Maycomb County; a place located in the south, where Jean Louise (Scout) had experienced many lifelong lessons. Her older brother, Jeremy (Jem), her father, Atticus Finch and Calpurnia, their cook are constantly a major part of Scouts life. Scout and Jem also have another close friend, Dill who came to them in the summer time and who someday Scout wishes to marry. They encounter many adventures imaginary or not usually involving people in their neighborhood such as the Radleys.
The story behind the Radleys includes a strange mystery about Arthur Radley (Boo) who was thought to be "high-strung" at times and not "crazy"(11). Jem, Dill and Scout normally feared the Radley Place, but they were constantly curious about it. Jem was dared to touch the Radley Place and Scout rolled right through the gate and into the front yard in a wheel, both of which they were frightened at all times. They've found a secret hiding spot within a tree trunk hole and have valued everything they've received from it. When they attempted to thank whoever left them their treasures, they found Mr. Radley had cemented the hole shut. There encounters with the Radleys did not, they found themselves trying to contact Boo by sending him a letter through an open shutter which ended up with Jem losing and finding his pants mended and folded for him. Scout also found herself covered by a blanket given to her by Boo himself and she was not even aware of it. The Radleys have played a very important part of their lives.
Other than the Radleys, Maycomb County consists of many different families that are judged based on their history. I find it strange how you could judge someone based upon what their ancestors or relatives have done. Just like how one person can ruin a whole entire family's name such as the situation with Atticus being called a nigger-lover by Francis (who is only a child). It seems unrealistic in our time to believe children can be judged by who there parents are as well. The Cunninghams were known to never take things they could not pay back for just as the Ewells went to school for one day and since there were so many of them they never returned until the next school year. The way people interact with each other in this novel has been very interesting so far and I hope it keeps me hooked.
For the record it took me a while to get used to the language and way people spoke. (I hope i wasn't the only one.)
For the record, you're not the only one! (: The language got me at first too. But after reading for awhile, it starts becoming normal to think in that direction.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how you found it strange that the Maycomb families are being judged by their relatives and family members, and how you connected it to our time. It's all a part of the stereotypes that they hold in their county...
But then again, a common and more modern form of that same type of judgment IS through using and following stereotypes. Even with some exceptional people fighting against them, they're still used as a generalization for types of families, genders, and races.. You know what I mean right? x)
In this book, other than the fact that there is a lot of racism, there is a lot of generalizing people. As you already talked about the Ewells and Cunninghams, I thought that there were some other generalization of the town. The small neighborhood where Jem and Scout lives is like the place where older people live i.e. Miss Maudie. Also, the Radley's are seen as eerie and mysterious people where not much is known about them.
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