worst in all of us.
Even after all these years, there is still a lot we can learn from this book.
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2024: Each time I read what PBS dubs the perfect American novel, my heart fills just a little more. There are few books where the beginning paragraphs hit a home run for me, and this is one of them. It has been a long month filled with family time and endless cooking so for the last ten days I opted for comfort reads and there is no family who provides comfort like the Finches, with the exception of Aunt Alexandra. “Lawyers were children once,” quotes Charles Lamb in the opening epithet. Prior to this reading, I viewed Atticus Finch as an unapproachable, older father. Beloved by his children to the point of idolization, but with an impenetrable outer skin. As an adult looking back at the events which shaped the novel, Scout paints the picture of her father as one who makes everything right and makes her feel safe. Even though this novel had been marketed for adults, it is in its essence a coming of age novel, which shows Scout’s growth through elementary school while her family faces events that mean to alter the history of a town. Atticus would need to be a strong figure to guide his children through the plot, and he would need to wistfully remember his childhood in order to relate to them. This is the man who told us all to walk in another’s shoes and see things from their point of view. Until today, I never viewed Atticus as multi-faceted, just a great man. Today that view slightly changed, yet he remains one of my top personas of all time.
Pestering Boo Radley is like killing a mockingbird, Scout implores Atticus. He never did anyone harm. There is a reason why this novel won the Pulitzer as being ahead of its time. The beginning and ending paragraphs mirror each other and provide closure. Scout and Dill engage in childhood escapades while learning life lessons imparted on them by their neighbors. Jem believes that the story began the summer Dill came and he tried to make Boo Radley come out. Being four years Scout’s senior at the time, he already saw the events of the novel from an adult perspective. Scout and Dill did not. They started as innocent seven year olds who thought that they would get married one day and ended as empathetic individuals who wanted to change the world. Perhaps Atticus’ lessons had penetrated these children after all; Scout, at least, looked like a lawyer in the making. If the world changed in her lifetime, perhaps she would get that opportunity.
With a book as perfect as this one, it comes as little wonder to me that Harper Lee never published another in her lifetime. She became a recluse; perhaps she modeled Boo Radley after her own tendencies. Boo did not come out because he did not want to. I am of the camp who is 99.9% sure to never read Go Set a Watchman. To Kill a Mockingbird is practically perfect in every way and made to change the way a nation thought about groups of people. Harper Lee had as much courage in publishing it pre- Civil Rights Act as the characters in her novel did in living with there preconceived notions of how the world functions. Bravery, courage, and empathy remain the overarching motifs in this great American novel. I view it as the ultimate comfort read and in the words of my reading friend Tessa, five stars and a heart.
2019: With endless books and infinitely more to be written in the future, it is rare occasion that I take the time to reread a novel. As women’s history month is upon us (2019), I have kept revising my monthly lineup to feature books by remarkable women across the spectrum. Yet, none of these nonfiction books pay homage to the writers of the books themselves. Even with memoirs, the prose focuses on the author’s achievements in her chosen field. Last week a goodreads friend and I paid tribute to women authors in a daily literary journal. In one of my friend’s posts, she pointed out that as recently as 1960, the author of the most endearing of American novels had to use a masculinized version of her name in fear of not being published. Nelle Harper Lee of Monroeville, Alabama published To Kill a Mockingbird under her middle name, so only those well read readers are aware of the author’s full name. It is in this regard, that I included Pulitzer and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Nelle Harper Lee in my Women’s History month lineup. It is as auspicious of a time as any to reread one of America’s greatest novels.
When I was in ninth grade English class, I read Harper Lee’s novel for the first time. At age fourteen I was hardly a polished writer and struggled with many of the assignments. Yet, I do remember that the top essay in the class focused on the overarching theme of courage and how Harper Lee showed how each of the characters, major and minor, embodied this trait in the trying times associated with the novel. It was courageous of a southern woman to write a novel with this subject matter prior to the passage of the civil rights act. It is of little wonder to me looking back now that she chose to publish under a gender neutral name. Perhaps, she feared a lynch mob or being outcast in her home town. It was a trying time as the federal government asserted itself against states still grieving from the war between the states and holding out as the last bulwarks of white superiority. Harper Lee exhibited as much courage as the characters in her novel, and rightfully was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her work. As such, being courageous starts from the top and works its way down to each and every character of this timeless work.
