Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, published more than 50 years ago, continues to serve as a clarion call for racial and social justice. The book has been revered by the law profession for its portrayal of personal courage and professional ethics. Although the book does lot have overt medical themes, there are hidden pearls for the medical profession within its pages.Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose is a neighbor down the street, confined to a wheelchair, who passes judgment on the world from her porch. After Atticus Finch takes on the perilous task of defending an African American man falsely accused of raping a white woman, Mrs Dubose's verbal lashings as the children walk past begin to include their father. Atticus takes it all in stride as he instructs Jem, "Easy does it son...she's an old lady and she's ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentleman." Yet, Jem just can't do it, and one day when he finds that she is not on the porch, he destroys all of her camellias. Ordered by Atticus to apologize, Jem's penance includes reading to her for 2 hours a day for a month. Angered and confounded by this request, Jem begins these sessions accompanied by Scout for moral support.
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