To Kill A Mockingbird

In the beginning of To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout describes the small city of Maycomb as "an old town, but it was a tired old town. . ."(5). To me, Maycomb seemed as a small town that was very slow and "dead". Harper Lee acknowledges social classes by describing how the Ewell and Cunningham families are known as the poor families in Maycomb. Education is also important in this novel whether it be learning in school or learning to become more mature.

Jean Louise Finch is known by her nickname Scout. Scout is the narrator of this novel; her young age allows a different perspective on events that occur. Scout is a very intelligent girl that is pictured as a tomboy and isn't your typical girl her age. She likes to have fun outdoors playing with Jem and Dill. Scout is criticized by the women in Maycomb because she doesn't wear dresses and isn't how girls should be acting. With all the criticism she hears, she doesn't try to change who she is just to be how others expect her to be. Jem is Scout's brother that matures as time progresses. He would always play games with Scout but later in the book, he pulls himself away from the childish games she plays. Dill is Jem and Scout's friend that comes only during the summer. He had a big imagination which sparks the urge to pester Boo Radley. Atticus Finch is Scout and Jem's father. He is a lawyer in Maycomb that defends a black man; Atticus later was called "nigger-lover" by people around town. He is a good role model to his children but his sister thinks otherwise.

Boo Radley's house had a loose shutter and a high wire fence. The house had "a ramshackle porch. . .and two dark windows between the doors"(52). When reading the description of Radley's Place, it automatically reminded me of Great Expectations and the Satis House. Both houses were run down and were seen as "evil" and dark. The adventures of Dill, Jem, and Scout attempting to see or leave Boo Radley a note kept me reading. The diction Harper Lee chooses sets the setting of Maycomb, Alabama and paints a picture of what's going on in the story.

When I first saw the book To Kill A Mockingbird, I didn't think I would like this book. I heard this book was worth reading so I tried to keep interest an not give up at the beginning. As I kept reading, I couldn't wait and find out what would happen.