After all these years, I finally got around to reading “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee. The book’s unique characters held me in thrall. Who would have thought to invent a character who (without religion) is all light and goodness? He serves to contrast the general level of bigotry that’s typical of our so-called “religious” society.

Here’s the book’s theme: “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard,” says Atticus, the young protagonist’s father, “but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

The rationale for the mockingbird’s special status is explained by a neighbour: “They don’t do one thing but sing their heart out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

Atticus is the only lawyer in the small Alabama town who will defend a black man facing a rape charge. As the only moral person in sight, it’s pretty obvious that Atticus is the human mockingbird. His truth ‘sings’. On some deep level, the townspeople need him as a touchstone to maintain their basic humanity.

But the story is told from the point of view of Atticus’ young daughter, Scout. She’s on a journey to becoming a mockingbird, herself. But it’s a rough ride. As we all know, people on the leading edge of human evolution tend to get crucified. Atticus comes very close to getting strung up himself. This is the story of how one small island of sanity survives in a sea of ignorance.

Fine, but so what? (I’m glad I asked that.)

If you know this blog at all, you’re just waiting for me to introduce some deep thought, so here it is. A good story promises to prove a thesis. Many of the best stories show (often unwittingly) that the natural drift of our human potential is toward knowing, understanding, and compassion. It may be a slow journey; it’s definitely not easy; and it may be tragically nipped in the bud by a dark age…but it would appear to be our destiny, nevertheless.

Most conventional stories – because they climax with a hero’s ‘growth’ – are more or less in the service of this principle. The sooner we get a grip on the concept of life’s meaning being a state of consciousness – as opposed to some high falutin ‘purpose’ – the sooner we will quit squandering this valuable lifetime.

Now…I’m off to the library. What other books did I miss in high school?