Each era of history is remembered for something significant that took place during that era. Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a story of the coming of age of two children who begin to realize the cruelty of people in the world. In particular, the racism in the town plays a large part in their loss of innocence. .
The story is told from the perspective of Jean Louise Finch, a six-year-old girl, nicknamed "Scout." Her and her brother Jem observe the three-year trial and all of the events surrounding it. They are exposed to the prejudiced views of the town as their father defends Tom Robinson, a black man who is wrongly accused of raping a white woman. Jean Louise and Jem have been brought up by their father, Atticus Finch, because their mother is dead. Their father fights to raise them as unprejudiced members of society, which forms the main conflict of the novel. A small town girl named Scout is subject to the savageness of the townspeople as her father Atticus Finch tries to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. .
The opinion and influence of Scout's peers, elders, and her father all play a huge role in her and her brother's growing up. The setting of the story is reflective and accurate of the time period of the story. The effects of the Depression are present and .
2.
visible in the story. The story also presents accurately the attitudes of the people and important social issues of that time. There are two depictions in the novel of how to treat someone. One is mercilessly and the other is with kindness like one would treat themself.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age as Scout and Jem encounter the problems brought upon by the attitudes of the elders and peers during the ongoing of the trial. Scout and Jem's coming of age can be divided into two sections. Section one, which is the maturing they experience merely because they are getting older, such as physical growth, separation from each other due to the need for individuality.
