This week was a blur as I learned many new skills and procedures for my new classes this year. In English particularly, this week I was exposed to a more in-depth explanation of how to write an introductory paragraph. For example, I learned I need to summarize my evidence within the context of the novel in my introduction. This encouraged me to view the novel through different aspects. I feel that this class differs from last year's in that it stresses more the real world connections, rather than universal ideas. This past week, we have been working on an essay for To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. We were given three themes to choose from-Race Relations, Childhood Innocence, and Rural Poverty. I chose Childhood Innocence because I felt I had the best evidence for that category, and I feel strongly about the insight I can provide. The purpose of my essay is to disprove the common misconception that children are oblivious and incapable of comprehending 'adult' matters. I will use evidence from the novel to show how Harper Lee develops this theme and brings awareness to how perceptive children really are. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem question many of the norms set by the townsfolk. They realize that most of the community is dogmatic—they are blinded by generations of hate and ignorance. Through the eyes of Jem and Scout, Harper Lee portrays that children, not yet affected by prejudice ideas, see people as who they really are and not by their presumed character. That being said, children are also influenced by the leading elders in their lives. Fortunately, Scout and Jem had Atticus to teach them and look up to. Atticus laid the foundation for their beliefs and reasoning. Others who had parents and role models with racist views are generally brought up to believe the same. In fact, some parents abet their kids in this discrimination. This is portrayed in a documentary called “Promises”. This documentary shows the Palestinian and Israeli conflict through the eyes of the children. Children from both sides are brought together and become friends, proving that the hatred is not innate, but developed over time by constant exposure to their parents’ and other elders’ prejudice.
Similarly, in the novel, Tom Robinson’s case brings to light the prejudice and discrimination the people of Maycomb county harbor. Children are caught up in the crossfire and left to make sense of it all. Though some try to shield their children from the horror of these events, kids can perceive vastly greater than adults think.
This article from The Wall Street Journal shows how children can understand stressful times. Scout discovers throughout the novel how cruel people can be, and in the end she is no longer oblivious to discrimination and hate. In my essay I will strive to show how Scout matures mentally in response to the events of the novel, but also stays true to her innocent and truthful views of society.
