To Kill A Mocking Bird Essay

To Kill a Mocking Bird Essay

In the book “To Kill a Mocking Bird” by Harper Lee, many different events take place. It all starts with Jem and Scout Finch who live with their father Atticus in Maycomb, Alabama. Jem and Scout along with their friend Dill, wonder about their suspicious neighbor Boo Radley. Meantime Atticus defends Tom Robinson a black man who was accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Her father then attacks Jem and Scout to get revenge on Atticus. Miraculously, Boo Radley saves Jem and Scout and returns them to Atticus. Throughout the story, Courage is a main theme shown. Also Maturation is shown through Jem and Scout as they grow up. It takes true courage to stand up for someone being discriminated against. It takes true courage to risk one’s life and reputation to save two kids. It takes true courage to express yourself freely as a black man. All of these are examples throughout the novel. “Yes, suh. I felt sorry for her, she seemed more’n the rest of ’em”
“You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?” Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling” (197). Tom Robinson, the black man accused of raping a white woman admitted he felt sorry for her, and that’s why he helped her with his chores. He saying, “I felt sorry for her” symbolizes courage, because he was honest with the judge, even though in Maycomb a black man cannot feel sorry for a white woman. Another example is when Boo saved Jem and Scout. “ His stomach was soft but his arms were like steel. He slowly squeezed the breath out of me. I could not breathe. Suddenly, he was jerked backward and flung on the ground” (262). Bob Ewell, the town drunk attacked Jem and Scout, for revenge on their father. “Suddenly, he was jerked backward and flung to the ground” (262) symbolizes that someone showed courage by saving Jem. The person who saved Jem is Boo Radley. Courage is a big theme, but all through the book, Jem and Scout showing maturation is another very important theme. During the course of the story Jem and Scout both grow up and show maturation. In addition, Jem finally comes to the conclusion why Boo never comes out of his house. “When I was your age. If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? If they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I’m beginning to understand something. I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside” (227). In other words, Jem is realizing why Boo never comes out because the terrible gossip of the town keeps him inside. He is too afraid to face the town after the terrible rumors about him. This symbolizes Jem’s mental maturation because he finally understands why Boo never leaves his house. Another point is when Scout feels bad about the knothole being covered up. “Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad” (278). This shows Scout’s maturation because she feels bad about not giving Boo anything in return, in the knothole. Both of these statements show Jem and Scout going from childhood to adulthood. Both Jem and Scout entered adulthood towards the end of the book. Also courage was shown in many of the characters’ lives. Tom stood up for himself and showed courage, and Boo showed courage by saving Jem and Scout when they were in danger. To Kill a Mocking bird didn’t capture my attention, but it was a very good book, and had a good storyline. I enjoyed how Boo ended up being Jem and Scout’s hero, and I thought the book brought a good message to the reader.