The book starts with Scout Finch telling us of her's brother injured arm and her family history.She tells us of a Simon finch her earliest ancestor(here i thought oh! one of those stories where the person tries to glorify the past).oh Simon Finch was a fur trader who esablsed the Finch's landiing outside Maycomb Alabama that is where we are. Her father name is Atticus(he is a lawyer) and her' older brother's name is Jem.It is summer and their neighbor's nephew Dill has come to stay for the summer.
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The first few chapters of the book paints Maycomb as a quiet and idyllic town.The children play freely and the neighbours gossip rather harmlessly on the streets.these early chapters set the tone for the a town that is going to be exposed.The lazy rural facade will crumble an racism prejudice that are inherent in the minds of the citizens are exposed.
The book talks about many things among the concepts earliest met is about strength in the face of adversity.The high moral standards defines the character Cunnigham's ,Mrs.Dubrose are potraying.
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Scout gets in a fight at school with a boy who says that her father defends niggers. Scout tells Atticus about the fight and asks him what they boy meant. Atticus explains that he is defending Tom Robinson, a black man, and many in the town believe that he should not have taken the case. When someone at school makes a similar comment, Scout heeds her father's advice about fighting, and backs down.
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Christmas arrives, and so does Atticus' brother Jack. On Christmas day Jem and Scout receive air rifles as gifts. After opening presents, everyone goes to Finch's Landing to spend the rest of the day. Scout has to deal with her bratty cousin Francis for most of the day. After dinner Francis calls tells Scout that her father is a nigger lover. Although Scout has been good about fighting, Scout attacks him and demands he take it back. This brings the day to an abrupt end. Scout receives a spanking from her Uncle Jack. She explains to Jack why she started a fight with Francis, and he becomes more understanding.
That evening, Atticus talks to Jack about the case and all of the problems that may arise because of it.
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Dill's parents allow him to stay in Maycomb. One evening, the sheriff stops by the house with a group of men from town. Atticus talks with them and Scout tries to overhear. They talk about Tom Robinson's case and how Tom is being moved into the Maycomb jail.
Tired and upset by the verdict, everyone goes to bed. When the Finch family wakes up in the morning, food has been brought by many of the families in town. Atticus becomes upset and leaves the house.
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The whole town is gossiping about the case. The children talk to Miss Maudie about the case. They are very upset that Tom is going to jail and the town did nothing. But Miss Maudie points out that some people did what they could. She tells the children that Judge Taylor appointed Atticus for a reason; he knew that Atticus was the only lawyer in the town who would do his best to defend Tom.
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When the children leave Miss Maudie, they hear the newest bit of gossip. Bob Ewell ran into Atticus in town, spat upon him, and told him he would get revenge one way or another.
These become the hardest times for the family, Jem in particular. Scout, because of her young age can move on past the events of the trial. But as Jem gets older and wrestles with his maturing feelings and values, most of what has happened only angers and upsets him. When Scout goes to Jem for an explanation about her class discussion, Jem can only become angry. He is not angry because Scout is being inquisitive, he is angry because there are no easy answers to what Scout is asking and he is just as confused as she is.
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The ray of hope for the children comes earlier when they talk with Miss Maudie. Despite the seeming hopelessness of everything, Miss Maudie points out that many people were doing their best to help Tom Robinson. The children may feel alone, but as the gifts of food left at their house indicated, many people were always behind them.
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Helen ton's widow takes a job with Link Deas, Tom's former employer. After being harassed by the Ewell's on her walk to work, Helen has to take the long way to Link's house. When Link finds this out he goes to the Ewell' to threaten Bob. Later, Bob begins to follow Helen.
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One evening, while alone in his home, someone tries to break into Judge Taylor's house assuming it was empty for the evening. All signs point to Bob Ewell.
Due to last Halloween's pranks, the town organizes an evening at the high school for the children. Scout is recruited to be in the evening's pageant, as a ham hock.
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Although Jem and Scout could have died, the incident with Bob Ewell serves as a vindication for the Finch family and their values. Bob Ewell, who the town stands behind during Tom's trial, turns out to be a man so cowardly that he not only stalks Helen Robinson, he tries to kill two innocent children. And the man who comes to their rescue is none other than Boo Radley, a man whose self-imposed exile has made him the prime topic of gossip in Maycomb. It was Atticus and his children who understood these men no matter what the situation may point to. Although the town knew Bob Ewell to be trash, they would defend him over an innocent black man,prejudice so deeply wooled in the minds. It was Atticus who saw the truth and stood by that.Weird the way some would play black and some white others though grey left helpless by time and situation.
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As for Boo Radley, it was Scout, who points out that anyone who saw her walking Boo Radley back to his home would see a real gentleman. Not the man Stephanie Crawford claimed looked into her windows, but a man who came out of seclusion to save two children. We also now know that it had been Boo who was leaving the presents in the tree for Jem and Scout. He has been watching them for many years. Boo Radley is a sensitive and kind man who apparently has had quite an affinity for the children all these years.
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Throughout this entire ordeal, the Finch family has survived. Much has been heaped upon them the past months and years, but all have come out stronger for it, Jem and Scout in particular. They have gained a new sense of human nature and are better people because of it.
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best part
the one liner's
let the dead bury the dead..........
Neigbours bring in food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between.Boo was our neighbour...........
other than that lots of idioms and allusions used in the text.
Airport Talkies
15 years ago
1 comment:
I love the book. its the account of the little girl. so its without prejudice. Its about a controversial subject but its presented in the most respectful manner. Each character stays in the mind. especially the mysterious neighbour scout never gets to see.
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