The Trial Begins

Harper Lee presents the trial and the controversial themes of the Tom Robinson case in a manner which builds suspense, ensuring the reader is constantly engaged. As a result, I found myself having multiple questions regarding the multitude of new characters which we are introduced to throughout Chapter 16 & 17.

Miss Maudie refuses to attend the public trial, and explains her reasoning by announcing that 'it's like a Roman Carnival'.  She believes it is 'morbid, watching a poor devil on trial for his life' and expresses her distaste towards the almost festive atmosphere. From the reaction of the audience during the trial, I understand her arguments, as it appears as if they treat the court case like it's meant to be a dramatic performance. At first, the crowd are gravely disappointed with the lack of action and seem to expect an array of shocks and thrills.  As a result of Miss Maudie's attitude, it is likely that she supports Tom Robinson in the case and respects Atticus for doing his job. She is one of the only residents of the village who appreciates the man's choice of defending Tom, therefore suggesting that she does not possess prejudiced views.

Despite previous suggestions that Jem had matured, the reader is yet again exposed to his naive and immature mind. During the trial, Jem passionately believes that Atticus will succeed, regardless of the prosecution's evidence. He is simply unwilling to accept the fact that Atticus may lose the case and believes that his Father has 'got him' (Bob Ewell) when he discovers Bob's hand preference. However, we are aware that the child is merely being optimistic and in the long run Atticus' efforts will most likely be futile; the outcome has already been decided.

The presence of racism in the Maycomb society is yet again highlighted by the seating arrangements in the courthouse. Whilst the whites are permitted access to the main level, the blacks are forced to remain on the 'coloured balcony' and are expected to give up their seats should any white people wish to sit down. When Reverend Sykes, Jem, Dill and Scout enter the balcony area, 'four Negroes [rise] and [give them] their front-row seats'. The children are willing to be amongst the blacks, as they do not maintain the racist views that the majority of the crowd freely express - (perhaps due to their age). I find it ironic that in a location where parties strive to achieve justice, racial discrimination is still widely evident.

Robert E. Lee Ewell is described as a 'little bantam cock of a man' with a 'shock of wispy new-washed hair',  'a thin, pointed and shiny nose' and 'no chin to speak of'. Much like his inconsiderate son, Bob is a rude, ignorant and short-tempered waste of space, living in poverty in a ramshackle hut behind the Maycomb rubbish dump. He has insufficient funds to pay for a doctor for Mayella, which is most likely a result of his excessive alcohol consumption. Despite being the father of many children (possibly as much as nine), he pays little regard for their well-being and continues to spend his life drinking and conveying his pure hatred for black people. Being obviously unacquainted with expected court procedures, he responds to prosecutor Mr Gilmer's questioning using blatantly racist language and an arrogant and sarcastic tone, causing an uproar amongst the audience. Since he is portrayed in such a manner, the reader has very little sympathy for the man and starts to consider the possibility that Tom Robinson may not be the person responsible for the crime.

I hope you enjoyed reading the above post. If you would like to test your knowledge of the novel, follow this link to a series of quizzes - (Just click the drop-down menu to select the next quiz). I found these quizzes to be particularly useful, as some of the questions focus on the themes and Harper Lee's intentions:

http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/quiz1/

Revision Podcast - To Kill a Mockingbird

I have recorded a revision podcast for Part One of the novel. Listen below:

(Please note that you may have to wait a brief moment for it to buffer)

The Job Lot

The following is a short story based around the theme of seeing a parent in a different light. Enjoy!

The onslaught commenced the very moment I arrived home. One foot through the door and I was bombarded with a multitude of complaints and orders, varying from “take off your shoes, don’t get mud on the carpet” to “go and hang your coat up, your bag doesn't belong there”, yet not a single hint of asking me how my day went. I had come to expect that of my Dad; a sullen expression was persistently etched across his weary face and his eyes were constantly glazed and distant. As a result, I never really took an interest into his affairs. He was always off on new ventures, travelling abroad for “business trips”, leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. There was never enough time for him to watch me play football on a Saturday or to attend my award ceremonies. I barely had a conversation with him, for he was permanently occupied with work-related tasks. Money wasn't an issue in our family and my requests for whatever I desired, be it magazines, video games, trainers or mobile phones, were often satisfied. We had multiple holidays throughout the year, and as pleasant as it was to feel the sun beating down blissfully upon me, my Father spent the majority of his time on the phone to clients and I didn't get the chance to do any sightseeing. It wasn't until I finally sat down at the dinner table one evening that I noted a change in atmosphere.

It was my Mother who aroused my suspicions. She was not her usual jovial, attentive self; instead she appeared distracted and troubled. Her tone was solemn at times and in some cases she had difficulty in finding the right words. The first few minutes of supper were held in grave silence. Both parents stared fixedly at their food as if they were expecting it to animate. Eventually, my Mother revealed the reason why such an uncomfortable tone was evident. Amidst a long-winded explanation, it came to my attention that Dad had lost his job. After pausing for a brief moment to let the shock set in, she went on to detail exactly how this affected me, announcing that there would be no more games consoles, gadgets or toys. At the time, my thoughts were incredibly selfish and narrow minded, and in my distress at receiving the news, I did not stop to consider what unemployment meant to my Dad. He did not utter a word that night, and I now realise that this was out of humiliation.

