In July 2010, the town of Monroeville, Alabama, threw a big birthday party for the book it is most known for: The home town of author Harper Lee celebrated the 50th anniversary of the publication of her extremely successful novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Having always been a “magnet for ‘Mockingbird’ fans”, the town organized “walking tours and marathon readings of the novel in the courthouse” (CBS News). In the US, To Kill a Mockingbird is part of the curriculum of many school districts, highlighting its never-ending fame and its significance.
Harper Lee went on to win a Pulitzer Price for the novel in 1961. At that time, the novel was already a major success, having sold 500,000 copies (cf. Sullivan). In 1962, it was made into a movie, starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. The movie received two Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Screenplay. As of today, the book has been translated into 40 languages, has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, and is still selling about 750,000 copies every year (cf. Sullivan).
Monroeville is not only the home of Harper Lee, but it also serves as the model for the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, in which the novel is set. As a matter of fact, scenes of the movie were filmed in Monroeville. Apart from the setting of the novel, readers and critics were quick to detect other similarities between Harper Lee and the narrator, the six-year-old girl, Scout Finch (whose real name is Jean Louise).
Just as Scout’s father Atticus Finch, Harper Lee’s father Amasa was a lawyer. When Harper Lee was growing up, nine young African-American men were innocently accused and found guilty of raping two white women in the Scottsboro Trials, similar to Tom Robinson’s fate in the novel.
To Kill a Mockingbird is an important novel for both young and old readers because of its appealing way to present the story. The narrator is the six-year-old Scout Finch. The readers see and experience the events of the story through her eyes and learn to appreciate Scout’s way of telling things and her special view of Maycomb’s society. The reason for this is that Scout is an innocent little girl who does not yet fully understand the world she lives in. Besides she is not yet socialized in the society; she does not know about the conventions and norms with regard to race, gender, and hierarchy.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Discussion of Norbert Elias’s The Established and the Outsiders
3. The Society of Maycomb
3.1 “The Ordinary Kind”
3.2 The Cunninghams
3.3 The Ewells
3.4 The Black People of Maycomb
3.5 Concepts of Maycomb
4. Atticus
4.1 His Values
4.2 The Relation to his Children
5. The Children
5.1 Jem
5.2 Scout
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This thesis examines the influence of the societal structures in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, on the development and maturation of the protagonists, Jem and Scout Finch, within Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird. It explores how the children transition from an innocent, childlike perception of the world to a more complex, disillusioned understanding of their society's social strata, racial prejudices, and moral values, guided by the moral compass provided by their father, Atticus.
- Analysis of the social strata in Maycomb (Finches, Cunninghams, Ewells, and the Black community).
- Application of Norbert Elias’s sociological model of 'The Established and the Outsiders'.
- Examination of Atticus Finch as a role model and carrier of moral values.
- Investigation of the development of Jem and Scout from innocence to experience.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 “The Ordinary Kind”
As far as the first stratum of people is concerned, Jem identifies them as the ‘normal’ ones, the “ordinary kind like us and the neighbours” (Lee 249). The Finches’ most important neighbors include Miss Maudie Atkinson, a widowed woman who grew up with Atticus and whom Jem and Scout like most of all adults in Maycomb besides their father. There is also the Radley family who prefers to stick to themselves instead of socializing with their neighbors, and Mrs Dubose, an elderly woman, who constantly insults the Finches.
The reason why Jem puts all of them into the same category is due to the fact that they are all more or less well-off and healthy in comparison to the other strata of Maycomb. Although Atticus says that his family is poor as well, he also points out that his poverty is only a result of the farmers’ poverty (cf. Lee 23). Atticus and his neighbors, though, are able to make a living and can provide for themselves and their families in contrast to the Ewells or the Cunninghams (though they can live off what they produce).
Nevertheless, there are differences between the neighbors. The most prominent can be seen between the Radleys and their neighbors. They lead an isolated life: Scout notices that the “Radleys, welcome anywhere in town, [keep] to themselves, a predilection unforgivable in Maycomb” (Lee 10). She adds, “The shutters and doors of the Radley house were closed on Sundays, [...] closed doors meant illness and cold weather only” (Lee 10). This shows that the Radleys have a different status in Maycomb than the other residents; they simply keep away from the others. The Radleys do not obey Maycomb’s unspoken rules as their closed windows show. The usual ‘Maycomb way’ is to socialize with neighbors and to carry on small talk every now and then. The Radleys, however, are not like this. They withdraw from society and close the doors and windows in order to be left alone.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the background of the novel, its setting in Monroeville/Maycomb, and the research objective of analyzing the children's development against the backdrop of Maycomb's society.
2. Discussion of Norbert Elias’s The Established and the Outsiders: Summarizes Elias's sociological theory about power divisions and community norms, which serves as a theoretical basis for analyzing Maycomb.
3. The Society of Maycomb: Examines the four distinct social strata in Maycomb—the Finches, Cunninghams, Ewells, and the Black community—highlighting their internal differences and the role of prejudice.
4. Atticus: Explores Atticus Finch’s character, his core values of empathy and justice, and his critical role as both a moral guide for his children and a standout figure in Maycomb.
5. The Children: Analyzes the maturation process of Jem and Scout, detailing their loss of innocence as they experience the harsh realities of the trial and the societal prejudices around them.
6. Conclusion: Synthesizes the main findings, affirming how the novel reflects the racial and social climate of the 1930s while highlighting the children's growth through their experiences with intolerance.
Keywords
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, Maycomb, social strata, Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, Scout Finch, Norbert Elias, The Established and the Outsiders, racism, prejudice, moral development, innocence, maturation, segregation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on how the social structure of the town of Maycomb influences the growth and maturation of Jem and Scout Finch in Harper Lee's novel.
Which theoretical model is used to analyze Maycomb?
The work utilizes the sociological model of 'The Established and the Outsiders' by Norbert Elias to examine the power dynamics and divisions within the fictional community.
What is the central research question?
The core research question asks how the children's perspectives evolve from childhood innocence to a more nuanced, disillusioned understanding of society through their observations of Maycomb's class and racial structures.
Which methodology is employed in this paper?
The research is a literary and sociological analysis of the text, incorporating secondary literary criticism and sociologic theory to interpret character development and societal depiction.
What themes are addressed in the main body?
The main body treats themes such as social stratification, the impact of the Great Depression, racial prejudice, moral integrity, the loss of childhood innocence, and the influence of parental role models.
How would you characterize the primary keywords of the work?
The work is characterized by themes of social class (strata), racial discrimination, moral education, and the coming-of-age journey of the two protagonists in a racially divided society.
How does the role of Aunt Alexandra contrast with Atticus in the upbringing of the children?
Aunt Alexandra represents narrow-mindedness and a belief in hereditary status ('gentle breeding'), whereas Atticus values individuals based on their character, equality, and personal integrity, creating a conflict in the children's moral development.
What significance does the 'mad dog' incident have for Jem and Scout?
The incident is the turning point where the children discover their father's hidden strength and shooting ability, leading them to transition from viewing him as an unaccomplished, older man to someone they idolize and look up to.
- Quote paper
- Kathrin Hoffmann (Author), 2011, The Society of Maycomb and its Influence on Jem and Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/270498
