To Kill a Mockingbird is not a story about birds, or animal abuse.
This novel is a book of knowledge and courage which both teaches and
fixes people's view of life. Because even though the title is "To Kill a
Mockingbird," it is just suitable to title it "To Kill Our Stubborn
Misconceptions".
This novel is
full of courage shown by Harper Lee. During her lifetime, there was a
huge concept of racism going on in America. However, Harper Lee wrote To
Kill a mockingbird, which is about racism in the society, to go against
racism that is overwhelmingly real. To present her message her through
her book to the society was a very dangerous action. However, this book
touched people's deepest heart, and people's conscience and awakened
them to the painful reality. Therefore, this novel is one of the finest
classic American novels and is universally acclaimed, because of two
reasons. (One)To Kill a Mockingbird educates the whole world about
racism around the world, and the themes that teach knowledge about
life. (Two)It shows the need for love and compassion, and helps bring a
reality check to people who read it.
Harper Lee expresses the merciless global racism through her book. Not
only are the colored people criticized from the whites but also the
Radleys are part of the white society that was discriminated. The
Radleys lived differently from the rest of the Maycomb people. However,
just by living in a different style, the people believed that they were
different human beings. Even Jeremy described Boo Radley as "[he] [is]
about six-and-a- half feet tall, judging form his tracks; he dined on
raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that is why his hands were
bloodstained."(P13) This is rather a description suitable for monsters
than a human being. Just by a different life style, people create weird
concepts about Radley.
Also,
racism in Maycomb is very serious, they have different churches and
different picnic areas. They consider "nigger-lover" as one of the
abusive language, however, "nigger-lover" is used by "ignorant, trashy
people"(p108) when they believe somebody's favoring Negroes over and
above themselves."(P108) People who are jealous of people who love black
people more than white people use this "ugly term to label
somebody."(P108) Racism comes from different lifestyle, or different
appearance. However, once this digs a gap between two societies, it
builds up a great feeling of dislike between two societies. They just
need to understand each other but by trying to keep their own egoistic
minds, they create racism. If they can not understand each other, then
everyone would have to live in jail alone. This is why racism is a
foolish idea. Once whites believe that blacks are lower than they are,
this is the same as approving themselves that they are equal to the
blacks. This is because if people get insulted and respond back to the
name "nigger-lover", "it just shows how poor that person is."(P108) This
is just the same as when Jem and Scout fights, although Scout loses,
she believes Jem and she is equal because "Jem is fighting Scout
back."(P138) As Atticus agrees that he is a nigger-lover, and this is
because "he want to do his best to love everybody"(p108); it is
important to love everybody in order to understand each other.
There are two main universal themes in the novel, To Kill a
Mockingbird. Courage and maturity are the two main universal themes,
which teaches people about life. There is courage in almost every single
character in this novel. First of all Harper Lee has the courage to
write this book, and publish it. The children in this book, Jem, Scout
and Dill learn real courage in their childhood. They are almost forced
to face the reality at young age and understand it. It must be very hard
and painful for younger children, who are filled with innocence in
their heart, to understand the reality of unfairness. However, they did
see it through people living in Maycomb and watching the trial. Jem is
able to conquer his fear of Mrs. Dubose when he was able to apologize to
her. Scout has the courage to run to her father when people were trying
to harm Atticus. Atticus has courage to stand for what he believes even
though the whole community believes it was wrong. This idea not only
provides courage to readers but also teaches them how to stand out in
front of the society although the whole society hates it. This idea is
what people really need in order to break the idea of racism. Also the
second main theme, which is maturity shows great change and achievements
in one's life. Scout in the beginning is a young innocent child.
However, as she experiences different situations and faces the reality,
she gains the knowledge about life. Her understanding allows her to
grow. She knows the difference between reality and fantasy. She started
to look at things differently and able to decide which one is right and
which one is wrong. At the end of this novel, Scout believes that "Jem
and [Scout] would get grown but there was not much else left for us to
learn."(P279) This is because she has seen the reality of the world and
she is enlightened that most people are really nice when one finally
sees them."(P281) She finally found out that people are more the same
than different.
Harper Lee's novel,
To Kill a Mockingbird is enriched with knowledge about life such as
racism and universal themes. This book emphasizes how human beings are
all the same inside their heart. With her unique format of writing
style, Harper Lee inserted many witty remarks in her novel. Her book is
easy to follow and it grabs readers' attention through connecting short
stories and create a whole piece. Although it is made up of short
stories they are all connected and very clear. She added on universal
themes which people know but do not take it by heart. She knows that in
this universe there are connections in every aspect, and no matter what,
human beings are human beings. There is no greater person or no lower
person. They are all equal and they are actually all very kind deep
inside their heart. Therefore, understanding is the most important
wisdom in order to live. This knowledge is needed for teenagers, adults,
and people all over the world. Therefore, To Kill a Mockingbird is one
of the finest classic American novels and a story of universal need
