重拾經典

the world for more than one right answer or point of view.[1] Perhaps the theme of the novel was expressed through the most memorable character: Atticus Finch. Throughout the entire novel, he stood as a symbol of morality and justice, whether that was undertaking a doomed trial defending a black man or while raising his children to become independent thinkers.[2] His iron conviction stemmed from the philosophy that he taught his children, and pervaded the whole book:[3] “If you truly want to know someone, walk in their shoes for a day.” Simple words, but as I reached the last pages, a single tear rolled down my eye as this moral returned to conclude this magnificent tale showcasing the bounds of human goodness and hatred. This was a sombre tale, but nonetheless explores the question of whether humans can truly empathize with one another, and thereby find peace.[4]

Yet not every classic must be as grave as To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, written by Mark Twain, demonstrated that classics could convey truths just as profound and not lose a sense of levity.[5] Set in the period right before the Civil War in America, Tom Sawyer brought to life the titular character and his shenanigans in sleepy town in Missouri.[6] Although the actual storyline of this classic might seem random[7], but it is exactly this lack of order that captures the freedom and innocence that childhood represents. But perhaps the greatest aspect of this novel was the

————————

[1]. 從愛搞惡作劇到目睹了一次最終以根深蒂固的種族歧視而并非切實證據告終的法庭審理，這些經歷讓斯科特開始意識到這個世界上可能有不止一個答案或是觀點。pull prank: 開玩笑；courtroom trial: 法庭審理；ingrained: 根深蒂固的；concrete: 具體的；

[2]. 在整部小說，他都是一個美德和正義的化身，無論是他挺身而出為一個黑人進行早已有了定論的庭審辯論，抑或是他將自己的孩子們培養為能夠獨立思考的人。doomed: 注定的；

[3]. conviction: 信念；stem from: 源自，來自；pervade: 彌漫，遍及。

[4]. sombre: 陰沉的，憂郁的；empathize: 感同身受。

[5]. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: 《湯姆·索亞歷險記》是美國小說家馬克·吐溫在1876年發表的代表作品，通過描寫主人公湯姆·索亞的冒險經歷，諷刺和批判了美國當時的社會習俗和學校教育；levity: 輕松，活躍。

[6]. titular: 有名無實的；shenanigan: 惡作劇。

[7]. random: 隨意的，任意的。