In 1930s rural Maycomb, Alabama people were pretty much set in their way of life. Town folk had received an education and worked as lawyers, doctors, bankers, and businessmen. The country folk may or may not have received an education because they had to work the fields and many were illiterate. Even the majority of those educated white folk still saw themselves as superior to blacks, and few, if any, had the audacity to take a black’s word over a white’s even if it were the correct moral thing to do. Yet, the crux of Lee’s novel is a court case threatening to disrupt this way of life, having the town divide along both racial and moral lines, and having each character step into others’ shoes and view the world from another’s perspective. Maycomb at the time embodied many rural American cities, isolated from progress as town set in its ways with few people who were willing to see the world from another perspective. One man was, however, a lawyer named Atticus Finch who is among the most revered fictional characters ever created. Even though this court case should not have been his, his superiors selected Atticus to counsel a black defendant because they realized that he was the one man in Maycomb who had both the ability to empathize and the courage to do so. His neighbor Mrs Maudie Atkinson noted that Atticus was the same man in the court house as he was at home and had nothing to fear. A widower, he instilled these values to his children Jeremy Atticus (Jem) and Jean Louise (Scout) from a young age, passing a strong moral compass onto his children.
In addition to critiquing southern race relations, Lee’s novel has endeared itself to children with the legend of Boo Radley. From the time they were young, Jem, Scout, and their summer friend Dill had courage to go to the Radley house trying to get Boo to come out even though all the other kids said the house was spooked. Atticus told them to put a halt to these childish games and explained Boo Radley’s background to them. The town claimed that Boo Radley was a ghost, but perhaps the reason he did not leave the house is because he did not want to. As the children grew older, Atticus warned them that there would be darker times ahead and they would have to be courageous in the face of what people said to them behind their backs. From the time Scout began school in first grade, she inhibited Atticus’ ability to stand up for what was right. Her teacher Miss Robinson was new to Maycomb and did not understand people’s ways. Scout explained about the Cunninghams, the Ewells, as well as other families at a personal cost to herself. As Scout grew older and was able to step into other people’s’ shoes more, she grew to understand differences between folks; however, she and Jem realized that differences did not make the world distinctly black and white or right and wrong. During an era when children were looked upon as unintelligent, Scout and Jem were wise beyond their years and following in their father’s footsteps.
Harper Lee created strong archetypal characters and had each embody their own courage. Each’s courage allowed Atticus to teach his children a life lesson that would endure for the rest of their lives. The family’s neighbor Mrs. Henry Lafayette DuBose demonstrates courage as she battles a final illness. Third grade teacher Mrs. Gates exhibits courage as she teaches Scout’s class about the rise of Nazism in Germany and th encourages her students to think for themselves about the differences between prejudices at home and abroad. The African American characters all demonstrate strong courage as well. The Finch’s housekeeper Calpurnia is a bridge between the white and black communities of Maycomb and does not hesitate to teach Scout and Jem life lessons as they arise. The Reverend Sykes welcomes Jem and Scout into his congregation as though they were his own and invites them to sit in the colored balcony at time when segregation was still the law. He risked a lynching and knew that the Finch family could possibly be labeled as negro lovers, yet Reverend Sykes played a small role in proving that one’s skin color should not determine whether someone is right or wrong. Of course, as part of the overarching story line, Boo Radley can be viewed as the most courageous character of them all. It is through the courage of an author to create characters who will stand up for what is morally right at a large cost to themselves that she created an award winning novel that was ahead of its time for its era. It is little wonder that the courage of these fictional characters has made the novel as beloved as it is today.
I believe that the courage exhibited by all these characters has made the town of Maycomb, Alabama stand the test of time and remain the timeless classic that it is. Most people can relate to those who have the courage to stand up for what they think is right or to fight against those tougher than them. This character trait has endeared the Finch family to millions of readers and will continue to do so for generations to come. Whenever a person asks what book would you give as a gift or what is the perfect book, To Kill a Mockingbird is my first choice. I find that it is perfect for any time but most appropriate in spring as in addition to courage there is an underlying theme of hope. Harper Lee won the Pulitzer for this timeless classic, and it also won first place in the Great American Read as America’s best novel. Thus I can think of no better way to honor women’s history month than with a timeless book that has and will continue to capture the hearts and minds of all of its readers.
