How the Novel Spoke to me

     When I heard that we got to read To Kill a Mockingbird I was thoroughly excited, for I had heard from many people what a wonderful novel it was. The novel definitely lived up to its reputation. For me, I definitely was touched on a personal level, in a few ways, by this book. Contained in this book were a various number of themes, any one of which could be related to something that someone has experienced within their life. I feel that if someone were to just read this book, without any latter dicussion, it could seem, perhaps, simplistic, yet with everything we've done I've realized just how complex this novel really is. There are many different sublots, many themes, and other plot devices worked into the novel so well, that the reader doesn't quite realize until further examination.
  
     In many instances, I was able to compare myself to Jem. For the most part he stays calm and passive, but certain things will push him to his limit. An example is when Mrs. Dubose calls Atticus a "nigger-lover," Jem looses his calm demeanor, and destroys her flowers. With this scenario in the book came fresh memories from a scene in my childhood very similar to this, except that what was directed towards me was about me. It happened in the summer after third grade if I remember correctly. I was with friends when they started talking about their religion, it didn't bother me, I just wasn't engaged in the conversation because they all went to church together, and I didn't. They asked me if I prayed every night, and I said no. The reply to my no were wispers of "He's not going to heaven." At the time I had very little knowledge of religion, but I knew what they were saying. I didn't get mad often, but this time threw me over the edge. Contrary to what Jem did, I remained passive, but yelled, then walked home, very shaken. To me, the theme that Atticus talked about, how it's better to keep your cool in situations, and really just try to work through it stuck out to me, because that's the advice my parents gave me at that point.
     I also felt that I was able to relate to Scout's coming of age. When I was younger I was very judgmental, and wouldn't think before saying certain things in the presence of others. I didn't realize yet that there were numerous types of people, and not just a couple. Throughout growing up, I learned just how different everyone was, and that different didn't make it wrong, because different for one person is normal for another, so that there actually is no defined "normal." Scout and I both changed our views towards others, going along with the theme acceptance of diversity, and not creating preconceptions of others.