mockingbird motif

After reading the novel To Kill a Mockingbird I understood the meaning of motif more than I did before reading the novel. I know a motif is a reoccurring symbol in the book, but now I better understand how to look for a motif. Though, it was not hard to find in this novel because the motif is stated in the title.

The "mockingbird motif" in the novel is innocence. When Atticus says it is a sin to kill a mockingbird he means that it is wrong to kill something that has done nothing wrong. The themes in To Kill a Mockingbird were racism and predujice towards others. Tom Robison and Arthur Radley are both good examples of the themes and they both tie into the mockingbird motif. Tom is judged by his color and everything he does has to do with his color/race. Tom is judged unfairly by others becuase of the stories people have made up. People in Maycomb were always saying how he ate cats and only came out at night, when, in reality, he stayed in his house becuase he was scared of the outside world and his brother, Nathan Radley. Another thing that is predujice in the novel is the way men treat woman. Woman must be lady-like. They must wear dresses. It is wrong to cuss in front of them and woman can not be involved in the jury or any other type of government. I believe that everyone should be treated like equals and that that was the message the other was trying to portray with the novel.

Life Lessons

When I first started school I was accepted and everyone liked me, but who wouldn't I was only five, but as I grew older it seemed that others were "maturing" faster than me. I remember I was only in fifth grade and many kids were "going out" and kissing. I was still playing with my toys and running around the playground doing anything. I lost many friends that year because I was considered weird. People shunned me where every I went. Well, most people anyway. I had a few close friends. So, when I switched schools I decided I needed a new start. I tried to changed everything about myself. I didn't want to be that child that no one liked. My mom noticed that I was acting different and told me, "Julia, you shouldn't care so much about what others think." I still till this day care what everyone around me says and thinks about me, but then again who doesn't.

This is my second new start. Highschool. It is was a huge change. So many more people to care about every move I make, what I look like, and what kind of grades I have. I know I'm not like everyone else and sometimes that bothers me. Sometimes I wish I was "normal." Whatever normal is. It's really to bad I want this,but it's true. I have toned it down quite a bit now and I am definantly more stable than I was in elementarty school. I also know that people don't really care that much about how I look and what I do, but everytime someone gives me a put down I remember what my mom said and keeps telling me. I also remember one other thing my mom and dad both say. Lifes not always fair. I think both of those quotes are great life lessons. You honestly shouldn't care what others think because the truth is they really don't care that much and you truly aren't that important to them. I think people only say mean things so that they feel better for themselves and it isn't fair that people say mean things just to make themselves feel of more importance, but thats life.

best friend...late because my computer has a virus

"I'm dancing with myself. Oh, oh, I'm dancing with myself!" I began to sing.
"Your so weird, Julia. I love you anyway," said Emmelia. Boy, I sure have a weird friend. It's odd how alike we are, thought Emmelia. We both begin to belt out "Dancing with myself". Emmelia and I both enjoy being crazy people.
We are at Lions Park. One of our favorite places to go when she stays over. We are attracting a lot of attention, but we don't care. This often happens. We are now heading home, back to 5th ave. As we walk through my front door, we decide to check our emails.
"Julia are you insane? Honestly, what were you thinking?" I had no idea what she was going on about. I didn't realize she had been reading my emails. "Why would you talk to somone you don't even know. It suprises me how dumb you can be sometimes."
"What, it's harmless. It's not like they know where I live or anything." There she goes again I thought. What is she thinking? How could she put herself in harm? What if something terrible happens to her? Someone could hurt her, stalk her down, or who knows what else. These are the types of thoughts running through Emmelia's mind as she reads my conversation with this stranger. After she yells at me we get on with the rest of our day.



Emmelia is a very beautiful person. Inside and out. She has long, brown, curly hair, brown eyes, and a child like face. She can look innocient, daring, and strong all at the same time. She knows how to take care of herself most of the time. She also knows how to take care of the others around her. When she was reading my emails and telling me how dumb I was being, she brought out her mothering side. Emmelia is a responsible person who likes to keep her close friends safe and out of trouble. We both make mistakes, some more stupid then others, but she is the best at solving the things she gets into. But I'm always there for her when she needs me, just like she is always there for me. Her caring personality is what makes her so mother-like. I know we'll be friends for decades.