TKAM chapter 16 and 17 reader response

In the book To Kill a MockingBird by Harper Lee, chapter 16 provided meaningful messages that could be applied to one’s life. When Scout, Jem, and Dill go to the trial in the courthouse, Scout described the place as “the inhabitants of these offices were creatures of their environment: little grey-faced men, they seemed untouched by wind or sun” (163). The quote explains how people who are caught up in their work tend to neglect the world outside them. The example of the men who work and stay in their offices all day is a way to show people that one must seize the day and enjoy life. As many people have said, life is short and should be enjoyed to the fullest. The quote connects to many people in today’s word. People are wrapped up in their work and before they realize it they are consumed by it. People then start to go through the motions of the day of waking up doing work and going to bed, forgetting to appreciate each day and to appreciate their family and loved ones. Although the detail is not important to the overall storyline of the book, the quote provides an important message and an insight of what work is like at the courthouse.

 

In chapter 17, the trial shows what kind of a person Mr.Ewell is. When Mr. Ewell is asked if Mayella Ewell is his daughter he responds by saying, “well, if I ain’t I can’t do nothing about it now, her ma’s dead” (172). His response shows that he does not take the trial very seriously. Since he doesn’t take the trail with much concern one could infer that he doesn’t care about his daughter since the trial involves her and her personal health. Mr. Ewell makes a joke out of his testimony as he responds with a rude and not straight forward answer to a simple question. His response sends the reader of what kind of person Mr.Ewelll is. Based on the evidence provided in the book, one could see that Mr.Ewell is a man who doesn’t take things seriously and is self-centered since he spend money on alcohol and not on food for his kids. I predict that Mr. Ewell was not telling the truth during the trial and made up the story as a way to cover something up or as a way to benefit himself in some way.