To Kill a Mockingbird

So, this is not my first time reading To Kill a Mockingbird and let me tell you that the second time is better than the first. There were so many minor details that I did not understand in certain chapters that left me confused at the end of the story. Talking about it in class and discussing certain texts helped me connect the different situations that took place in the story. From this chapter on it gets so exciting, I can hardly keep it in; you know the ending of the story and all. I am not going to give anything away but know that Mr. Ewell is going to come back again. This time for a nasty revenge! I absolutely love this book because there are so many messages worth learning about. I always thought that Mr. "Boo" Radley was this mysterious fellow who hated to come out of his house. Living in a neighborhood were everybody knew everything taking place in your life can be annoying. I have lived in a little town for 3 years where everybody walked through open doors without knocking and interfered in your lives. You know, I felt sympathetic for Mr. Radley until Jem uttered something very interesting at the end of Chapter 23. "Scout, I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time... it's because he wants to stay inside." Duh, of course that's obvious but there is another reason I came up with. I think it's because he is ashamed of the world; he's ashamed to listen to all this ridicule and segregation taking place around him. He just wants to create a barricade where no body can be heard or felt threatened. Boo is in his own world; a world of joy, equality, and love. A world we are all searching for! Scout and Jem were feeling sorry for him but now they understand the bravery and courage inside his heart. He is locking himself up as to not let words betray him or allow the words coming from his mouth to betray others. He is a very smart man in my opinion.