Coming Of Age To Kill A Mockingbird

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Harper Lee’s coming-of-age tale, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, is set in the sleepy Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama through the innocent eyes of six year old Scout. Harper Lee’s creditable ability to discreetly and openly address previously untouched themes of society ultimately sparked the flame of the novels instant success. It received many awards including the Pulitzer Prize which was received for Harpers ability to include warmth and humour despite dealing with societies unlooked upon issues. Harper Lee invites readers to journey back to the 1930’s to witness the case of local African-American, Tom Robinson, who is charged with rape by an under classed white family known as the Ewell’s. ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ vividly captures a specific…show more content…
She allows readers to reflect upon the assumptions that society makes and allows readers to use their own perspectives on the prominent issues that were present in the 1930’s. The novel was set at a low time in society’s history, The Great Depression. Many families’ incomes were reduced by forty percent and the rate of unemployment was rising. This created the social inequality of classes and hierarchy’s. Although Scout and Jem are high in the social classes, as their father Atticus is a Layer, they are oblivious to their high standing in the social classes. A prime example of this naivety is when Scout debates with Aunt Alexandra about playing with Walter “but I want to play with Walter, Aunty, Why can’t I?”…”I’ll tell you why, because he is trash, that is why you can’t play with him.” This portrays Scout’s naivety and childlike understanding of the situations right in front of her. This is part of the novel’s allure; seeing the dramatic events unfold through the innocent eyes of childhood. The people of Maycomb lack the ability to see people beyond their social standing; this is tainted due to patronizing attitudes towards people who are inferior to them on the social ladder, which ultimately interferes with their ability to judge other people fairly and unbiasedly. Many characters and events in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird are based upon circumstances…show more content…
She simply allows the readers to have full view of the issues that are present, and exposes the truth in society. The racial prejudice present at the time in 1930’s was as natural as the air we breathe. Many didn’t even believe subconsciously that they were doing it; they simply believed it as fair and just. Although Harper Lee never forces her opinion of the topic, she is able to simply portray the morality of the situation and enable the reader to question themselves about such issues through gaps and silences. A moment in the book that particularly sparks a time in the novel is when Atticus directly addresses the court room about the morality of what society actually does to the ‘black’ community. It is a powerful statement which allows the reader to read across the text and make judgements upon the gaps and silence’s present. ‘witnesses for the state have presented themselves to you… in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted… the evil assumption - that all Negroes lie…are basically immoral beings…are not to be trusted around our women…Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin’ Harper Lee addressed the darker issues that were prominent in the 1930’s, some which are still relevant in today’s society such as dominant discourse, marginalising, privileging, gaps and silence’s. She was enabled readers to make question their beliefs and make assumptions

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