To Kill A Mockingbird

                 

            After reading To Kill A Mockingbird  by Harper Lee over the summer, I can say without a doubt that it is one of my favorite books that I have ever read. It questions the ways of humanity on an extremely human and personal level. The book can make anyone think of the small lies they have told, or the  really any of the things that they have said, and make them wonder what consequences will stem from these supposedly minor things. To Kill a Mockingbird helped me to understand what some people will do for a moment of glory, or out of simple, undying hatred. Harper Lee does what most authors are afraid to do: tell a realistic story, even if it means that there is no "happily ever after".
          The book takes place in the early 1960's, and is told through the thoughts of a lawyer's daughter, who everyone calls Scout. The beginning of the book is really about Scout and her older brother Jem trying to understand the world as much as is possible for a child to understand it. About halfway through the book, their father, Atticus Finch, is tasked with defending a black man named Tom Robinson in court. Tom is accused by a man named Bob Ewell, who claims that he assaulted his daughter. It is an extremely difficult case for the time, especially since they live in Alabama, a southern state. Atticus believes in rights and justice for all people, so he tries as best as he can to defend Tom. Much of the evidence in the case is against Ewell's claim, especially the fact the Robinson only has the use of one arm. After the hearing has ended, it is clear to everyone, even Scout, that Tom is innocent. But the jury still votes that he is guilty, which is a vote clearly made out of hate, maybe even fear. However, one jury member votes undecided, which was considered unthinkable at the time, for a white man to at least give a black man a chance before throwing him in prison. Angry and humiliated at one simple vote, Ewell attempts to kill Scout and Jem, But he is stabbed by his own weapon. Jem and Scout knows that it was there mysterious neighbor, Arthur Radley, but they keep quiet out of gratitude.
          In the book, Jem gets a gun for Christmas, and Atticus advises him not to kill any Mockingbirds, because they are harmless and killing one would just be cruel. This ties perfectly in with the main plot, since Robinson never really hurt anyone, but Ewell wanted to see him dead anyway. When the book was written in 1960, it represented a hope for better times in the future. Now, it can be viewed as a dark reminder to not let the past be repeated, and to let all of the mockingbirds live peacefully.