Circles

An essay on reoccurring themes in my like and TKAM

English class, grade 8

January 31, 2011

Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, I have noticed many themes that go around in “circles”. Throughout the book a theme I have often noticed is curiosity. While reading the book, I haven’t noticed a single character that hasn’t been curios about at least one issue. Dill, Scout and Jem have always been curious about Boo or Mr. Nathan Radley, Atticus was curios as to why people could be so cruel just because of skin color, Aunt Alexandra has always been interested in other people’s life and gossip and Mr. Dolphus Raymond was curious why people didn’t accept him for who he was. Another big theme I have noticed that repeatedly comes up in To Kill a Mockingbird is treasures. Throughout out the book many characters, I believe, own treasures, something that’s important to them and they kind of guard over. Dill, Scout and Jem had the small gifts and trinkets that appeared in the knothole of the tree near the Radley place, Miss Maudie has her flowers and various other plants, Aunt Alexandria has a certain set of values she feels all girls, especially Scout, should fallow. Another theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, which I feel is the biggest theme in the entire book, is determination. Everyone in To Kill a Mockingbird, whether it’s good or bad, seems to have a goal. Dill, Scout and Jem tried time and time again to get Boo Radley to come out of the house and even when it didn’t work or they got in trouble they didn’t give up, Atticus stayed up all night and worked all day to try and prove Tom Robinson innocent, Aunt Alexandra constantly tried to change scout from a tom boy to a proper lady and Misses Dubose was constantly going out of her way to try annoy or get under the kids skin by insulting their father.

Throughout everybody’s life there are also themes or patterns that come around in a circle. A big thing I have noticed throughout my life is that nothing is easy. If you want to achieve something it just doesn’t magically happen, if you want it you have to work hard and make it happen yourself. When I was younger I had to work hard to learn how to talk, walk, read and write, recently I have been having to work hard with grades because I know I don’t just get an A by asking for one, and I know that as an adult I will have to work hard when I have a job so I can by food and pay taxes. Another “circle” theme in my life is disappointment. Whether you like it or not, some time in your life you will be disappointed. As a young child I was always disappointed when I had to start doing homework or when I was told I couldn’t watch TV, Now I am often disappointed when I have things to do so I cant hang out with my friends, an as I grow older I know everything’s not going to be perfect and I will have to deal with many disappointments, some small and some huge. Pain is also a big theme that keeps appearing in my life. Throughout my life I have felt a lot of pain, some of it has been emotional and some of it has been physical. Throughout my entire life I have always been interested in skateboarding and other freestyle sports and I have a great time with it, but sometimes I fall down and hurt myself. I have also dealt with a lot of emotional pain, i have had pets die, such as my cat max, and I have also had girlfriends that have broken up with me, both hurt me, but not in a physical way.