To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy... but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a classic book. It is told by Scout as she looks back at her childhood, during the great depression in a Southern town of the USA. The second part follows the story of the court case of Tom Robinson and how he is judged unfairly because of his skin colour.

At the time of release this book was controversial; bashed by some and praised by others. Even now it is still  banned in some U.S states. Nevertheless it is now a classic and with the title of classic comes words such as 'ancient', 'educative'and probably 'boring'. To me, it was no exception. I was told to read for school. I was handed an old looking book and listened with dread as other students recounted how boring they bound it. Eventually when I started reading (I had to, there was a test coming up!) I found myself actually enjoying this book. I didn't think it was the best book ever written as my teacher said but it was definitely a book I would keep reading with or without a test.

It is in no doubt a great book for English standards. Harper Lee uses a huge variety of language and writing techniques to create the atmosphere of the book as well as to create characters, from repetition to symbols. A simple quick read gives a great story while a careful analysis of the book will give endless techniques to study from. However, although I cannot deny Lee's great writing techniques I will say that Scout was not created a very believable points. Scout is an innocent child but sometimes - actually, most of the time - she used language and words unknown to even the most advanced students. She and Jem understand so much of law that, even if their father is a lawyer, they are just kids. I found myself having to have patience with Scout as I would read and forget that Scout was just a child (because of her language and deep understanding) and the next minute she wouldn't understand something basic.

It would be an injustice to this novel if I didn't mention its themes. Such controversial themes and ideas, that left this book the classic it is today. Clearly the book is about racism. The racism found towards Negroes in that time and that even today is found. Comparing Tom to a mockingbird showed that he did nothing but was being punished. The higher powered white people kept on trying to make the Negroes as something of a dangerous influence and many other believed it. However it was the white man, especially Mr. Ewell, who turned out to be exactly how what they though of Negroes. Of course, the book exaggerates a bit the personalities of Negroes. As not all white man are racist or bad, not all Negroes are so pure and kind, she had to exaggerate the good qualities to make the unjustness bigger and easier to comprehend. 

Racism is just the tip of the iceberg in themes. If we analyse the plot there are so many significant themes to it. It talks about dealing with injustices, should we stand up for what is right even if it means we will also be judged and even placed in danger? Or should we do nothing and be just as bad as those being racist? It also talks a lot up children growing up and their innocence being lost. How children are taught to grow up with the society expectations, which teaches many to be narrow minded and not ask about the morals of the society. Should they follow the path that their parents and teachers set up for them even if they see it is wrong? It even talks about feminism. Scout is trying to grow up and fit in a male driven world, she is very strong-minded and independent but this labels her as a tom-boy and not proper.

There are endless themes and this is no synopsis so I will stop here. Sometimes the plot is quite dragging but this is a book worth reading, not only will you get a good read but you will also learn a lot and start questioning your own values.