5+ stars/ all-time favorites shelf
Pestering Boo Radley is like killing a mockingbird, Scout implores Atticus. He never did anyone harm. There is a reason why this novel won the Pulitzer as being ahead of its time. The beginning and ending paragraphs mirror each other and provide closure. Scout and Dill engage in childhood escapades while learning life lessons imparted on them by their neighbors. Jem believes that the story began the summer Dill came and he tried to make Boo Radley come out. Being four years Scout’s senior at the time, he already saw the events of the novel from an adult perspective. Scout and Dill did not. They started as innocent seven year olds who thought that they would get married one day and ended as empathetic individuals who wanted to change the world. Perhaps Atticus’ lessons had penetrated these children after all; Scout, at least, looked like a lawyer in the making. If the world changed in her lifetime, perhaps she would get that opportunity.
With a book as perfect as this one, it comes as little wonder to me that Harper Lee never published another in her lifetime. She became a recluse; perhaps she modeled Boo Radley after her own tendencies. Boo did not come out because he did not want to. I am of the camp who is 99.9% sure to never read Go Set a Watchman. To Kill a Mockingbird is practically perfect in every way and made to change the way a nation thought about groups of people. Harper Lee had as much courage in publishing it pre- Civil Rights Act as the characters in her novel did in living with there preconceived notions of how the world functions. Bravery, courage, and empathy remain the overarching motifs in this great American novel. I view it as the ultimate comfort read and in the words of my reading friend Tessa, five stars and a heart.
2019: With endless books and infinitely more to be written in the future, it is rare occasion that I take the time to reread a novel. As women’s history month is upon us (2019), I have kept revising my monthly lineup to feature books by remarkable women across the spectrum. Yet, none of these nonfiction books pay homage to the writers of the books themselves. Even with memoirs, the prose focuses on the author’s achievements in her chosen field. Last week a goodreads friend and I paid tribute to women authors in a daily literary journal. In one of my friend’s posts, she pointed out that as recently as 1960, the author of the most endearing of American novels had to use a masculinized version of her name in fear of not being published. Nelle Harper Lee of Monroeville, Alabama published To Kill a Mockingbird under her middle name, so only those well read readers are aware of the author’s full name. It is in this regard, that I included Pulitzer and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Nelle Harper Lee in my Women’s History month lineup. It is as auspicious of a time as any to reread one of America’s greatest novels.
When I was in ninth grade English class, I read Harper Lee’s novel for the first time. At age fourteen I was hardly a polished writer and struggled with many of the assignments. Yet, I do remember that the top essay in the class focused on the overarching theme of courage and how Harper Lee showed how each of the characters, major and minor, embodied this trait in the trying times associated with the novel. It was courageous of a southern woman to write a novel with this subject matter prior to the passage of the civil rights act. It is of little wonder to me looking back now that she chose to publish under a gender neutral name. Perhaps, she feared a lynch mob or being outcast in her home town. It was a trying time as the federal government asserted itself against states still grieving from the war between the states and holding out as the last bulwarks of white superiority. Harper Lee exhibited as much courage as the characters in her novel, and rightfully was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her work. As such, being courageous starts from the top and works its way down to each and every character of this timeless work.
In 1930s rural Maycomb, Alabama people were pretty much set in their way of life. Town folk had received an education and worked as lawyers, doctors, bankers, and businessmen. The country folk may or may not have received an education because they had to work the fields and many were illiterate. Even the majority of those educated white folk still saw themselves as superior to blacks, and few, if any, had the audacity to take a black’s word over a white’s even if it were the correct moral thing to do. Yet, the crux of Lee’s novel is a court case threatening to disrupt this way of life, having the town divide along both racial and moral lines, and having each character step into others’ shoes and view the world from another’s perspective. Maycomb at the time embodied many rural American cities, isolated from progress as town set in its ways with few people who were willing to see the world from another perspective. One man was, however, a lawyer named Atticus Finch who is among the most revered fictional characters ever created. Even though this court case should not have been his, his superiors selected Atticus to counsel a black defendant because they realized that he was the one man in Maycomb who had both the ability to empathize and the courage to do so. His neighbor Mrs Maudie Atkinson noted that Atticus was the same man in the court house as he was at home and had nothing to fear. A widower, he instilled these values to his children Jeremy Atticus (Jem) and Jean Louise (Scout) from a young age, passing a strong moral compass onto his children.
