joonsooyoon

I admire To Kill a Mockingbird for its vibrancy and life. Atticus, Jem, Scout, Dill, and all the people within Malcomb County, I find, are as real as those we find beside us today. I find myself respecting Mr. Atticus more than relating to him; to me, he represents an idea of human righteousness and the qualities a person should aspire to hold. And rather than the other adults, I admire next the children, for both their innocence and the breadth of their knowledge.

In its irony, I find the children to be of clearer moral perspective and character than the adults. The county jail standoff, Tom’s trial, and Boo Radley’s treatment—all reflected through a child’s lens—exacerbate the injustice and irony of the events. The children’s innocence brings into greater focus the hypocrisy of the adults.

Symbolically, the issues outlined hold true in contemporary society and will continue to do so; race relations and equality are an ever-present part of American society. Beyond the contemporary, however, I feel more inclined to focus on the story’s advocacy for moral integrity and personal betterment. I believe, in its simplest form, To Kill a Mockingbird is a story of human progress.