Thoughts on “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Having retired it’s time to make up for lost time so there are famous books needing to be read. One of them is “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Yesterday I finished reading the book.
The book cover on “To Kill a Mockingbird”
In the beginning I struggled a bit getting used to the way the two children spoke in their dialect. Then it helped me to just listen to what they said.
The novel is about good and evil and their South State town Maycomb is a picture of the world. It seems that two families are compared the good and just Atticus Finch and the lacy and evil Robert Ewell who neglected his children in all areas of life.
Everything is described through the minds of the children whose father Atticus Finch is the fair lawyer fighting for righteous treatment of a black man. Everybody knows he is innocent in the accusation of rape, but because he is black he can’t be judged innocent.
The novel is full of touching and tense moments. The girl “Scout” has learnt to read before school sitting in her beloved Atticus’ lap reading the newspapers or books. The teacher gets really upset about this and the girl is calmed by her brother Jem who tells her that school will improve after several years!
Their father Atticus is really an example of an ideal parent. He is a widower and a black woman Calpurnia is taking care of the home daytime. She has learnt to read by the bible and she has a very good and faithful character. The children are all through the book occupied with fear and curiosity about a man who seems to be locked up in his parents’ house very close to the home of the children. They do all sorts of childish things to get in contact and somehow they get a response by finding small toys or candy in a hollow tree outside the house where he lives.
In the end they are nearly killed by a very ugly white man Bob Ewell, whose daughter was beaten and raped. He tries to revenge that it was quite obvious that he was the one who hurt his daughter and not Tom the black man who was fined for the crime. The children escape even though Jem is badly hurt and this Boo Radley, the man locked up in his parent’s house, helps them to get home. A circled is completed as Scout understands that Boo is the pale and insecure person visiting them for the first time. Many years without sunlight and fellowship have done that to him. As a young man he came in trouble and a long stay in prison made him go mad and his parents kept him inside ever since.
The children have the best upbringing from their father who taught them to be just and fair. He was an example for them in keeping his word and doing his utmost for helping people to be judged righteously. Atticus also exposed at the trial that Ewell treated his children very bad. They were without a mother and only went to school the first day of the year.
In the last chapter Atticus sits all night by Jem’s bed ready for him to wake up from the sedation the house doctor gave him and help him through the pain from the broken arm.
I understand that this is a classic book worth reading again and again a fight for justice and fair treatment for whoever needs it.
In my job I have met very neglected children who weren’t helped properly as the authorities didn’t always want to interfere with the parents. It is easy then to shoot the messenger who brings facts up in the open.
I know that the main plot in the book is that the black man is unfairly judged for a crime he didn’t do, but there are so many more side themes too to think about.
Please add comments if you have read it too.
Categories: Art, Character, Children, Uncategorized
From one Heart to Another 
Is this my friend Maria, our friend Maria?
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What do you mean @fonzandcancer?
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Ok question did you send someone a basket of fruit this year?
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I might confuse people a bit as I changed my header image twice tonight, not wanting a winter image anymore
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Do u work for IBM?
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No I am a retired Health Visitor in Denmark 🙂
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You have done a very nice review of this book. I love “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It’s my very favorite book, actually. Like you, I learned from it on many different levels. Harper Lee released the sequel last year, which I have also read. While “To Kill a Mockingbird,” was done from a child-like innocent point of view, “To Set A Watchman.” (the sequel) is from an older, wiser Scout and they hit the racial tensions from a stronger standpoint. Harper actually wrote the sequel first and the publishers at the time didn’t want to publish it. I do recommend the second book, but young Scout and Jem, Atticus and Boo are still tried-and-true characters that I dearly love. Would love to see your opinion of “To Set A Watchman,” too.
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What a joy to read your comment @randombitsoftrialanderror! It’s a bit shaky to write in another language and on such a famous book. But I feel like reading it all over again to get more details and of course I will get the second book too. We are not much wiser today as so many new truths are suppressed
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The reason I liked your review was because I knew that you were not from the States and it was refreshing to see it from the point of view that isn’t ‘tainted’ with the conceptions that Americans have because of our country’s history. You caught the deeper lessons in the beloved book, and I really did love and appreciate your review.
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So good and encouraging to hear this. I have never heard an expert on this book. I forgot to write about the”good Christian woman” at the gathering who complained about the sad countenance of her black helper after the trial. That reminds me of the Pharisees who put heavy burdens on people without having the same standard themselves
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One of my favorite books. The lessons to be learned are timeless. Thanks for posting
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I have read this a long time ago and loved it. You have made me want to read it again . . .
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I haven’t read To Kill a Mockingbird since high school, and you really reminded me of the deeper themes of the book in addition to the obvious one about racial injustice. I have not yet read To Set a Watchman, fearing it will be a mere reflection of the book I loved… I guess it would certainly show the power of an editor to influence a book! Thank you for your post! I too will have to reread this great book! Joanne
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I am so pleased to read your comment Joan! I feel like re reading it at once missing the characters in the book. As a Dane I didn’t read it in High School and only now 50 years after the publishing of the book
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