The tale becomes interesting when Scout, playing with her brother Jem, comes across a young boy....
CLASSICS FOREVER
Book: To Kill a Mocking Bird
Author: Harper Lee
Reviewed by: Asma Effendi
What snaps into your head when you think of killing, and that too a mockingbird? This abstract title signifies racism, social injustice and massacre of the innocent. Harper Lee unravels different layers of the inspiring tale set in the 1930s, the time of the Great Depression when America was on the brink of social revolution. In the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, the story is narrated through the point of view of a very observant character, Jean Louise Finch. Jean, commonly known as Scout, describes Maycomb as an old town, where “A day was twenty-four hours long but seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people.”
Scout lives in the main residential street of the town, with her father Atticus Finch, brother Jeremy and cook, Calpurnia. Jem is Scout’s playmate, and the siblings’ affection for each other is endearing. Atticus, a lawyer with supreme wisdom and values, is the moral nerve of the story. A single father who moves heaven and earth to take mighty care of his offspring, Atticus believes in teaching by example, something you will find encrypted in the novel.
The tale becomes interesting when Scout, playing with her brother Jem, comes across a young boy, Dill, a curious, child who they befriend instantly. Then there is this odd mystery about their neighbor Boo Radley. It is whispered that he stabbed his father with a pair of scissors. Boo Radley is rarely seen around. These children, intrigued by the riddle, try hard to catch a look of him. They are incredibly dismayed by the very image of this man, so they provoke each other to go near the house. However, this enigmatic man gives them two soap dolls, a broken watch, a pair of good-luck pennies, and ironically their lives.
Atticus is battling a court case, where he is defending a black man accused of raping a young white girl. He defends Tom Robinson at the zenith of white supremacy, despite threats from his community. Meanwhile, the children, relishing the bliss of their childhood, come across various prejudices and discrimination because of the case. As the story moves, the children had to face several trials of their own, and Atticus advises them not to lose their temper and stay strong.
The court case is not going well for Atticus, who tries his utmost to defend Tom Robison, a cripple. This controversial case draws almost all the town to the courtroom, including the children. Despite being innocent, Tom Robinson falls into the pit hole of racial discrimination and is convicted. Atticus emerges unwavering and is trying to find ways to get him out of jail. However, what happens to Tom Robinson is gut-wrenching, and you must read the book if you want to learn about how bad discrimination against the black people was, and still is. We see low morals, abuse and disparity. Even though the author deals with the topic of violence and racial discrimination, this book has a sense of warmth with pure humour.
Released at the summit of the civil rights movement, the novel directly addressed the racial challenges in the south and substantially paved the course for the rights of African Americans. In view of the current situation in America, after the murder of George Floyd, it can safely be said that the book is still relevant.
Nelle Harper Lee was an American novelist best known for her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird. It won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and has become a classic of modern American literature. It’s a true classic, taught in the high schools of the United States. However, the Instagram generation might be a little annoyed with its slow pace and density. So, it is for you to decide if this is your cup of tea or not. But, one thing can be safely said: it is a compelling narration that has ruled the mind of many generations and would continue to do so.
