When I initially heard that we were going to be reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" in my tenth grade English class, I didn't know what to expect. I had heard that it was a classic and needed to be read by generations to come. When I asked past tenth graders, some of their opinions differed. "Um, it's O.K.," or "It's boring," were some of the responses I gathered. Eventually, after absorbing multiple opinions, I decided to read the book with an open mind. To Kill A Mockingbird has had an influence on me ever since I picked it up.
To understand why this book influenced me, one must understand the book and know the underlying theme of "To Kill A Mockingbird." During the Great Depression, Scout and Jem Finch live with their father, Atticus, in a sleepy house in Maycomb, Alabama. Soon, their friend Dill visits and the three are suddenly obsessed with the idea of exploring the unnerving Radley lot and acting out stories about it's equally scary tenant, Boo Radley. Everyone in Maycomb discriminates against Boo Radley except for Atticus, who, after finding out about the children's antics, attempts to stop them from further investigating. After he gets the children to settle down about the issue, Atticus, a lawyer, takes on a case about a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a young white woman named Mayella Ewell. The town of Maycomb is extremely racist and the judge eventually rules that Tom Robinson is guilty, even though it is very clear he is not only innocent, but was framed and victimized by Mayella. Although the verdict is disappointing, the town has a new respect for Atticus Finch, and some white people even have their minds changed about racism in the process. After the commotion of this trial, the town of.
Maycomb quiets down for a while. Soon, though, the town's annual musical, featuring Scout Finch, takes place. As Scout and Jem are walking home from the musical, the father of Mayella Ewell attacks and almost kills them for revenge against Atticus.