The Maycomb County that Scout (Jean Louise) Finch describes in the opening chapter of Harper Lee's classic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a town that has never left my memory, ever since the first time I read the book. As an English teacher, it is a joy each year to revisit this poignant story in order to educate my students about the power of literature when it comes to creating characters and events that force us to face the unpleasant facts about our world.
Through the eyes of this little girl, Lee encourages her readers to really consider what drove, and ultimately what still drives, the pervasive sense on intolerance, prejudices and racism that still permeates our world. By opening with the reflection that "Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself" (p.6) Lee immediately foreshadows the lessons that Scout, Jem and Dill will learn as the novel progresses. Through the questioning of a child, Scout Finch clearly depicts that underpinning the social attitudes that are held by many residents of Maycomb County is a sense of fear for anything different or unknown.
It is through the perception of Scout, Jem and Dill that we begin to see Atticus Finch as a true hero of American literature. His honesty, integrity and determination shine like a beacon when viewed next to the insular, bigoted and hypocritical minds of many others in his town. For Scout and Jem, what their father does is seen to be normal and perfectly acceptable, simply because he has raised them to share his values. However, even they can begin to see that what Atticus stands for is threatening the delicate social fabric of Maycomb County.
As the novel progresses, the audience is invited further and further into the life and times of Maycomb's citizens and as Scout explores all of the things life throws at a child, we start to see the complexities of her society. Not only are there the obvious social beliefs regarding racial segregation, we begin to learn about the intricate social heirarchy that exists, the expectations of women and young girls, the importance of family history and standing, the expected role of parents, and so the list goes on.
For my Year 10 English class, this is a novel that can be quite challenging and at times perplexing. While those who are first starting to read the book find it hard to understand why I am so passionate about the story, those who perservere at move past Part One, soon begin to realise how the narrative is interwoven. The drama and tension that exists throughout Part Two of the book, suddenly gives new meaning to the somewhat meandering opening chapters which serve to create a sense of what Maycomb was to a young and innocent child. As readers get closer and closer to the final pages, the continuing metaphor of the mockingbird suddenly falls into place and as the teacher, it is an absolute joy to watch as the young women in my class suddenly grasp the links between all of the heroes in this novel.
The ensuing discussions that we have each year, reaffirm that while Atticus is largely seen as the hero of this novel, due to his ability to challenge and in many ways destabalise the values, attitudes and beliefs of his society, there are a great many other heroes who are also worthy of our attention and admiration.
A timeless tale, Harper Lee has created a story that is invaluable when teaching new generations the importance, not only of tolerance, but of standing up for what you believe.
