To kill “To Kill a Mockingbird”
To Kill a Mockingbird by
Harper Lee is an essential novel in children’s literature; it cannot be
removed. Some wish to remove the novel because of its references to racism. I
can see where they are coming from, but what they don’t get is the fact that
the book was written in the 1960’s and it took place in the mid 1930’s when
racism was a major issue. It is my opinion that the book should be protected.
From all I have read in the novel I can personally relate so much of it to my
own childhood. It can be used as a valuable teaching tool that surpasses any
book I have read in my experience in school.
The Lessons learned in this book are
so key for our own reasoning and understanding. The novel is littered with
several sub themes and important quotations that in themselves teach us
lessons. Many times while reading this book I have sat back and had a good
laugh while comparing Scout’s childhood to mine. This book gets on equal ground
with children and teaches from their perspective while having a brilliantly
created character such as Atticus be the mentor and teacher of the story.
Racism is more important in this
book than many think. I understand multiple schools wish to remove the novel
because of the racism illustrated in it, but I think it is used to the author’s
advantage. The author is able to teaching tool about judging people by color
which was in Lee’s day. This sets up a great moment that I envision in the
class room: teaching kids at a young age the wrong in segregation and judging.
Lee offers wonderful breathtaking insight into the black’s world and the
white’s and the separation between them. We see the two sides clash in the epic
Court case that Tom Robinson, a black man framed (lied about) for rape. We are
able to later reason for ourselves the problem involved there.
The end of this book and how it raps
up plays a major role into the title. The title is which I didn’t understand at
first till now is very important in portraying the overlying theme, “The
principle of people’s feelings and points of view and realizing them.” To shoot
a mockingbird is to hurt innocent people that have done good. We learn in the
novel that Jem, Boo, and Tom Robinson are the key Mocking birds of the story.
By studying their lives we can learn how to but ourselves into others shoes and
see from there perspective to further understand those whom we don’t
understand. To me, that is the greatest thing this book has taught me. It has
taught me to look deeper and but away selfish desires and judgments to
understand God’s children who are understood.
