The Novel and I

When I first read To Kill a Mockingbird, I wanted to read the novel just to comprehend it. I wanted to understand the main meaning of the plot, and not read the novel and become personally attached. When I re-read the book, I found myself not liking it, but as the rising action took place, I began to find myself falling in love. The way the characters are all interconnected, as well as each subplot is intertwined, made me look at life  in general in an entirely different way.
I have read several books that include racism in the plot as well as discrimination, but Harper Lee opened my eyes to an entirely new world. Having the narrator talk about the unfairness from both points of view made me realize how lucky I am today to be living in a society where discrimination is frowned upon and there is a higher level of exceptance towards difference. In Maycomb, it is definitely a different story. If you disagreed with someone on a higher level of prosperity than you, you were excluded and shunned from the community. If you were against slavery and the idea of harassing African-Americans, you were the gossip of the town. No one stood up against the injustice of gossip, discrimination or in other words, what was right.
When Atticus showed his caring nature as well as Jem and Scout, I was at awe. There aren't that many people in the world who will defy the odds against their friends, and it has made quite an impact on me. The novel has made me realize that you need to stick up for those people who can't support themselves, and to stick with your beliefs no matter what anyone thinks. Even though it may not be "the" decision that everyone else is making or deciding on, you need to only think about what is the "right" decision. In other words, I gained a lot from the knowledge Atticus gave Scout and Jem, as well as respect towards each character.Also, I appreciated the ever present Boo Radley, whose shy demeanor but important role showed me a new type of hero. Without all the characters coming together in the very end, the messages Ms. Lee is trying to convey would be different.