To Kill A Mockingbird

The popular yet classic novel written by Harper Lee

A single, widowed father, Atticus Finch strives to raise his two children with good morals in a southern town during the 1930's. Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and the children are the main characters in the story. They all reside in a small town by the name of Maycomb, where this story takes place.

Mrs. Dubose is a sick old lady and is often criticized Jem and Scout and other children who pass the porch where she was confined. She would tell Scout that she shouldn't be wearing overalls, and should dress like a lady. Despite her meanness Atticus believed her to be a wonderful lady, who chose to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody. He treated her wonderfully, which Scout thought was very brave. Mrs. Dubose wanted to die free, without being in debt to anyone. This she did, and even gave Jem a final parting gift after he had tried to ruin her flower garden in his blind rage. Mrs. Dubose held her own opinions, and according to these, she died without owing anything to anyone.

The children, Jem, Scout, and their friend Dill, are all very important characters in this story. All three of them are in fear and awe of a certain man who they do not understand, by the name of Boo Radley. Boo, or Arthur Radley lived in a house on the same street as Scout and Jem, but had not been seen for many years, and therefore was one of the main players in the rumors that circulated Maycomb. In result of the horrible stories describing Boo as a monster, the children feared the Radley House.

Atticus, a man who has seen more of the world than most of the people of Maycomb combined Atticus struggles against the close-minded views of the small southern town. The mad-dog incident occurred when a sick, possibly rabid dog, was spotted wandering aimlessly through Maycomb. Heck Tate, the sheriff, requested that Atticus be the one to do away with the animal. This shocks the children, when they soon learn that although Atticus is known to have the best shot with a gun in town, he chooses not to practice or show off his talent. As Miss Maudie, a close neighbor, states I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn't shoot till he had to, and he had to today. Thus,

The main center of the story comes with Atticus and his other deed defend a black man, Tom Robinson, in a trial against a white man, Bob Ewell, who claims Tom raped his daughter. One would think that the evidence proves Tom's innocence, furthermore; the Ewell family has a horrible reputation, and lives like animals, on the outskirts of town. However; this case isn't as simple as it seems, for although Mr. Ewell isn't respected, he still remains on a higher level than the black population, because of the segregated views of the white community. Atticus knows that this will be a difficult trial, and that the chances of winning are many against one, yet he is a respected lawyer, and will defend people of any color. I'm simply defending a Negro, Scout relates the trial to the dog incident by saying it was like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing that the gun was empty. This points out to the reader that while Atticus knew he was not going to win the trial, he went through with it, and tried his hardest, giving it all that he had; moreover, proving his statement to try one's hardest even if one knows that he or she has been defeated long before he or she begins.

This was a great book for enjoyment and for a few lessons on morality. I would sincerely recommend this book for either pursued. I enjoyed the story of from Harper Lee and now look forward to seeing the movie.