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

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[1]. 從愛(ài)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(shí)證據(jù)告終的法庭審理，這些經(jīng)歷讓斯科特開(kāi)始意識(shí)到這個(gè)世界上可能有不止一個(gè)答案或是觀點(diǎn)。pull prank: 開(kāi)玩笑；courtroom trial: 法庭審理；ingrained: 根深蒂固的；concrete: 具體的；

[2]. 在整部小說(shuō)，他都是一個(gè)美德和正義的化身，無(wú)論是他挺身而出為一個(gè)黑人進(jìn)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(yǎng)為能夠獨(dú)立思考的人。doomed: 注定的；

[3]. conviction: 信念；stem from: 源自，來(lái)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(xiǎn)記》是美國(guó)小說(shuō)家馬克·吐溫在1876年發(fā)表的代表作品，通過(guò)描寫(xiě)主人公湯姆·索亞的冒險(xiǎn)經(jīng)歷，諷刺和批判了美國(guó)當(dāng)時(shí)的社會(huì)習(xí)俗和學(xué)校教育；levity: 輕松，活躍。

[6]. titular: 有名無(wú)實(shí)的；shenanigan: 惡作劇。

[7]. random: 隨意的，任意的。