Summary:
To Kill a Mockingbird is the coming of age story of Scout Finch. Along with her brother Jem and Father Atticus, they traverse the tale of Scout's Growing up in the small town of Maycomb. Set during the great depression, Scout finds numerous ways to entertain herself and get into trouble. She has a mystreious neighbor, Boo Radley, who is protrayed as a menacing freak who hides his face from public, but in reality mends pants, leaves gifts in a tree hollow, and manages to save Scout and her brother from an attack. Her father is a court appointed lawyer whose newest defendant is a black man, Tom Robinson, accused of rape. In order to do his job he has to overcome prejudice, disperse a mob, and pursuade a jury of racist white men that his client is innocent. Unfortunately that last task proves too much and Tom is sentenced to death. Scout, as a young woman must deal with all of this as well as the complicated emotions that come with them. In the end she finds out that her father and Boo Radley, a man she feared, are two of the most honest and brave men in the world.
Why it was banned:
To Kill a Mockingbird was banned by many different libraries and school systems mostly because of the topics it dealt with. Many claim the racism seen in the pages, while some others claim the sexual nature of the crime involved. Others use the profanity that Harper Lee uses. The most far-reaching ban comes from a New York school district where it was challenged as a "trashy, filthy novel".
My Thoughts:
The varied reasons for banning this novel is a stupid attempt by the uneducated masses that took offense to having their ideals questioned. Understanding the most of these bans took place as integration truly began is a slap in the face to this wonderful novel. Harper Lee wrote this as a way to question the then standing beliefs that were being questioned in the late 50's and early 60's. She meant this to be a treatise on relations and the conflict of her observations against those prevailing opinions. The arguments that this novel is profane and racist are inaccurate. The novel uses the then common vernacular and beliefs to illustrate the environment and place the reader in an uncomfortable position. This is because only in discomfort can we truly see ourselves for who we are and what we believe. In other words, to deals with topics that mire in filth, you have to get dirty.
There are stories and there are Stories. Very few novels have ever moved me as much as To Kill a Mockingbird has. This novel was the begining of my philosophy of understanding other viewpoints before dismissing them. While reading this I was placed into uncomfortable discussions that forced me to rise out of immaturity and frankly question viewpoints that society had and whether or not I agreed. I don't mean to say that this novel will change your beliefs but rather that it will make you question them to the point that if you don't change your ideals you will at least understand them, and by extension yourself, better. This novel needs to be a must read for anyone who considers themselves educated and / or enlightened. If you haven't read it yet, get it now. Really, go now. Don't keep reading, go get the book. It is free online for pity's sake. Go get it.
1 comment:
Excellent review Paul! I totally agree!!
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