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Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) a traditional prose-fiction novel, and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis (2000), a graphic novel, explore the significant impact the external world has on an individual’s sense of self, using similar techniques despite their different textual forms. Lee and Satrapi show their main characters Scout and Marji growing up in respectively 1930’s racially-segregated Alabama and 1980’s post-revolutionary Iran, negotiating the progressive ideologies of their families and themselves and the discriminatory values of their external worlds. Lee and Satrapi highlight the external world’s impact on an individual’s sense of self through the use of first-person perspective, textual/graphical irony and symbolism.
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Satrapi both use a child’s first-person perspective in their texts to demonstrate an individual’s sense of self conflicting against their external world. In To Kill a Mockingbird Scout witnesses racial intolerance towards African Americans as well as gender and social inequality in the broader society. Marji, the protagonist in Persepolis, experiences religious intolerance and oppression and, as with Scout, encounters examples of gender and social inequality. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Dill cries about the unjust way African Americans are treated, “Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry… Cry about the hell white people give coloured folks”. The use of Dill’s innocence challenges the racism that has been generally accepted in Maycomb society. Likewise in Persepolis, Satrapi has Marji question her father’s views on social classes, “But is it her fault that she was born where she was born?” This highlights the clash between Marji’s values and her religiously intolerant external world. Satrapi also uses a childlike form of illustration throughout Persepolis to convey Marji’s naïve understanding of the world since the novel follows Satrapi's own childhood. A contrast between the two texts is that Marji challenges her family’s ideals, whereas in To Kill a Mockingbird Scout gradually adopts her father’s doctrine throughout the novel. Lee and Satrapi’s use of first-person perspective is designed to challenge the readers’ values and the change in the characters as they are faced with an unjust and intolerant external world. Through the use of textual and graphical irony in both To Kill a Mockingbird and Persepolis, Lee and Satrapi explore the clashing values of their protagonists and the intolerant external world’s they are depicting.
In the case of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout notices the ironic hypocrisy of her third grade teacher, Miss Caroline. Miss Caroline is condemning Hitler and his persecution of Jews, whilst supporting white superiority and racial segregation in America. Scout later asks her brother Jem, “how can you hate Hitler so bad and be so ugly about folks right at home?” Scout’s upbringing within an unprejudiced family allows her values to be more tolerant than those of Miss Caroline and the wider Maycomb society, enabling her to see clearly through Miss Caroline’s hypocrisy. Lee uses this technique to challenge Miss Caroline’s intolerant thinking, and more broadly the intolerance of Southern American society. Similar techniques are used by Satrapi in Persepolis to highlight the intolerance and oppression of the adult public society. An example of ironic hypocrisy is when Marji is told by her teacher to tear out the photos of the previous Iranian Shah from her school books. Marji replies, “But she was the one who told us that the Shah was chosen by God!” When Marji’s teacher hears her stating the previous Shah was chosen by God, she tells Marji she mustn’t say things like that, presenting a clear hypocrisy. Marji, similar to Scout, is more progressive than the religiously intolerant and oppressive Iranian society and is therefore able as a character to challenge her society by pointing out its hypocrisies. Both Satrapi and Lee use the values of their protagonists in comparison to their external worlds to present the impact on the individual due to the external world through graphical and textual
irony. Lee and Satrapi use maids within the tolerant households of their protagonists as a symbol of the omnipresent intolerance of the external world. The respective maids in the story provide a challenge to Scout and Marji’s values, and the values of the reader. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout’s father, Atticus, employs an African American maid, Calpurnia. She is employed by the Finches, acts as Scouts mother-figure and is treated as part of the family. Nevertheless, Calpurnia is a maid because of the colour of her skin, and there remains a class divide between her and Scout’s family, “We looked at her in surprise, for Calpurnia rarely commented on the ways of white people.” Calpurnia does not eat with Scout’s family nor does she speak out against Atticus or Aunt Alexandra, despite her strong character. Lee uses Calpurnia as a symbol of the intolerance of the external society being present within Scout’s progressive individuality. Similarly in Persepolis, Marji’s family is considerably well-off, and they have a maid from a lower social class, Mehri. Marji, whose values are based on justice and fairness, is presented with the moral dilemma of living with a maid from a lower social class in her progressive household. She experiences this class difference first-hand and feels the inequity from a young age, “I wanted to be a prophet… because our maid did not eat with us. Because my father drove a Cadillac.” Marji later states that she feels ashamed because the social class system present in the external world is also part of her private family life. Both Lee and Satrapi use the symbol of the maid to represent the presence of the external world’s intolerant values within their main character’s personal family lives, despite their progressive nature. Lee and Satrapi use similar and opposing techniques in their bildungsroman’s to display the intolerance within their respective societies and the dichotomy of an individual’s personal world and their external world. Satrapi’s use of graphical and textual form enables her to more successfully explore personal and public values through symbolism and irony, whereas Lee’s textual form better presents the innocent first-person narrative perspective of Scout and her negotiation with the intolerant values of her external world. Through the eyes of their child protagonists, Lee and Satrapi use these techniques to challenge the ideals of the readers and their wider societies.
