How effectively does Harper Lee present the children and growing up in To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Example For Students

How effectively does Harper Lee present the children and growing up in To Kill A Mockingbird Essay In this essay I will be exploring Jem and Scouts journey to maturity throughout the novel; To Kill a Mockingbird. I will look at the techniques Harper Lee use and how well they work in portraying their growth to maturity. I will also explore influences on the children and the tree main themes in this novel: education, bravery and prejudice. The main them is prejudice which will be looked at in more detail. Jem and Scout represent a typical youth, naivety and innocence. In the first chapter, page 8, Scout says: Thereafter the summer passed in routine contentment. Routine contentment was: improving our treehouse that rested between giant twin chinaberry trees in the backyard, fussing, running through our list of dramas based on the works of Oliver Optic, Victor Appleton and Edgar Rice Burroughs They have no worries through the summer and have fun. The phrase routine contentment is repeated in the passage which gives the effect that this is what they usually do in the summer and were satisfied with the events they do. These are all things people generally do in their childhood and in summer. Some of the things they do seem to be menial such as fussing which also seems quite childish. The atmosphere of summer is created by what they do. In summer it is a time for relaxing; with no work to do. Improving our treehouse is one of these relaxing things which they can do in the summer due to the suitable, warm weather. An example of their naivety is Jems description of Boo Radley to Dill and Scout, also in chapter one, on page 14: six-and-a-half feet tall dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, thats why his hands were blood stained ong jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time. This description is probably quite exaggerated from the town rumours theyve heard. The exaggeration is shown with phrases such as dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch and drooled most of the time. It is unlikely anyone would eat raw animals or droll most of the time. The effect of long jagg ed scar, teeth he had were yellow and rotten and his eyes popped sounds like an evil, scary monster. They turn him into a horror story and is probably very exaggerated. The passage shows innocence as they believe the rumours about Boo Radley. The children have never seen Boo but they still make a judgement about him and the way he looks and lives. Their main role model in the novel is Atticus; their father. Scout is often critical of Atticus ways and how he brings them up. An example of this is the way that Atticus treats Mrs Dubose with kindness and compliments when she often throws insults at him. Scout does not understand why he treats Mrs Dubose so nicely. I think Atticus is a good role for Jem and Scout as he teaches them about prejudice by defending a black man in a racist community. When asked by Scout why he is defending a negroe he replies: if I didnt I couldnt hold up my head in town, I couldnt represent this county in the legislature, I couldnt even tell you or Jem not to do something again you might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me: you just hold your head high and keep those fist down try fighting with your head for a change. This is on pages 83-84, chapter 9. Atticus says in this passage that if he didnt defend Tom he would be ashamed and would not be able stop Jem and Scout doing something wrong as he would be hypocritical. He also helps Scout to stop fighting physically by telling her to try fighting with your head for a change. He tells her that others will not agree with what he is doing as there will be some ugly talk and she must be aware of it. This is the first point in the novel where Scout learns about prejudice. Atticus is the most important role model as he helps them mature the most. Although he is their father, he does not treat them as children but as adults. He looks after them properly; however he does not play games with them. He talks to the often as adults. Atticus takes Jem and Scout to Tom Robinsons trial which other young children would not understand or find a terrible experience. Jem and Scout find it an experience which teaches them about right and wrong and racism. When Tom Robinson is found guilty they are really upset and cry at the unfair verdict. They know Tom is innocent but the society they live in will make sure he is found guilty. It was Jems turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. It aint right, he muttered This passage from chapter 22, page 234 is after Tom is found guilty. The children show much maturity than the rest of the town as it says the cheerful crowd is happy at the verdict. They realise this is the wrong verdict as it says Jems face was streaked with angry tears. This passage shows the childrens maturity which they gained while watching the trial. Throughout the novel Jem changes socially, mentally and emotionally more than Scout. Symbolism in the Stranger EssayUncle Jack pinned my arms to my sides This passage shows she has a short temper which regularly gets her into trouble. She has a reason to be irritated with Francis, though if she was more mature at this point she would have dealt with the situation differently. Her childishness shows through by punching him and intending to go further. My left impaired, I sailed in with my right, but not for long. Young boys are often the more violent gender with one another and fight with each other a lot. The words knuckle, bone, teeth make the passage sound more aggressive and destructive. The uses of bones make it sound more violent. This passage also says that it took reasonable force to stop her from carrying on punching him as her Uncle Jack had to restrain her. Perhaps the reason behind her being boyish is that her main influences are Jem and Atticus. There is no female influence in her life apart from Calpurnia who is not very involved in Scouts life. Scout looks up to her brother when she is younger so she follows what he does. They spend a lot of time together and as he is still growing up himself he is not the best influence on her life. In the novel a lot of things she says are something Jem has told her and phrases such as Jem said and Jem was a born hero are used, as though she listened to every word he said. But as the novel progresses Jem matures and helps protect Scout and tells her when she is doing wrong. I think this shows that Harper Lee understands what children feel like and their consequent actions. In Jem and Scouts journey to maturity throughout the novel three major themes are touched upon. These are education, bravery and prejudice. Scouts school education is not as helpful to her as much as learning from Atticus. This is because she learns more about social issues from him. Jem and Scout can often be seen as being courageous by standing up for what they believe and defending their family as they know they are right compared to the hypocritical people around them. They know the others are being irrational, but very few people share the same views as them. But the main theme in this novel is prejudice. The novel centres on the trial of Tom Robinson; a black man convicted of the rape of a white girl. Atticus is defending him as a lawyer, even though he knows they will not win he knows that Tom did not rape the girl. Only the Finch family seem to realise other peoples irrational attitudes to race and class. In conclusion, I think Harper Lees portrayal of children living in the 1930s is realistic. The use of childish language can make you thin k about a young childs voice and recall your experiences as a young child. I like the idea of the novel being written by Scout as an older woman as it gives a different viewpoint on events. This novel deals with the issues of education, bravery and especially prejudice. In the southern states in the 1930s white people were very racist against black people. TKAM shows the racism with the unjust decision of Tom Robinsons case. Another case of prejudice is the way the town has built up an image of Boo Radley without seeing him or knowing him properly. During the novel Jem and Scout have a fairly joyful childhood dealing with issues that arise in childhood but the shocking moments really make them mature. Tom Robinsons trial matures them the most and I think it deals with racism very well. The reaction of the rest of the town after the trial, such as Bob Ewell attempting to kill them, makes them more determined to make others know that racism is wrong. TKAM is a good portrayal of maturing and learning what is right and what is wrong. But it is only the children who learn by these events. People in the town learn not to judge people without knowing them properly. A prime example is Boo Radley who no one had seen for years. When they find out he is not as demented or mad as they imagined and actually helps Scout realise they should not have gossiped or made snap judgement. Most of the characters learnt from the events and other characters in this novel and most seem to be wiser of prejudices in civilisation.