To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Summary

The book "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a story of life in an Alabama town in the 30's. The narrator, Jean Louise Finch, or Scout, is writing of a time when she was young, and the book is in part the record of a childhood, believed to be Harper Lee’s, the author of the book..

The story begins as Scout describes her family history and her town, Maycomb during the time of the Great Depression. Atticus is a prominent lawyer and the Finch family is reasonably well off in comparison to the rest of society. She and her brother, Jem, meet Dill, who has come to live in their neighborhood for the summer, and the children share stories and fantasies about the mystery man who lives near by. The man’s name is Arthur, or Boo, Radley. The house is owned by Mr. Radley, whose son, Arthur (nicknamed Boo), has lived there for years without being permitted to go outside. Not much is really known of him, just hearsay stories that people whisper to one another and to their children to warn them of the evils that may occur. One story that is told is regarding an incident with Boo's father, who is supposedly stabbed with a pair of scissors for no apparent reason.

The reader learns that Scout has problems at school early on because her teacher is annoyed with her for knowing more than what was expected in her grade. On the same day, she has another problem at home, when she makes negative comments about Walter Cunningham's eating habits, a boy who comes from a very poor family. She learns a lesson in manners from Calpurnia, the Finch's Negro housekeeper, and is taught to treat people with respect regardless as to who they are. When she complains to Atticus that Calpurnia spanked her, she is reprimanded by him and taught a lesson in compromise.

As time goes by, Scout and Jem find some mysterious presents in the knothole of an old tree on the Radley place. This makes the children become even more curious about the mysterious Boo Radley. Jem, Dill, and Scout venture out one night to try to see into Boo Radley's back window; which ended up in Mr. Nathan Radley
The next winter, Jem and Scout find more presents in the tree, presumably left by the mysterious Boo. Their treasures include small sculptures and a watch. Unfortunately, treasures can no longer be delivered, for Mr. Nathan Radley pathched up the tree with cement. One night, during a rare snowstorm, Miss Maudie's hous...

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Months pass, Summer turns to Fall, the routine of school starts for the children, but Bob Ewell holds on to his grudge against some of Maycomb's citizens, including Judge Taylor, Helen Robinson and Atticus. In October, the night of Halloween, Scout prepares for a presentation at her school. She plans to wear a bulky pig costume, one that severely limits her vision. While returning home from the school pageant, Jem and Scout are attacked. Jem's arm is broken, and a stranger carries him home. Scout cannot see what is happening because of her constrictive costume. Afterwards, a search of the area by the local officials turns up Bob Ewell's dead body in the schoolyard.

As Heck Tate and Atticus listen, Scout tells them what happened to her and Jem, ending by pointing to the man who had carried Jem home, who she realizes, is Boo Radley. Atticus assumes that it was Jem who stabbed Bob Ewell, but the sheriff tells Atticus that he intends to report that Ewell fell on his own knife. Atticus is sure that the sheriff is trying to protect Jem, until it finally dawns on him that it was actually Boo Radley who killed Ewell. Scout walks Boo Radley home and then returns to her house.