A Memorable Scene - Dead Man Walking

Tom Robinson is a black man living in Maycomb, Alabama. In the book he is accused of raping a girl, Mayella Ewell. Tom is not seen as an individual in the community in which we lives, because of his skin colour. Throughout the story he becomes a symbol, used to illustrate the judgment and racism that takes place in this town. The first time we get a glimpse of Tom is in his trial, which comes towards the end. The reason we don't see him before the end of the book is because Scout doesn't. 

During Tom's trial all of Maycombs residence has shown up to witness the black man being sentenced for something he did not do. At the trial we get two versions of the story, Mayella Ewell's version and her father's, who tells the story that people expect to hear. And the other side, Tom's version, where he tell the story that nobody want to hear. Where he explains what kind of man he is and that this kind of man would never do what he is accused of. During his defends he explained how he felt sorry for miss Ewell and wanted to help a fellow citizens. Which story is the jury going to believe? The comfortable one about the black man raping a white woman or the shocking one where a black man pities a white woman. Surprisingly enough, Tom's verdict was that he was guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. 

This paragraph is taken out of the book. It took place after Tom Robinson was put in jail, where he spoke about having a escape plan. During the execution of that plan, Tom gets shot by hand of a white man. The death changed little about how Maycomb saw him, I actually think it reinforced the stereotype. 

"To Maycomb, Tom's death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger's mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw. Funny thing, Atticus Finch might've got him off scot free, but wait-? Hell no. You know how they are. Easy come, easy go. Just shows you, that Robinson boy was legally married, they say he kept himself clean, went to church and all that, but when it comes down to the line the veneer's mighty thin. Nigger always comes out in 'em".

To Kill A Mockingbird - Jean Louise "Scout" Finch

Jean Louise Finch, also refered to as "Scout" in the book, is the narrator and protagonist of the story. Scout lives in Maycomb, Alabama with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem and their housekeeper, (whom is black) Calpurnia. The novel is written from the point of view of an adult Scout, she is describing how she saw the events in the novel as a child. Jean Louise loves to read and considered smart for her age. She is also seen at as a tomboy because she spends the majority of her time with her brother and their best friend Dill. As she matures from age 6 to age 8 in the novel her understanding of human nature and racism in her town increases. 

Scout start out in the novel as an innocent good-hearted six-year-old girl whom has no experience with the evils of the world. As the novel goes on, Scout beings to see the bad in her hometown in form of racial prejudice. But her father, Atticus, helps her to realise that all though people have great capacity for evil, they also have it for good.

Something that both Scout and I have in common is that as children we were both considered tomboys. We'd rather hang out with boys than guys, and sometimes even dress like them. As most children, Scout sees the evils of the world as she grows up. In that way I think that every child can relate to this character. Because as a child, the world seems like the perfect playground, but as you get older you will see that this is not the case. 

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Why I Chose The Book

During these two next weeks I will be finishing the book To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. The book uses the characters to explore and tell a story about the civil right and racism in the Southern part of the United States of America in the 1930's.

The reason i chose this book was because of the theme. I have a very high interest in human rights and how people are treated in this world to this day today. The main reason why I chose this book is because I had heard about it, a lot. To Kill A Mockingbird have gotten very good and many reviews, from friends, but also important papers such as the Guardian. "What ever happens, it will never stop being a good book and it will never stop inspiring good people".

The way that I read is I use an audiobook. The audiobook that I use, I found on Audible.com. While I listen to the audiobook, I read the book at the same time. Because the language is a little hard, I can understand the plot a lot better.

I look forward to finishing the book, and telling you more about it along the way.