072712. friday.
(blog backlog. HAHA. written a long time ago, published only now. HAHA.)
Scout and Jem Finch are
siblings, curious kids who have lotsa questions about many things around them.
the Finches have a strange neighbor, Boo Radley. he’s been the center of
attention, for a long time, of the siblings and Dill, their friend. they live
in a county where families will always be stuck in the image they are known for
even before they were born. they have a very nice father and wise lawyer in the
character of Atticus. in the story, he’d handle a case involving a Negro which
would be the root of many controversies later on.
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. – Atticus
i love the character of
Atticus, a man of wisdom, calmness and patience. he’s the source of
enlightenment and strength of his children. he’s got his own means of making
his kids understand complicated things in a way that wouldn’t shock or confuse
them for their age (although, he can’t be where his kids are at all
times. as a result, they still see other things as they are.). as a person
and lawyer, he’s not one who would just be affected and hindered by what people
believe is wrong. he’d stand for what he thinks is humane and right. such an
admirable man. HAHA.
there are many lessons
found in this book and they are not hard to realize since among the lead
characters here are young. lessons are laid openly and effortlessly. the
manifestations of the kids’ actions, whether uncouth or nice, would be
discussed by the older ones in simpler ways.
when i was reading from
the beginning until maybe halfway through the pages, i couldn’t figure out
what’s gonna be the story’s climax, where the story was headed to. maybe it was
just the way Harper Lee wanted it to be like. thought it would just be a tale
about the topsy-turvy phase of growing up and nothing more. but no, i was
wrong. there was more to it than i expected. when the cover said it is about
human dignity, it’s dead serious. HAHA.
People in their right minds never take pride in their talents. – Miss Maudie
human dignity enters the
scene when Tom Robinson faces the rape case filed by a White. it was something
he didn’t do and yet he was still convicted simply because he’s Black. this was
the first time i’ve ever been so affected about discrimination. (or am i just being too emotional lately? i don't know. HAHA.)
i’ve seen it in movies, i’ve learned about it in school, i’ve heard about it in
many places, but this time i read about it and i was enraged by it. To Kill a Mockingbird was first published in
1960, maybe the tension then was still too great (considering
what this book contains). Harper Lee touched on crucial eye-opening scenarios about racial discrimination that aggravated
my fury over the issue. and the fact that this was all taken from a child’s
point-of-view made this all the more dramatic and shocking. i don’t know how i
will be reacting if i’d be living in a place where such racism exists, i don’t
even know if i can last a day there. it’s being too harsh on people. i’ve been
too attach with the story that it got to my nerves and definitely made me feel
bad.
it’s good to know that since
then, peopleS (referring to different nationalities) from across the world made
efforts to blur the line between the Blacks and the Whites, at least according to what i’m seeing. the Blacks can now stand
out and have a say in whatever is happening around them, unlike before when
they just have to follow the Whites’ decisions.
We’re making a step – it’s just a baby-step, but it’s a
step. – Miss Maudie
To Kill a Mockingbird is
indeed, as its cover says, a book about growing up and human dignity.
photo source: http://chamberfour.com
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