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To Kill a Mockingbird: Moral Complexities From the Eyes of a Child

© Susan Jensen

So far I have written articles on books that are considered somewhat romantic and even "girly." This article, therefore, represents a change in course. It also represents my very random reading habits. As I read and reread books I write about them and share my insights with you. I try to hold a conversation about the books rather than drowning you in interpretation and literary analysis. So, here goes:

To Kill a Mockingbird is perhaps the most famous courtroom novel of all time. It was a book that I read in high school that I recently picked up to reread. I was amazed by the moral complexities introduced in the book, and struggled along with Scout to grasp the why's of real life. It's a book which knocks you over the head with its moral, but it sneaks up behind you instead of approaching you directly. I believe this is because it is written from a child's perspective. The reader is never preached to, but accompanies Scout in her questioning and searching for meaning in the adult world.

When Scout and her brother Jem receive BB guns, they are told that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. This is because the birds do nothing but sing, giving pleasure to human beings. This unwritten law becomes meaningful when considered in view of the title. To me, there are many mockingbirds in the story - Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose - who are figuratively killed although they have done nothing. Atticus Finch is the only one willing to openly defend Tom Robinson. For this reason, he is mocked and threatened. He is a mockingbird who has done nothing wrong, but who is being "killed" for it. Tom Robinson is likewise innocent, but he is still judged guilty by a jury of his "peers." Boo Radley and Mrs. Dubose are less dramatic examples of mockingbirds. Neither are what they seem, but it takes Scout and Jem quite some time to find that out.

One of the reasons I love this book so much is because it has a moral, and it makes me see the injustice of our world and the hypocrisy in our lives. It also makes me laugh at the folly of youth, but long for the innocence of my own childhood. It is an outstanding novel and a fantastic read.

Harper Lee became famous through the writing of this novel. Although she is still living (now in her seventies), she has never published another book. She has written several articles, which were published in women's magazines. Information on Lee is difficult to find since she is reclusive and seems to despise reporters. She did say, "I am still alive, although very quiet."

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