Jayson’s Reviews > To Kill a Mockingbird > Status Update

- When I hear about this book being banned, and having now read nearly all of it, I can only guess that the controversy is about the language used. Not just the liberal use of the N-word but also of "Negro," the more politically correct term historically.
- The presence of racial language at all, even in decidedly positive usage, is often triggering and a red line for many people.
(2) Following the trial, Jem debates Atticus on the merits of the legal system.
- Here, Jem represents the reader, peppering Atticus with questions of injustice. Atticus, in his answers, defends the legal system as the best instrument that exists for achieving justice.
- It's an interesting conversation because we have Jem's idealism and faith in mankind broken as a result of the trial. Here, Atticus is sort of an idealist, faithful in the legal system to self-correct when the judgement is (inevitably) overturned on appeal. Spoiler: that doesn't happen.
(3) We get an answer to why no one in Maycomb wants to serve on a jury.
- Atticus explains that it's because the community's so reliant on each other that to even appear to pass negative judgement on neighbors might bring about negative social consequences.
- Indeed, we see this later with Atticus, Judge Taylor and Tom's widow, where Bob Ewell pesters, abuses and potentially commits crimes against them in order to get even for seemingly opposing his family.
(4) Jem comes to the understanding that Boo Radley doesn't leave his house because he simply doesn't want to.
- On the face of it, this may seem like clear agoraphobia. Though, in the context of Jem's discussion with Scout, you get the sense it's because not all folk are the same, nor treated the same, and Boo Radley doesn't want to come out to face the cruel world.
(5) There's a lot of openly racist talk during the Missionary Society meeting Aunty Alexandra hosts.
- It's a scene to make plain how seemingly civilized and genteel ladies may be done up pretty and polite on the outside, but are ugly on the inside and hypocrites when it comes to helping Africans abroad while persecuting Africans in their midst.
- It's during this that Scout gains a respect for her aunt, who continues to act like a lady during all this and particularly upon hearing of Tom's death.
(6) Speaking of Tom's death, it's a curious thing given how confident Atticus was in winning the appeal.
- Could it be the case that he wanted to die, knowing he could never show his face in town again? or to go back to being friendly neighbors with the Ewells?
(7) Jem stops Scout from squashing an insect.
- It's a relatively extreme position to take against the killing of innocents, which is more mental fallout from the trial.
- Scout calls it a phase, which it probably is.
(8) Underwood writes an editorial in the paper, mentioning how it's a sin to kill cripples. He says it's like hunters and children senselessly killing songbirds.
- This calls back to Atticus near the beginning of the book when he gives the titular line, "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."
- Tom is the cripple Underwood mentions. So, in case anyone didn't figure out already, it's made crystal-clear that Tom Robinson is the book's titular mockingbird.
(9) We get another instance of hypocrisy from another adult woman in Scout's life.
- Her teacher, Miss Gates, hates Hitler for persecuting the Jews, but is overheard by Scout rooting for the persecution of Tom Robinson outside the courthouse.
(10) It's interesting how after the trial the book goes back to short events and anecdotes about the town. It's like a trial sandwich.
- It's as if to say that the goings on of the town stopped for the duration of the trial and then continued as it was, albeit with fallout pervading its stories.

It’s been fascinating to read your comments and thoughts while reading this book. I only just read it fully myself a couple of years ago.
As someone over 40 I had seen the movie and read many passages from the book, the pop culture references I know, but had just never taken the time to read it fully for whatever reason.
I think all your observations are correct; save but one. I believe this is a heavily banned book because it calls out white privilege and injustice. The use of certain words has been used as an easy excuse over the years to justify that ban. But generally what most of the (predominantly white and religious) folks/groups that want the book banned know they are being called out for their hypocrisy. Thus if no one reads the book they hope people won’t see the truth.
It’s sad really that so many humans (and I’m sure this includes myself) are unable to see the forest for the trees. We get so caught up in the details of a situation that we can’t remember the overall context of it and how it’s bigger than any one case or instance. The law and justice must be handled equally across the board. Unfortunately humans are incapable of doing this.

For the trial section being paced differently. As a real world perspective; I was a teen when OJ Simpson went to trial. I can tell you it did feel like the whole world stopped during those weeks. No one talked about anything else at all (it seemed). Gosh even here in my Canadian junior high school they brought TVs in (no internet remember) and we watched the verdict live.
I remember the verdict announcement and people cheering… yet I couldn’t figure out what we were cheering for… not unlike Jem’s inability to understand the trial outcome. My confusion was carried forward many years later when I realized the DNA (that was thrown out of court as being ‘unreliable technology’) was Simpson’s… by todays standards that’s a slam dunk conviction. But the rules of double jeopardy saved him… I think the same kind of thing is being shown in this novel. That we create rules that seemingly work in perfect situations; but the world (and humans) are not perfect. So we will get imperfect outcomes no matter what.
I love Atticus’ commitment to stand behind the law as still the best solution even when it went all wrong in this case. Because an imperfect law is, presumably, better than no laws at all…

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts Jayson. It’s been a great reflection for me as well. Especially as I read it myself only a couple years ago. :)

Mel (Epic Reading) wrote: "It’s been fascinating to read your comments and thoughts while reading this book. I only just read it fully myself a couple of years ago.
As someone over 40 I had seen the movie and read many pass..."

Thanks, Mel! Happy you found this interesting. I just figured I'm jotting down notes anyway, I may as well share them :)

I like your point about the OJ Simpson trial. That was another one that was racially charged and, as you say, caused the world to stop. Ultimately, he was found guilty in the subsequent civil case, which is a kind of justice albeit imperfect.

To that point, it's better to have faith in an imperfect system, and make adjustments along the way, than to scrap it for no system at all. We see that contrast when the mob arrives at the jail. Atticus both literally and symbolically defends his client (and the rule of law) against mob justice and the tyranny of the majority. Ultimately, in that case, it's the future generation that (literally and symbolically) causes the mob to give up and go home.

I've still got around 35 pages left to read, so there's another update left in me where I'll also give my final thoughts 😁👍

It would be interesting to follow up with Martin Luther King’s letter from a Birmingham Jail where he addresses many of the issues of law and how moderate white, church going folks do more harm than any good. He was an amazing writer who put his thoughts in such a way as there was no hiding from their meaning. The two works dovetail perfectly. I think I myself just may be inclined to read both myself. Enjoyed reading your thoughts.

Sherry wrote: "It would be interesting to follow up with Martin Luther King’s letter from a Birmingham Jail where he addresses many of the issues of law and how moderate white, church going folks do more harm tha..."

Thanks, Sherry! Glad you enjoyed it 😁👍

Thanks for your recommendation. Perhaps I'll read that some time later. I like to jump from genre to genre, not just to mix things up from an entertainment standpoint but also to keep objective while reviewing and not just base ratings and opinions on similar books I just read. Though, I appreciate you getting this on my radar now! I'll certainly take a look at it if I'm in the mood for something similar to this :)