Commentary on To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

To kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is about Scout's (Jean Louise) life from age six to nine and is told by her point of view. Scout tells us everything from her opinions on Jem growing up to how she views the events that occurred when her father decided to defend Thomas Robinson, a black man accused of raping a young white girl.

The whole reason, To Kill a Mockingbird, was named what it was goes back to the story that Atticus told Jem after Uncle Jack had shown them how to shoot their air guns. He said, "I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." When Scout asked Miss Maudie about what her father had said she replied, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

The same issue was faced in Tom Robinson's case and is faced in the world everyday when it comes to prejudice.

Allot of the chapters, as well as the book itself, ends and begins on the same note. For example, chapter twenty-five begins with Scout putting a bug on the back steps, then goes on to tell the events that took place with Jem and what he said that made her release the roly-poly instead of squishing him. In the same way, the book opens and closes with Jem's broken arm.

I found it interesting that Scout refers to her father as Atticus, rather than referring to him as dad of daddy like most children do.

The characters names really suited their personalities. For example, there was Miss Maudie who loved everything that God grew, except nut grass and would allow Scout and Jem to play in her yard as long as they didn't tear up her flower beds.

Then there's Aunty Alexandra, Atticus's sister, who is the kind of lady who attends social events and constantly fusses at Scout for wearing overalls instead of a dresses like she thinks little girls should wear.

To Kill a Mockingbird is interesting because Scout tells the story, like she is talking to a close friend or her brother. She allows one to know and understand her feelings as well as what she believes everyone around her feels during the 1930's in Maycomb, Alabama.