joonsooyoon

I admire To Kill a Mockingbird for its vibrancy and life. Atticus, Jem, Scout, Dill, and all the inhabitants of Maycomb County, I find, are as real as those we find beside us today. Atticus was the focal point during my reading. Rather than relating to him, I find myself respecting Mr. Atticus; to me, his upright moral character creates not only direct conflict with the moral questions of race and equality, but also the values and actions of the human ideal. Furthermore, rather than the Maycomb adults, I far more admire the children for both their innocence and 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. The children’s innocence is a mirror that brings into greater focus the hypocrisy of the adults and the absurdity of the alienation.

Symbolically, the issues of racism and equality outlined hold true in today’s society. Beyond the contemporary, however, I feel the story’s advocacy for moral integrity and personal growth is also important. I believe, in its simplest form, To Kill a Mockingbird is a story of human progress. It reflects a need for childish hope and joy, rather than the pervasive adult nihilism in modern troubles.