one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it is a sin to
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.
There is no doubt that Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a famous novel known for its themes, most of them containing wise life lessons, racial inequality being an obvious and important one. Firstly, racism illustrates the lack of justice and people’s views on prejudice in Tom Robinson’s case. Secondly, the novel touches base on diction notably the racial slurs used. Finally, with racism being a theme of the novel, it affects the characters’ personalities. Harper Lee uses life lessons, diction and characters throughout the novel because it develops the main theme of racism in To Kill a Mockingbird.
The author George Elliot once said “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Appearance can be very misleading, and you shouldn't prejudge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone. This philosophical idea has been included in many works of literature, including the timeless classic To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. The novel takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Many citizens of Maycomb tend to make judgements based on outward appearances alone. In the novel, Lee uses minor characters such as Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose, and Tom Robinson to convey the book’s theme of prejudice.
The novel of To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the timeline and era of the 1930s which was synonymous for the renowned Great Depression. A tragedy in which social and economic change was urgently required yet old traditional beliefs and racial hierarchies including the Jim Crow laws were kept firm in position. These beliefs along with other aspects including behavior are clearly represented in the novel which leads the reader to infer that the time and setting of To Kill a Mockingbird is the 1930s. There are various methods and pieces of evidence that we draw upon that leads to the conclusion that the setting of the novel takes place in the
Throughout the novel Harper Lee explores the racism, prejudice, and the innocence that occurs throughout the book. She shows these themes through her strong use of symbolism throughout the story. Even though To Kill a Mockingbird was written in the 1960’s, the powerful symbolism this book contributes to our society is tremendous. This attribute is racist (Smykowski). To Kill a Mockingbird reveals a story about Scout’s childhood growing up with her father and brother, in an accustomed southern town that believed heavily in ethnological morals (Shackelford).
To Kill A Mockingbird and Persepolis both provide an intricate exploration into the significant impact of the external world upon an individual's sense of self. Lee's prose novel and Satrapi's graphic novel both, despite their disparate textual forms, offer an intricate portrayal of a dissimilar society and the impressions of its influential ideologies upon an individual. The two texts depict their main characters, Scout and Marji, growing up in their respective 1930's racially segregated Alabama and 1980's post revolutionary Iran, incorporating the discriminatory values of their communities into their own perception of the world. The authors demonstrate the interaction between the personal and public worlds through an investigation of the
Growing up in a prejudiced environment can cause individuals to develop biased views in regard to both gender and class. This is true in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, where such prejudices are prevalent in the way of life of 1930s Maycomb, Alabama. The novel is centered around the trial of a black man who is accused of raping a white woman. The narrator, a young girl named Scout, is able to get a close up view of the trial because her father is defending Tom Robinson, the defendant. The aura of the town divided by the trial reveals certain people’s prejudices to Scout, giving her a better perspective of her world.
