To Kill A Mockingbird Childhood Analysis

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Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is well known for the serious social issues it tackles, however it is fundamentally a narrative of childhood growth set in the deep south of America in the 1930s. During the three years in which To Kill a Mockingbird is set Scout and Jem mature physically and emotionally. Through their extraordinary experiences and significant relationships they learn about prejudice, injustice and the truth behind Maycomb.

As our young narrator experiences growing up the complexity of her character evolves. She finds boys interesting and gossip entertaining, these small shifts in her interests show that Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a chronicle of childhood growth. Scout's mind often drifts to Dill who she has recently come to love; this is in contrast to when she felt it was unbearable to be around boys. She realises that her emotions towards Dill and what he represents have changed and that ‘With him, life [is] routine; without him, life [is] unbearable. [she] [stays] miserable for two days.' (12:117) This shows that she is maturing and developing emotionally. Whilst exploring the world around him Jem grows up physically. Maturity is an …show more content…

The children develop an understanding of a serious adult society. Through the eyes of Scout Finch To Kill a Mockingbird presents Maycomb as a simple town of old families however, the truth is that everyone has good and evil within them. The reality of life is oblivious to Scout until she attempts to have an adult conversation with Mr. Cunningham at the old jail. Atticus later explains to a confused Scout and Jem that ‘Mr. Cunningham's basically a good man...he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us...' Expressing the good and evil sides of everyone, he continued ‘…you'll understand folks better when you're older.' (16:160) Once again Atticus gives wise advice to his children regarding resolving conflict without

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