In addition to critiquing southern race relations, Lee’s novel has endeared itself to children with the legend of Boo Radley. From the time they were young, Jem, Scout, and their summer friend Dill had courage to go to the Radley house trying to get Boo to come out even though all the other kids said the house was spooked. Atticus told them to put a halt to these childish games and explained Boo Radley’s background to them. The town claimed that Boo Radley was a ghost, but perhaps the reason he did not leave the house is because he did not want to. As the children grew older, Atticus warned them that there would be darker times ahead and they would have to be courageous in the face of what people said to them behind their backs. From the time Scout began school in first grade, she inhibited Atticus’ ability to stand up for what was right. Her teacher Miss Robinson was new to Maycomb and did not understand people’s ways. Scout explained about the Cunninghams, the Ewells, as well as other families at a personal cost to herself. As Scout grew older and was able to step into other people’s’ shoes more, she grew to understand differences between folks; however, she and Jem realized that differences did not make the world distinctly black and white or right and wrong. During an era when children were looked upon as unintelligent, Scout and Jem were wise beyond their years and following in their father’s footsteps.
Harper Lee created strong archetypal characters and had each embody their own courage. Each’s courage allowed Atticus to teach his children a life lesson that would endure for the rest of their lives. The family’s neighbor Mrs. Henry Lafayette DuBose demonstrates courage as she battles a final illness. Third grade teacher Mrs. Gates exhibits courage as she teaches Scout’s class about the rise of Nazism in Germany and th encourages her students to think for themselves about the differences between prejudices at home and abroad. The African American characters all demonstrate strong courage as well. The Finch’s housekeeper Calpurnia is a bridge between the white and black communities of Maycomb and does not hesitate to teach Scout and Jem life lessons as they arise. The Reverend Sykes welcomes Jem and Scout into his congregation as though they were his own and invites them to sit in the colored balcony at time when segregation was still the law. He risked a lynching and knew that the Finch family could possibly be labeled as negro lovers, yet Reverend Sykes played a small role in proving that one’s skin color should not determine whether someone is right or wrong. Of course, as part of the overarching story line, Boo Radley can be viewed as the most courageous character of them all. It is through the courage of an author to create characters who will stand up for what is morally right at a large cost to themselves that she created an award winning novel that was ahead of its time for its era. It is little wonder that the courage of these fictional characters has made the novel as beloved as it is today.
I believe that the courage exhibited by all these characters has made the town of Maycomb, Alabama stand the test of time and remain the timeless classic that it is. Most people can relate to those who have the courage to stand up for what they think is right or to fight against those tougher than them. This character trait has endeared the Finch family to millions of readers and will continue to do so for generations to come. Whenever a person asks what book would you give as a gift or what is the perfect book, To Kill a Mockingbird is my first choice. I find that it is perfect for any time but most appropriate in spring as in addition to courage there is an underlying theme of hope. Harper Lee won the Pulitzer for this timeless classic, and it also won first place in the Great American Read as America’s best novel. Thus I can think of no better way to honor women’s history month than with a timeless book that has and will continue to capture the hearts and minds of all of its readers.
5+ stars/ all-time favorites shelf
...
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“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view—” “Sir?” “—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
With ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ comes a story of racial injustice. One man’s struggle to defend a black man accused of raping a white girl, while teaching his children the values and morals that are important in life. A coming-of-age story where the children are forced to witness the worst and ugly side of human nature as they try to make sense of the world amidst such racism, aggression, intolerance, and hatred.
An epic story of good versus evil. A story of suppression but also hope. A book that educates, ridicule’s and even inspires. A book everyone should read in their lifetime.
The Plot
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel told from the perspective of Jean Louise Finch (Scout), who lives with her father Atticus and brother, Jem, in the fictional sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama. Combine this with the era of the Great Depression of the 1930s, then you really have the perfect setting for such an epic story.
For all its simplicity and modest ways of living, the town folk harbour the worst of human traits that are exposed when Tom Robinson, a black man, is charged with raping a young white girl. Although innocent, Tom was guilty in the court of public opinion, even before the trial started, because when it came to colour “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for”.
In the book, single father of two, Atticus Finch takes on the case and with it stirs up the anger and resentment from the ‘mob’, who at one point are prepared to lynch him for defending a black man. When questioned by his daughter why he is representing Tom, Atticus’ response is so poignant and commendable.
