Similarities Between Jasper Jones And How To Kill A Mockingbird

To belong is something that is not easily attainable. A true sense of belonging can be discovered in various avenues and in different circumstances for different individuals. Belonging is the idea of being a part of something where you are accepted. It is to be and feel included & accepted within a social, religious, political, cultural and/or economic group. In seeking to belong, there may be barriers to overcome and as each individual is intrinsically different, so are the ways in which they fulfill the fundamental human need to belong.

The concept of belonging can be explored in many different texts. Craig Silvey’s ‘Jasper Jones’ and Harper Lee’s ‘How to Kill A Mockingbird’ are just two of the many texts that deeply explore the concept, a sense of belonging.

The novel Jasper jones is a convincing recollection of the discrimination, injustice and social ostracism that existed within society at that period of time. The novel Jasper Jones also shares strong similarities with the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

In the novel Jasper Jones, we are introduced to Charlie Bucktin, a precocious thirteen-year-old boy who is oblivious to the harsh reality and misconceptions that people

have in the small town of Corrigan. We are then familiarized with Jasper Jones, the ‘half caste’. Jasper is the scapegoat in Corrigan and has a false reputation of being a thief, a liar and a thug.

Some people have kids when they are far too young and naïve, they therefore suffer the consequences of having to make adult decisions when they are barely adults themselves.

However, when parenting becomes almost impossible, it’s not just them that suffer, it’s their children as well. Jasper’s mother died when Jasper was too young to remember and saddened by her death, Jasper’s dad eventually became an abusive alcoholic. The abuse that was inflicted upon Jasper made him realize that he had no one but himself, and that no one else cared about him. After all, his dad was the only person he had left. This is an immediate representation of the ostracism Jasper experienced. The lack of love and sense of belonging resulted in Jasper leaving ‘home’ and trying to make his own

way.

Craig Silvey also demonstrated a lack of belonging and ostracism in other characters in various ways. With the 1960’s being a racist era, Jeffery, a Vietnamese boy, who is also Charlie’s best friend, suffered hatred and racially bias comments from people. The racism towards Jeffery is demonstrated through the cricket pitch setting where a group of boys physically and verbally abuse Jeffery. As readers, we are positioned to feel compassion and sympathy towards Jeffery. The awareness of racism in the novel and in that era allows us to contemplate racism in our own society today.