Impact: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Note: For one explanation of the symbolism of the use of a Mockingbird, Radley’s place and the Mad Dog, please go to: http:// www.shmoop.com/to-killa-mockingbird/mockingbirds-symbol.html

As I continue my plan to review one of the best books from each decade, as listed in “Parade Magazine” from the “Philadelphia Inquirer,” I have chosen the classic from the 1960s, “To Kill A Mockingbird.” The action takes place in a small southern town, Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930s. Much of the book centers on the prejudice against Negroes (terminology used in the book) and a trial of a Negro, Tom Robinson, accused of the rape and beating of a white girl, Mayella Ewell. Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell was totally enraged by the incident and wanted justice. So I don’t spoil the outcome for you, I will instead address three topics from the book.

Kids Will Be Kids!

Much of the story involves the impressionable years of siblings Jem (age 12) and his sister, Scout (age 8), who are the children of Atticus Finch, a well-respected lawyer. Atticus’ wife died from a heart attack when Scout was two. Calpurnia, a Negro, became the cook and caretaker of Jem and Scout. Also seeing much action with the kids was their friend who comes to visit his Aunt each summer, Dill (“age 4 and a half, going on 7”). Dill is the most precocious of the trio. Dill’s first challenge was to persuade Jem and Scout to come up with a plan to have the self-imposed homebound next door neighbor, Arthur (“Boo”) Radley , who had previously been in trouble with the law, come out of his house. In the kids’ minds, Boo “was six feet five inches tall and dined on raw squirrels and cats.” The challenge was to run up and touch Boo’s house and run back. This was really scary because on the way to school, the kids would sprint past Boo’s house.

A second initiative with Boo was trying to entice him out of his house by passing a note to him behind closed shutters on a fishing pole, promising him an ice cream cone. The kids’ most dangerous endeavor was entering Boo’s backyard by crawling under a wire fence and going on his back porch to peek in the rear windows of his house. There was a shadow of a man on the porch who yelled at them and a shotgun went off in the air. Jem’s pants got caught on the wire fence while hurriedly exiting the yard and he had to leave his pants behind. People came out of their houses to see what the commotion was and Dill, after Jem was caught wearing no pants, explained it away by saying the three kids had been playing strip poker.

People Can Fool You!

Despite Boo’s trouble with the law and all the pranks Jem, Scout and Dill played on him, Boo was able to turn the tables on them many times. Without the kids knowing it, Boo hid various objects in a knothole of a tree in front of his house that included such things as: tinfoil with Wrigley’s Double Mint gum in it, Indian Head pennies, a tarnished spelling contest medal, a pocket watch and a knife that the kids had much fun finding. The pants that Jem had lost when they caught on Boo’s wire fence showed up nicely folded on the fence and they were even mended. When a neighbor’s house burned down during cold weather, Boo surreptitiously covered Scout with a blanket, while she was standing in front of Boo’s house shivering.

The Principled Atticus Finch!

Atticus, because of his solid reputation, was appointed by the town judge to defend Tom Robinson in his rape trial. Despite much anger exhibited by the townspeople, Atti- cus provided the best possible defense for the Negro. When Scout asked Atticus why he accepted the case, Atticus replied: “The main one (reason) is, if I didn’t 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.” (page 100). Atticus also went down to the jailhouse (unarmed) and sat in front of its door to prohibit the “lynch mob” from entering and harming Tom Robinson.

Jem and Scout felt their father was feeble when he was almost 50. He didn’t do many things their friends’ fathers did such as hunting, playing poker, fishing, drinking or smoking. He was always in an office. Their opinion changed when the humble Atticus shot a mad dog for Sheriff Tate, when Tate wasn’t up to the task. Atticus at one time was the deadliest shot in Maycomb County. One neighbor said: “I think maybe he (Atticus) put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things.” (page 130). Bob Ewell was filled with such hate that he even spat in Atticus’ face. Because of his character, the only thing Atticus could say is: “I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco.” (page 291). As you may have noticed, Atticus was a man that all of us should try to emulate.

In closing, I can tell you that Boo was addressed as Mr. Arthur Radley as he became a friend of Jem, Scout and others; and Bob Ewell received the justice he so highly sought.

At my age, I am surprised I had not read “To Kill a Mockingbird”. This has made me realize there are many other books that I have not yet enjoyed. If you haven’t read this book, don’t let it pass you by or perhaps cheat and watch the movie!