“they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions,” said Atticus, “but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”…. if I didn’t represent Tom. “… I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.”
How true is that… However, there is an inevitability about this story from the start because although Atticus had used every argument and tool available to save Tom Robinson in the courts, in the “secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case”. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed, and an innocent life was lost.
Yet there is an innocence, coming of age and sense of decency and hope in this story that I confess to not fully grasping in my teens. I was so overwhelmed by the racism, injustice, and corruption that I failed to embrace the true beauty of this masterpiece and all its messaging.
Review and Comments
Apart from some distressing and painful themes, of racial inequality and injustice, what makes this book so affecting and poignant is the story being told through the eyes of a young girl who is trying to make sense of the world she is living in. One of the innocent ones!!!. Which brings me to the book title that makes more sense to me now as the Mockingbird had come to signify ‘innocence’ of the young Scout, Jem, and the innocent man accused of a crime he did not commit. However, in a story of so much evil and injustice there is also hope, bravery, and kindness.
Atticus represents morality, courage, and reason, and through his character and others like Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Boo Radley, we know all is not lost. The three children in the story learn the most humane and moral lessons from these righteous characters, who also happen to deliver the best lines and most affecting quotes for the reader.
The mob, and the characters of Mayella Ewell, the girl who accused Tom of rape and her father represent evil, racism, ignorance, prejudice, and cruelty. Even the hypocrisy of the church going community is not lost to the reader. Yet for all their bigotry they do not allow Bob Ewell to become the hero in the story. He is cast aside as ‘white trash’ because there was just one thing worse in their eyes and that was a black man who had ‘some’ contact with a white girl. The fact that this was instigated by her didn’t matter. Knowing he did not rape her mattered not at all. The black man was guilty.
A book that is so heart-breaking because events like this are / were real. Injustices like this happen in certain countries and in different sections of too many communities, and like the story the law although improving does not always deliver justice.
Poignant, heart-breaking, and deeply moving but also a beautifully written story where intolerance, and prejudice is often overshadowed with kindness, hope and courage. Stunning.
A highly recommended book.
With ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ comes a story of racial injustice. One man’s struggle to defend a black man accused of raping a white girl, while teaching his children the values and morals that are important in life. A coming-of-age story where the children are forced to witness the worst and ugly side of human nature as they try to make sense of the world amidst such racism, aggression, intolerance, and hatred.
An epic story of good versus evil. A story of suppression but also hope. A book that educates, ridicule’s and even inspires. A book everyone should read in their lifetime.
The Plot
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel told from the perspective of Jean Louise Finch (Scout), who lives with her father Atticus and brother, Jem, in the fictional sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama. Combine this with the era of the Great Depression of the 1930s, then you really have the perfect setting for such an epic story.
For all its simplicity and modest ways of living, the town folk harbour the worst of human traits that are exposed when Tom Robinson, a black man, is charged with raping a young white girl. Although innocent, Tom was guilty in the court of public opinion, even before the trial started, because when it came to colour “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for”.
In the book, single father of two, Atticus Finch takes on the case and with it stirs up the anger and resentment from the ‘mob’, who at one point are prepared to lynch him for defending a black man. When questioned by his daughter why he is representing Tom, Atticus’ response is so poignant and commendable.
“they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions,” said Atticus, “but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”…. if I didn’t represent Tom. “… I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.”
How true is that… However, there is an inevitability about this story from the start because although Atticus had used every argument and tool available to save Tom Robinson in the courts, in the “secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case”. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed, and an innocent life was lost.
Yet there is an innocence, coming of age and sense of decency and hope in this story that I confess to not fully grasping in my teens. I was so overwhelmed by the racism, injustice, and corruption that I failed to embrace the true beauty of this masterpiece and all its messaging.
Review and Comments
Apart from some distressing and painful themes, of racial inequality and injustice, what makes this book so affecting and poignant is the story being told through the eyes of a young girl who is trying to make sense of the world she is living in. One of the innocent ones!!!. Which brings me to the book title that makes more sense to me now as the Mockingbird had come to signify ‘innocence’ of the young Scout, Jem, and the innocent man accused of a crime he did not commit. However, in a story of so much evil and injustice there is also hope, bravery, and kindness.
Atticus represents morality, courage, and reason, and through his character and others like Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Boo Radley, we know all is not lost. The three children in the story learn the most humane and moral lessons from these righteous characters, who also happen to deliver the best lines and most affecting quotes for the reader.
