To Kill a Mockingbird in Classics Without All the Class

Jul 16, 2013 Anindyta rated it it was amazing

Okay so I’m going to start with the first part, where the book begins. The first part consists of eleven chapters and like any other part of this book, it is narrated by one and only Scout Finch. This is one interesting part for me, because I have read this part some years ago and I don’t really quite get it. So when I realized this time is different, I was so excited. I enjoyed this part much much more than what I did years ago. I like how the children talk and gossip about the Radley. I like t Okay so I’m going to start with the first part, where the book begins. The first part consists of eleven chapters and like any other part of this book, it is narrated by one and only Scout Finch. This is one interesting part for me, because I have read this part some years ago and I don’t really quite get it. So when I realized this time is different, I was so excited. I enjoyed this part much much more than what I did years ago. I like how the children talk and gossip about the Radley. I like the sense of thrill in it. Because every childhood has a haunted house story, this Radley story made me interested and feel the childhood nostalgia.

I told you before, that this book is narrated by Scout Finch. Scout Finch is a little girl and when I found out about it I expected that her voice is a light and cheerful voice. Yeah, I expected the childlishness of her voice narrating this book. But nope! Her narrating is like an adult voice. I know this is one literary book that brings an important theme for the readers but… it felt not right at first. The words she used to describe things are exceed my expectation. I was hoping that the book is much more like Room when the narrator voice is innocent among the non-innocent people. And of course, aside from my expectation, I know that my English is one main factor that made me hard to slide along to keep up with Scout’s words. Thank god, I read it on my e-reader so I can check the dictionary immediately.

Well, this part is not the “hard” part for me, I was enjoying this part especially when Jem, Scout, and Dill daring each other to touch the Radley house. :D But not only that, in this part we’re introduced by the life in Maycomb, the history of it, and the glimpse of families in this small town through Scout’s eyes.

Second part, the book started to become hard. Aside from Boo Radley from the chapter one, the little Maycomb county had a bigger issue. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?), Atticus was a big part of this issue. In this second part, a big crime appeared. The black man named Mr. Robinson was accused of raping a white girl from Ewell family. It’s not surprising that whole town knew and kept an eye about it. Including Scout and Jem (and of course Dill). They started to learn what people think about other people and I think that’s a path to grow up for them. Also, in this part there is an addition in their home, Aunt Alexandra came to teach Jem and especially Scout, since there was no “woman” in the family who can teach them how to behave like a nobel one.

I like this part very much, I like it better than the first one. Why ? Only because of one scene. The court scene. You know, in the previous post (my pre-read thoughts post) I said I was expecting Atticus’ famous charm in this book. That, in the first part isn’t shown much. Yes of course, Atticus always been a good father in this book but I thought in this second one, he shines. And I love love it very much when he defended Tom Robinson. I love his determination, I love his way to teach Jem and Scout the reality, I love it so much and I nearly cried when I read the court scene that I quote below. Oh well, maybe half of my reaction is because of the cold that I’m having though *sniff.

“We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe- some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity because they're born with it, some men make more money than others, some ladies make better cakes than others- some people are born gifted beyond the normal scope of men.
But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal- there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court.”

As in Aunt Alexandra, I don’t hate her. I know what she’s intended to make. To be honest, I’m a little bit agree of Aunty’s opinion of Scout. I guess I often think her as a boy if I didn’t keep reminding myself when I read the book. So some girly girl touch maybe good for her. It’s not that I hate the way Atticus doing with his children. I love the ‘freedom’ but responsible way he taught to his children and sometimes it’s annoying to hear Aunt Alexandra kept complaining about it. But then I realized something, Aunt Alexandra cared about them and Atticus too, the way she cared…probably not entirely right. Anyway, it’s good to have her and read about her habits and her knowledge of people history. Well, although it’s pretty amazing that one person could know about so much complicated history of families in Maycomb, I guess through her (well, not only her) the author let us know the example about how the prejudicing and judging people become our custom in everyday life. This, I guess, is the main problem of the story. So… this book isn’t talking about how black and white lives and The Great Depression thing. For me, the book is talking about people always think their “own people” is better than others. That’s what this book for me, and it’s scared me enough to realize that my world now isn’t so much different than in this book.

Anyway, I like this book. The language is kind of hard and I need daaaaays to finish it but I’m satisfied with it. I love the character, I love Atticus especially and I guess I’ll fall in love with the future Jem. I love how the book took the small town setting, it’s comfortable. Happy to read this and join this read-along. I’m really feeling sorry though for not contributing very much. ...more

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