Changes

After reading this book for six weeks i relize that a lot of the lessons that his book teaches you are lessons that people have been teacing you about for years. But I also think that everyone needs reminding every once in a while. An example of one of the most important lessons in this book I think is to not Judge a book by it's cover. "You don't realy know someone until you walk around in their shoes." Atticus says this when he teaches Scout about life.

Life Lessons

Scout and Jem learns from Atticus that life is not always fair and that the world isn't ready to change how they treat blacks. Atticus tells them this life lesson after Toms trial and he is explaining to them that even though Tom had a good case to win he was almost certainely going to lose just because hes black. "Tom Robinsons a colored man, Jem. No jury in this part of the world's going to say, " we think your guilty, but not very," on a charge like that." This qoute describes how people think that if he is found guilty even if he doesn' t deseve to be executed he will be because he is black and no one wants to be the person who defends a black man.

Atticus also wants them to learn that life isn't fair for everybody. In these times a white man could take advantage of a black man and he wouldn't be able to do anything because it isn't his place to accuse someone that is suppose to be higher in status. But Atticus wants them to learn that things are probable not going to change for awhile because people are unwilling to change their beliefs that they have lived by for years.

Racism in To Kill A Mockingbird

I think that the town of Maycomb is in the middle of segregation so most of the people have been razed to be racist but the kids of the generation are stating to question it. People like Jem and Scout I think don't mean to be racist but thats the way they've grown up to think from the people in the town and peoples actions in general. Most people in the town expect Tom Robinson to be convicted off raping Mayella Ewell and I think that Atticus already knew that they were going to find him guilty even before the trial. " You think they'll aquit him that fast?asked Jem. Atticus opened his mouth to answer, but shut it and left us." This quote shows that Atticus didn't want Jem and Scout to know that he believed the trial was already over.

I think that the reason that Mayella is acusing Tom Robinson of rape is because she is ashamed of what she tried to do. I think that she is infact very lonely and all she wants is some affection. But the way she is afraid is a kind off racism because she knows that blacks are supposed to be at the bottom of the social hierarchy and she is afraid that her trying to seduce him would be taken as betrayall in a sort. Also the fact that when Tom says that he was sorry for Mayella makes everyone mad at him because he is supposed to be below her.

I think Atticus is a very good father to Jem amd Scout. He is a detached father but he is also a very understanding as a father. He doesn't tell Jem and Scout how things work he lets them figure things out for themselves, this shows that he is understanding of how children think and what they want becuase he knows that kids don't want to be lectured they want to experience things.An example is" I didn't know it then but he wanted me to hear everything." He also teaches Scout about morals and when to take offense to things. Like when people are talking about Atticus saying bad things he teaches Scout to ignore them because he understands where the commments are coming from.

Changing perceptions of Boo Radley

At first I thought that Boo Radley was a scary and crazy character, But now I believe he is a scared man that has been shut away for fifteen years. I think that Boo wants to be in the outside world but he has been raised to hate the world by his father and brother. I still think that Boo is crazy to a certain degree because he was stuck in a house for fifteen years, but I believe he is a harmless crazy or barely crazy at all.

I think that Scouts discussion with Boo Radley was the main part where the book explain Boo. Miss. Maudie explains how Boo's father and brother are probably the reason for Boo's mysterioness. They shut him up in a house for most of his life to restrict his contact with other people. "What a morbid question. But I supose its a morbid subject." This qoute shows how dark the Boo Radley story is.

First Impresion of Boo Radley

I don't think the rumors about Boo Radley are true. I believe that the Radleys are just secluded from the outside world and don't invite friends. I think the people of Maycomb made up the rumors because they needed an explanation for the Radleys secludion and becuse people like to gossip and exagerate things. "His father entered the room. As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent's leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activites." page 11. I think that this quote is either an exageration or made up.

Each of the kids act different towards Boo Radley. Jem acts like hes not afraid when he is really nervous, Dill acts like Boo Radley is a monster in a story until the monster starts killing people,and Scout acts scared as if the monster has already attacked people and they were poking the bear. If I was in the kids situation I think I would most likely act like Scout. I would be nervous and unwilling to go over to the Radley house.

The best thing about English so far

My favorite thing that we have done in english so far is when we read the book A Christmas memory. I liked the book because it has interesting characters like Buddy and his cousin who sounds crazy. First of all her best is a seven year old who she calls Buddy because that was her old friend who she used to know. She also seems very sheltered and cautious of the outside world but in a childlike way.