The mob, and the characters of Mayella Ewell, the girl who accused Tom of rape and her father represent evil, racism, ignorance, prejudice, and cruelty. Even the hypocrisy of the church going community is not lost to the reader. Yet for all their bigotry they do not allow Bob Ewell to become the hero in the story. He is cast aside as ‘white trash’ because there was just one thing worse in their eyes and that was a black man who had ‘some’ contact with a white girl. The fact that this was instigated by her didn’t matter. Knowing he did not rape her mattered not at all. The black man was guilty.
A book that is so heart-breaking because events like this are / were real. Injustices like this happen in certain countries and in different sections of too many communities, and like the story the law although improving does not always deliver justice.
Poignant, heart-breaking, and deeply moving but also a beautifully written story where intolerance, and prejudice is often overshadowed with kindness, hope and courage. Stunning.
A highly recommended book.
...
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This is one book that I think is more relevant today than when it was first published.
I love how Scout is adamant about who she is. Others keep trying to tell her who to be, what it is to be a female. However, she wants to play, get dirty, run around with her brother. She couldn't care less about wearing dresses and sitting perfectly upright in a chair with knees pressed together in shoes you can't walk in.
Incredible to imagine that this was published before the internet.
2025 Reading Schedule
JantA Town Like Alice
FebtBirdsong
MartCaptain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
AprtWar and Peace
MaytThe Woman in White
JuntAtonement
JultThe Shadow of the Wind
AugtJude the Obscure
SeptUlysses
OcttVanity Fair
NovtA Fine Balance
DectGerminal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta My Bookstore at Pango
I love how Scout is adamant about who she is. Others keep trying to tell her who to be, what it is to be a female. However, she wants to play, get dirty, run around with her brother. She couldn't care less about wearing dresses and sitting perfectly upright in a chair with knees pressed together in shoes you can't walk in.
Incredible to imagine that this was published before the internet.
2025 Reading Schedule
JantA Town Like Alice
FebtBirdsong
MartCaptain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
AprtWar and Peace
MaytThe Woman in White
JuntAtonement
JultThe Shadow of the Wind
AugtJude the Obscure
SeptUlysses
OcttVanity Fair
NovtA Fine Balance
DectGerminal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta My Bookstore at Pango
...
Show More
Thus it becomes crystal clear why this classic is a must for kids. Surely it stands on an even shelf with the Harry Potter series (take in mind: its a Millennial writing this review); it's ripe with conventions that can be cracked open in the classroom, where the love for literature begins for most American children. The emblematic character of Atticus Finch is a great figure--mysterious, righteous, progressive...completely just and good. Intelligent. As is Scout, the precocious girl who filters all the goings on in her sleepy Alabama town.
It is a pity I did not read this in middle school, when foundations are forged with human values and the artistic possibilities of storytelling. That being said, I cannot but smile at finally, at 28, having plowed through this-- a complicated and personal classic. It depicts a gone-with-the-wind America, it has a strong point-of-view, which is restricted and accurate (the character is alive & becomes an avatar of the impressed young reader him/herself), it is a history lesson, a lesson in civics and law, a segue toward laws and government, and, most importantly, it includes a lovable naivete which borders on the poetic; the coming-of-age strangeness, including body changes and adolescent yearnings, all of these are staples of THE YA novel. Because it includes pretty much each and every one, it is THE QUINTESSENTIAL YA book. It has aged, however, & it is easy to see where the conventions are deposited as if "To Kill..." were a rough patchwork quilt of American Literature musts.
It is a pity I did not read this in middle school, when foundations are forged with human values and the artistic possibilities of storytelling. That being said, I cannot but smile at finally, at 28, having plowed through this-- a complicated and personal classic. It depicts a gone-with-the-wind America, it has a strong point-of-view, which is restricted and accurate (the character is alive & becomes an avatar of the impressed young reader him/herself), it is a history lesson, a lesson in civics and law, a segue toward laws and government, and, most importantly, it includes a lovable naivete which borders on the poetic; the coming-of-age strangeness, including body changes and adolescent yearnings, all of these are staples of THE YA novel. Because it includes pretty much each and every one, it is THE QUINTESSENTIAL YA book. It has aged, however, & it is easy to see where the conventions are deposited as if "To Kill..." were a rough patchwork quilt of American Literature musts.
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