NAME NRIC

: MORAY ANAK JOHNNY : 940328-13-6519

MATRIX NO : 125019 PROGRAM SUBJECT CODE TASK : PPISMP TESL SEMESTER 3 : LITERATURE IN ENGLISH : TSL 1034 : PERSONAL RESPONSE

In the first place, I think the novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird by Lee Harper is a very tragic and sad story because the subject lecturer says, Its not as what you expect. No humour and no romantic scene in the storyline. So, I guess it just like the short stories which I have learnt during the first semester of my foundation year. Unfortunately, what I think of story is true after I watch its movie. The movie has given us some ideas of the whole story. The story was written based on a true event that is happened long time ago and it is also stated in Americas history. Basically, the novel discuss about a few important issues that is raised by the author through series of events. These events actually portray the themes of the story which make the story interesting and help me to understand the story better. I have chosen three themes which I think the best to relate with my personal life that are racism, innocence and growing up. I am emotionally upset while reading the novel when I come across an event where an innocent coloured young gentleman named Tom Robinson die because of the prejudice practise by whites society. He has been accused by white man, Bob Ewell for raping his daughter, Mayella. He is found guilty by the juries who are all white and they hate the blacks so much as stated in, page 282, A jury never looks at a defendant it has convicted, Guiltyguiltyguiltyguilty. He was shot to death during his escape attempt from being jailed. I wonder why this happen to him. It takes some time for me to figure out the answer but not until I initiatively find it on the net. Then only I know that South America especially in Maycomb County, Mississippi has bad history about racism. I believe racism had been practised for so long in my society but no longer exist in todays community. However, recently I heard from one of friends said he once became a racism victim. He said that he had been ignored by his colleagues for being a Chinese because most of them are Muslim Malays. They do not like the Chinese because they are always better than the Malays and the Chinese eat pig. This is quite shocking for me as I never experience it before. Nonetheless, racism is not good to practise because against any religions teaching. Secondly, I agree with the authors idea that she called the novel To Kill a Moc king Bird. The title has led me to the discovery of another theme that is the theme of innocence

which is depicts by Arthur Radley or the Boo character. He symbolizes as the mocking bird. Based on the evidence in page 119 of the novel, Atticus reminds his son Jem that its a sin to kill a mocking bird. This is explained by Miss Maudie that Mocking birds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy (Page 119). The same applies to Boo. The children regard him as a monster as Jem describes he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch ... (Page 16). The reason for the children to have such a perception is because they have never met him face to face and they only listen to their neighbourhoods rumours about him. Ironically, in the end he appears to save Jem and Scout from Bob Ewells attack. I can identify with Boo as myself when I was young where my friends used to call me as naughty boy because of the shadows of my past. They still have that bad perception of me even though years have passed and I have changed a lot. I cannot blame them because this is how things work in this real world. The world is so unfair. Last but not least, I like the theme of growing up that is introduced by Lee through my favourite character that is Jean Louise Finch or the Scout. Every individual, at one time will have the ability to value something and decide on the action that should be take later. As for Jean Louise Finchs case, she has reached a stage where she able to be kind to animals like an insect she called as roly-poly. I lay on my stomach, reached down and poked him. He rolled up. Then feeling safe, I suppose, he slowly unrolled (Page 319). Her action really reminds me of my childhood memories where I used to killed the millipede whenever I saw them walking in front me because I feel so irritating with its presence. However, once I enter secondary school, I have different thought of that insect. I will feel guilty if I ever step on insect because I have committed a sin. Moral education and my religion have taught me a lot about this thing. From then on, I promise myself that I will never being cruel to animals and insects. I also forbid my friends from doing that. In conclusion, I have learnt a lot of good values from this novel and hopefully could change my attitude and behaviour to be a better person. As a Malaysian who lives in multiracial society, I cannot have any prejudice towards others although we are different in term of personal appearance and culture because they are also human being. I have to be more concern about any issues involving human rights and try to curb them before it is getting worse. I also must practise good values that I know because it has huge impact on my life.