Mockingbird Motif

Honestly, in the beginning of the year I thought a motif was a rug you hang on a wall. Like a mural. I guess they sound enough the same to mean the same thing. Actually, when I think of the word motif, I instinctively put a rug on a wall in my mind. Apparently I've mistaken them too long and two and a half months of knowing the correct term. It was explained to me that a motif was a reoccurring symbol. Like a mockingbird in To Kill A Mockingbird. Reading that I now understand the awesome-ness of motifs. Because they're like secret things you have to find. :D And it doesn't directly say it in the book.

In the book the mockingbird was a symbol of pure innocence. Like Scout, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley and stuff/people like that. Maybe not Scout. So mainly Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Wait, so is his name Boo or Arthur? Is it the kids that call him Boo and Atticus/adults call him Arthur? So that must be his real name. So let's talk about him. Boo Radley. It was 'like killing a mockingbird' to send him to trial for killing Bob Ewell. Well, it was self-defense. If it wasn't for Boo killing Bob, he would've killed Jem and Scout. More innocent people. Then two 'mockingbirds' would be killed, instead of just one... 'bird.' And if Tom Robinson was a 'killed mockingbird' too. Because he didn't commit the crime that people said he did, and he was killed for it. Lesson: you shouldn't kill a mockingbird in Maycomb in the 1930's. I hope that last paragraph made sense.

Symbolism

In the play, I was Atticus. I think Atticus is like a bird somehow. Note that somehow is different than 'for whatever reason.' First of all, this is a Bull Finch. I know this isn't really a symbol, but Bull Finch, Atticus Finch? HAHA I'M SO FUNNY. Anyway, I chose this bird because I told my brother just to list animals until I heard one that reminded me of Atticus. Birds are quiet until when they want to be. Then they chirp and annoy the noodles out of you. Unless you like birds. Then they are insightful, kind, and meaningful. Like Atticus. Because he is just polite and gentlemanly to everyone except when he is defending someone. Then he gets serious and talks. You don't really pay attention to birds until they make noise. People didn't really mind Atticus or labeled him as an extensively important person. Until he 'makes noise' meaning talking all important-like during a case. So there.

Life Lesson

Okay. This isn't much of a life lesson, more of an assurance. But whenever I am having a rough time in life, my dad's quote always cheers me up. It may not be the nicest thing to say, but hey, it works. Here it is, "Someone always has it worse." For instance, if someone breaks a bone. Hey, someone in Africa is dying of AIDS. Someone just got into a car crash. Someone has cancer. Someone has a brain tumor. Someone's wife died. You don't really think about others when you get hurt, or sick, or depressed. You only think of yourself. But if you actually do pay attention to things like that, you'll probably be grateful. Well, at least more grateful it isn't something worse. Like you have 24 hours to live. Better yet, be grateful your doctor doesn't call you and says, 'Hey, you have 24 hours to live. But I forgot to call you yesterday.'

My dad has actually been saying this all my life, but I haven't really thought about it until recently. Maybe a few months ago? Because as a child, like every child, I would only think about myself. How I tripped over a piece of wood and fell face flat on the cement, or I jumped off the monkey bars and twisted my ankle, or anything where you got hurt. In elementary school I would cry. In middle school I would scream. Now in high school, I'll just hold it in. And maybe if it's bad enough, I'll think about someone dying, and be glad I'm not dead. Yes, that may be a bad way to put it, but it's too easy to lie when you're typing. So I don't. :) Anyways, so that's my life lesson blog.