I was completely surprised the next morning when he offered to take me to school. During the journey, he seemed genuinely concerned with the day I had ahead of me, as he asked questions about lessons, exams and my grades. It felt as if I was getting acquainted with a whole new person. Following a strenuous 7 hours of education, I was met yet again by my Dad, who had decided to give me a lift home. Upon arrival, he proceeded to suggest a kick around at the park and I gladly accepted his invitation. We spent a long period of time playing penalty shoot-out  taking shots and practising corners and I found the experience particularly enjoyable and amusing, especially when he slipped over whilst attempting a volley. Over the subsequent months, it became apparent that this was not a one-off occurrence, as my Dad continued to watch my football games, play sports and take me out for picnics. Though he did succeed in finding a new occupation, there was still little money around and nothing seemed the same as before. I suddenly realised that all of his stress and frequent dismal moods were a result of the pressure of his job. He never had the time to listen to me because he was attempting as best he could to provide for his family. My Dad was able to preserve in spite of the demanding work and this truly reflects his strength of character. It took him losing his job for me to understand that it’s not easy being a parent. 

It's a Sin to Kill a Mockingbird

Maycomb, the Radley's, the Education System and the Community

In the first chapter, we are introduced to the Finch family and their ancestry. Jeremy Atticus Finch ('Jem', nearly 10 years old) and Jean Louise Finch ('Scout', nearly 6 years old and the narrator of the story) are the children of Atticus Finch, a lawyer and respectable man who derives a reasonable income from his practises. He performs the role of both parents, (as his wife is dead), though he is aided by housekeeper Calpurnia.

Atticus Finch

I find it rather interesting and a little odd how the Finch children never refer to their Father as 'Dad'; in fact they call him 'Sir'. Perhaps this is a form of showing respect, since Atticus treats his kids with 'courteous detachment'. He is firm but fair and is patient with Jem and Scout, particularly in Chapter Three when he manages to convince Scout to reconsider her thoughts about school. Atticus often has some philosophical and inspirational thoughts on life, such as ‘you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view’. He tolerates the children’s inquisitive questioning and answers with considered responses. Overall, I believe his parenting methods are exemplary, especially seeing as he has to bring up his children without the support of his wife.


The Tired Old Town of Maycomb:


The Finch family live in the main residential area of the ‘tired old town’, located some twenty miles east of  Finch Landing (in the American South). By the description provided, it appears that Maycomb has been badly hit by the effects of the economic depression, particularly as ‘Maycomb County was farm country’. ‘There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with’. However, it is mentioned that ‘it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people’, which links with one of my favourite quotes; ‘Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself’. This line refers to a part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inaugural speech which spoke of the possibility of turning the US economy around. The society seems to be built around tradition and heritage, and they appear afraid of change. This is particularly evident throughout Chapter Two and Three, when Scout frowns upon the teaching methods of Miss Caroline Fisher and mocks the Dewey Decimal System. The community as a whole is rather poor, containing the likes of the Cunningham family (who cannot afford to pay anyone back) and the infamous Burris Ewell, a filthy, louse-ridden, ill-mannered truant. The Maycomb ethos is completely alien to Miss Caroline, who comes from industrial North Alabama. I feel that Harper Lee portrays these topics in a humorous and relatable manner.

A brief overview:

The two children meet Dill (Charles Baker Harris), a six year old who visits every year from Mississippi to stay with Miss Rachel Haverford, his aunt. They all develop a fascination with the Radley family and their sinister, run down house, as well as the mysterious Arthur “Boo” Radley who no-one has seen leave for years. Over the chapters we learn more about the education system and Scout’s experiences, the Maycomb community and other significant characters. The author uses a wide range of vocabulary and varied sentence length to build tension and suspense and ensure that the reader is constantly engaged.

My Mind's Eye

I am trapped in an ancient manor house, cobwebs in every nook and cranny, flickering shadows and the creak of floorboards enforcing unimaginable terror in my being. As my eyes dart uncontrollably in the dark, crude portraits become somewhat visible, lining the aged walls, a tribute to the lives now lost. Ornate, rustic pillars loom like giants in the hallway. The echoes of those who have once resided in the manor still resonate, like an evil presence. I run my trembling fingers across the exquisite oak furniture, coated in a thick layer of accumulated dust, and a chill seeps into me as I sense ethereal spirits, ghostly reincarnations of previous inhabitants. Is this hellish nightmare of a house merely a creation of my mind, or is this reality? I long to leave this cursed manor, to be as far away from the place as possible, by any means available. The panic is consuming me and I wish for the confusion and trepidation to end. Fear grips my heart as I cower in the corner, anticipating the daylight, to force the pale silhouettes away.  Mystery lies behind the unknown reason for my dismay. There must be an answer to this madness…

Long To Rain Over Us

A short poem based on the Diamond Jubilee Flotilla:

The rain lashed down at an astonishing rate,
yet the British did not hesitate,
to arrive, en masse at the Thames banks,
for Her Majesty, a symbol of their thanks.

Sixty years, the length of her reign,
and with dignity she did maintain,
a broad grin etched across her aged face,
the celebrations  throughout the country continued at pace.

The Spirit of Chartwell glided elegantly along,
accompanied by a fleet, 1000 strong,
an array of purple, red and pristine gold,
the crowd gazed proudly, in the bitter cold.

Church bells, horns and cheers filled the air,
the British spirit in a triumphant fanfare,
a flawless diamond, shining bright,
a finale of fireworks to crown the night.

The Importance Writing In Life's Spare Moments