Reflection

     The writing style of Harper Lee is very thoroughly layered with details upon details. In every section of the book, especially around the climax, nothing is fluff. All of it matters, in order for Harper Lee to put together this masterpiece. One of the many examples is when Scout, Atticus, Mr. Tate, and Mr. Radley are walking out to the porch. "I led him to the chair farthest from Atticus and Mr. Tate. It was in deep shadow. Boo would feel more comfortable." (364)

     This has multiple details combined in one paragraph. Out of the darkness, is Atticus and Mr. Tate, full-grown men. When we think of Scout and Boo, we have connotations of childish and innocence especially. Scout is growing up, but still in the darkness, and not able to fully see it from the outside, as Atticus and Mr. Tate can see. Boo is in the darkness for a few reasons. Harper Lee first puts him the the Radley house, and he is never shown. Noticed how all the trips to see Boo Radley are at night. Boo Radley stays in the dark, came out in the dark, and would prefer the dark. Scout understands that having lived in the dark house for so long, he would prefer to be in the shade. This shows a level of understanding, empathy, and maturity from Scout. 

     Another important part of the climax is why Jem isn't there. Jem, unconscious, is gone from the learning it seems. The main reason for this is because it's Scout's turn to learn. In these four chapters, it goes from Jem and Scout reflecting on being kids, showing their equality in maturity, to Scout understanding way beyond her years. Scout develops more than Jem here, and surpasses him in her coming of age. Jem was miles ahead back before the trial, realizing the evil of the cement in the tree, but Scout has come a long way, and jumped ahead. Harper Lee uses this contrast to enhance just how far Scout has come. From miles behind, to footsteps ahead.   

     However, the real beauty of the last four chapters is all twenty-seven chapters beforehand can be completely related. Darkness is a relevant theme everywhere. It is where the climax occurs, it is when all the Radley House trips happen. Also, the final judgement from the jury is during the nighttime. Another important part to realize is the oak tree. The gifts from Boo Radley came there, and culminated in one final gift. Although Scout shows the ultimate understanding from this quote "Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad.", she really did give a gift. Scout and her family gave the gift of acceptance, the ultimate gift of understanding, and took Boo for who he was and not for Maycomb's connotations of him. Also, the oak tree is where Jem saw his first "real evil." Jem really was confused and wondered how someone could do that. The oak tree also showed the final and ultimate (I've used that word a lot) evil, the murder of innocence. The oak tree was also a lot more. The darkness under the tree represents being  stuck in the darkness of Maycomb, and not being able to see outside of it. Jem can see it clearly from the porch that night he was crying, but Scout was inside. But this time around, it's Scout who is there to witness it all; to see the tree from the porch.
     I'm going to use first person for a personal review/grade for this book. I loved the hidden symbolism,  meanings, and everything else under the real plain and simple journey. The journey was great when I read it in 5th grade, but now it's so much better embellished with symbolism. I learned so much from the book, about who I really am, what it really means to be a honest and good person, and so much more. This book is just good. There is no real words to describe how one can wrap so much meaning around the simple and commonly used plot of coming of age. My parents have not read the book, but my sister really enjoyed it. She said it taught her a lot, and she still remembers all the symbolism, and everything she learned about the book in class. 
    Who was your favorite character? What was your favorite part of the book? Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not? What did it teach you? Where is Scout in comparison to Jem now? Do you think you need a sequel? Would you want a sequel? What hidden symbols did you find? Do you think Harper Lee has created a masterpiece that people will be reading in a hundred years still? Did your parents read it? If so, did they enjoy it? Put yourself in Mr. Ewell's position. How do you feel after the trial? Why is the title what it is?