TKaM: Reflection Chps 6-11

IN THEIR OWN WORDS – please enjoy one student’s reflection after finishing the second half of Part One of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

As the chapters progress through the second half of part one of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a significant shift in theme is portrayed, as it begins shifting away from innocence and fun and towards the harsh realities of life. Chapter 6, for instance, begins with the children sneaking into the Radley place, highlighting the immaturity that has been recurrently portrayed throughout the book. In Chapter 11, on the other hand, it becomes clear that the children are learning more about life itself, with the death of Ms Dubose and the lesson with courage that comes along with it. This event also signifies the said shift into a more down-to-earth theme that will continue into the second part of the book. Additionally, more news about the trial, where Atticus will defend the black man Tom Robinson, is revealed in these chapters, and it is shown that the children are beginning to face more profound bullying and discrimination for this. This also brings up the recurring theme of the “child defending the parent,” as we see that Scout continually stands up for her father despite being continually showered with rude remarks. Aunt Alexandra is aso introduced in these chapters, and the reader begins to get a taste of what tradition and proper etiquette in the South is supposed to look like, which is problematic as Scout’s behavior consistently contradicts this. Her introduction plays a significant role in furthering this theme of shifting away from childhood, as Scout is now able to have more insight into who society expects her to be, especially since she has been portrayed as to the contrary of a “normal” girl throughout the book. This theme is also reflected in the incident in Chapter 10, where Atticus is forced to kill the rabid dog in order to uphold his moral code and protect his family. After this, he references the mockingbird to which the title refers to, and he explains how the children should never inflict harm upon individuals that are weaker than them just on the basis of them having more power. This provides the kids with a strong moral foundation, furthering the theme of maturity and continuing to shift the book into a more pragmatic viewpoint.

Reflection submitted by R.H. in Mx. Sabbagh’s first hour Language Arts 4 class.