Keeping a mouth shut doesn't hold the world shut out, it opens up new doors to things that would never be expected. In To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, there is are two character that is are an eternal mystery for the readers. Boo Radley, though the reader nor Scout and Jem know anything about the character all they want is to learn about him. Boo becomes a mysterious figure that many see as creepy, ghostly, but also reasonably wise. The one-time Boo appears the readers learn he is a sagacious, powerful man. Little do Scout and Jem know is that their father is also a rational being as well. The two crucial character in the story helps support the
“Then Miss Gates said... ‘We are democracy... Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudice’... ‘How can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around & be ugly about folks right at home’” (Lee 330). Using the typical irony, Lee compares hypocritical Miss Gates’ hate for Hitler to her prejudiced hate for African-Americans. Standard irony, however, is not the only type of irony Harper Lee places in her award-winning novel. Through dramatic irony, situational irony, & verbal irony, Harper Lee utilizes this literary device in its finest form in To Kill a Mockingbird.
In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird", Harper Lee, wrote the words that Atticus said to his children, Jem and Scout Finch. Atticus said "...it is a sin to kill a mockingbird," mockingbirds are known as gentle creatures who do no wrong and makes music for everyone's delight. To kill a mockingbird would be similar to killing an individual who does not wrong anyone and tries to be as helpful as they can. Mockingbirds have the characteristics of nobility, innocence, and valor that are mirror the characters Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley. Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are portrayed as mockingbirds for their actions, and for the good they did for the individuals surrounding them and the negative treatment they endured for their actions.
There is an old saying that claims that it is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one. While many choose to follow unjust traditions, others choose to pursue the path of justice. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the mockingbird is a symbol of innocence that should never be killed; It is harmless and provides a song for the enjoyment of others. Furthermore, three characters from the novel are considered symbolic mockingbirds. Boo Radley, not convicted of any real charges, has fallen into a trap of rumors that have gone around the town. Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman with no substantial evidence proving him guilty. He is shot down while trying to escape prison. Lastly, Scout, the narrator of the book, is an innocent five-year-old girl. As the novel progresses, she starts to witness racial prejudice; which is something that no minor should come in contact with during her childhood. By exposing their innocent natures, we see how Boo, Tom Robinson and Scout are the mockingbirds in this novel.
In our culture a hero shows courage and integrity. A hero doesn 't need a cape or a special power. A hero is someone who makes an impact in someone 's life. Heroes are people like the front of the line D-Day soldiers or the first responders in the 9-11 attacks. As a famous hero once said "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." This hero’s name is Jackie Robinson. Being threatened, cursed at, and treated badly, Jackie Robinson didn’t fight back and continued to play the game of baseball. Mr.Robinson helped future generations live with peace. In Harper Lee 's book,To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is a hero. Without using any superhuman powers, Atticus shows courage, responsibility, and integrity without fighting back.
By creating a static character known as Miss Gates. Miss Gates explains to the class the difference between America and Germany. “We are a democracy and Germany is a dictatorship...Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudice” (329). Harper Lee creates a parallelism between “persecuting anybody” and Tom Robinson. Miss Gates doesn’t believe in persecuting innocent lives. However, she supported Tom’s execution. Claiming that “it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson” (331). Scout is bothered by this irony. “Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-” (331). Scout finally notices the negative preconception towards black people. Which she has indirectly followed since the beginning of the
Scout Finch, the youngest child of Atticus Finch, narrates the story. It is summer and her cousin Dill and brother Jem are her companions and playmates. They play all summer long until Dill has to go back home to Maridian and Scout and her brother start school. The Atticus’ maid, a black woman by the name of Calpurnia, is like a mother to the children. While playing, Scout and Jem discover small trinkets in a knothole in an old oak tree on the Radley property. Summer rolls around again and Dill comes back to visit. A sence of discrimination develops towards the Radley’s because of their race. Scout forms a friendship with her neighbor Miss Maudie, whose house is later burnt down. She tells Scout to respect Boo Radley and treat him like a person. Treasures keep appearing in the knothole until it is filled with cement to prevent decay. As winter comes it snows for the first time in a century. Boo gives scout a blanket and she finally understands her father’s and Miss Maudie’s point of view and treats him respectfully. Scout and Jem receive air guns for Christmas, and promise Atticus never to shoot a mockingbird, for they are peaceful and don’t deserve to die in that manner. Atticus then takes a case defending a black man accused of rape. He knows that such a case will bring trouble for his family but he takes it anyways. This is the sense of courage he tries to instill in his son Jem.