Consider the importance of the child narrator in Harper Lee's 'To kill a mockingbird and Charles Dickens 'David Copperfield' .
I am going to deal with a number of issues throughout my coursework and I hope to explain clearly why each novel closely relates to the other.
Although set in different countries and completely contrasting eras, the novels ' To Kill a Mockingbird ' (Harper Lee) and ' David Copperfield ' (Dickens) show many similarities. At first glance, the reader may feel that these novels couldn't be any different, but when explored further, copious amounts of similarities can be uncovered from within the text. Both include elements of autobiography, and each incorporates the voice of childhood to relate experience. The main characters act as narrators in the novels. Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird and David in David Copperfield. This allows for comparisons to be made about the style in which the two novels are written.
Although the narrator tells the story from an adult perspective, events are recalled through the memories of childhood thus engaging the complete attention of the reader by capturing idyllic thoughts of childhood, and humorous anecdotes that the reader can relate to on a personal level. David Copperfield begins with Dickens explaining in perfect detail, the early upbringing of David. His early life at Blunderstone was most certainly a blissful one, full of cheerfulness and complete harmony. Two characters appear to be the backbone in David's life. His mother, Clara Copperfield provides a loving relationship and it is obvious to the reader that David adores and respects her dearly. Peggotty, the housemaid, is unusually close to David also. The social etiquette of the time would have forbidden a master and his maid to be so close, but the companionship of David and Peggotty seems positively unbreakable. There seems to be an understanding of loyalty and admiration between the two characters, which is a vital key in David's life.
