To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb, a town full of unique characters such as the Cunninghams, Ewells, and the Radleys. Each family is known for their unique characteristics. Cunninghams examplify their uniqueness in chapter 2 when Walter doesn't accept money from the teacher because Walter Cunningham knew he can never pay the teacher back. The Ewells show what their known for in chapter 3 when Burris Ewell attends the first day of school and never attends again. These examples show either how small Maycomb is or how really close people are in this community. Since the people of Maycomb know how families are in Maycomb then the new things from the outside world never seem to enter this town. Because everything has always been the same since everyone is so familiar with everyone.

One of the protagonists in this novel is named Scout Finch. A young intellingent female. Scout is intelligent because she is able to read in the first grade. Scout presents this ability in chapter 2 during her first days of school. She's advance compared to her classmates and Miss Caroline's (Scout's first grade teacher) expectations of what a first grader should know. However, Scout is not like all the other girls. Scout is tough and braver than a lot of the other boy's in her school. For example, in the beginning of chapter 3 Scout made Walter Cunningham eat dirt for getting her in troubleduring the first day of school. But, even if she can be sometimes rough and vicious she has her boundries. Scout listens and with all her heart tries to obey her elders. For example, in chapter 9 Cecil Jacobs taunts Scout by teasing her about how Atticus defends a black family. However, Scout never fought back because Atticus told her not too. Scout has never walked away from a fight. She would fight if her pride was ever hurt. But, it was something Atticus was really serious about, and Scout was willing to obey.

One of the symbols in To Kill a Mockingbird was Boo Radley's blanket given in Chapter 8. This symbolizes comfort and warmth. Something that Scout has always been blessed with. Scout has always had Atticus, Jem, Uncle Jack, and Miss Maudie to comfort her. The love from those people are what give Scout the warmth that she needs. Even Boo Radley has cared for her when he covered Scout with a blanket. This is something important this community has. They all care and comfort each other. This maybe one of the reasons why they all know each other so well in Maycomb.