To Kill A Mockingbird September Analysis

Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Peter Carstair’s motion picture “September” are two compelling works that explore the poignant theme of coming-of-age. While over thirty years separate the two pieces, both text capture the raw emotions and difficulties of innocent children growing into mature adults in an ever-changing society. These changes are portrayed in many different ways, but are most prominent through the racism in their surroundings, their loss of innocence, and the character’s deep personal development.

The theme of coming-of-age is expressed in many platforms in both “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “September” and one of the most prominent ways it does so, is directly through the main characters. Lee’s characters Scout

and Jem, along with Carstair’s Ed and Paddy both grow up and develop a deepening level of maturity throughout the course of the book. In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” this is demonstrated by the way Jem and Scout initially have a naive fascination about Boo Radley’s reclusive identity, having not been publically seen in fifteen years. They childishly continually to try lure Boo out of his house and paint him an image of a ‘malevolent phantom’ that commits the crimes from town rumors. However, slowly throughout the course of the novel, Jem transitions out of his childishness and matures. He realizes that his preconceived ideas about Boo were wrong and it is in fact, Boo who had been leaving them the gifts inside the tree, finally suggesting a more rational reason for why Boo has been unseen for so long, “Scout, I think I know why Boo doesn’t come out of his house. It’s because he wants to stay inside.” This is evidence of Jem’s coming of age, as he no longer believes in the rumors that he hears about people and instead comes to his own truthful conclusions instead. A similar theme of maturing is also displayed in September. This is seen by the piercing adolescent struggles Ed and Paddy experience as they become aware of the fact that remaining friends becomes increasingly difficult. At the beginning, Ed and Paddy are close-knit, lying beside each other while looking up at the sky together. This shows that they both share the same vision and dreams, and represents that their lives progress together as a pair, instead of individually. However, as the movie progresses, tensions arise between the two of them and after an event that leaves Paddy injured as a result of Ed’s careless actions. Ed is still seen as being childish, as he refuses to apologize for the incident, and the tension eventually culminates in a boxing match between them in which Paddy wins. When Paddy leaves forever to join a boxing troupe, Ed is startled into the realization that he must be the bigger man and be mature enough to mend their friendship. Ed is eventually able to admit his wrongdoings against Paddy and is finally mature enough to directly apologize to Paddy for them. Ed and Paddy put their disagreements aside to hug one last time both before saying farewell. This is evidence of both Ed and Paddy’s coming of age, as Ed is finally mature enough to take responsibility for his actions, and Paddy is mature enough to forgive his friends’ mistakes, demonstrating that they are now responsible adults.
Another way that coming-of-age is represented in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “September” is through the harsh racism in society that both Jem and Scout, Ed and Paddy respectively, discover.

While, “To Kill a Mockingbird” duo Scout and Jem mature by witnessing another’s experience of racial injustice, the “September” pair Ed and Paddy mature through racial injustice by committing it to one another. In “To Kill a Mockingbird” Scout and Jem are both starry-eyed children when they explore the world together. They are still young and unaware of the underlying racism and prejudice in Maycomb against black people. This is indicated by *INSERT A QUOTE HERE*, but as the story progresses and Jem and Scout witness the extreme racism of Maycomb and change because of it. During the court case, Jem realizes that the reason behind Tom’s would always be considered guilty solely due to the racial prejudice again black people, regardless of whether Tom had committed the crime or not. ‘Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case.’ ________________________________________________________________________ September also encompasses the theme of racism from one character to another. In the beginning, Ed and Paddy many parts of their lives with one another, such as boxing and education, without being divided by anything. This is shown by how they are each other’s best friends and have a deep bond. However, as

Ed matures, he begins to realize there is a huge racial divide that is between them. Ed learns from the people around him that Aboriginals like Paddy are looked down upon on, and he develops a quiet sense of shame in knowing Paddy. This is highlighted when Paddy goes to town, and coincidentally meets Ed. Paddy invites Ed for a lift back home, but Ed, influenced and surrounded by his racist white classmates, turn Paddy down, opting to take the bus instead. By Ed’s actions, we can clearly see how he has been affected by the racism in his surroundings and how he has matured into feeling racial bias against Paddy.
One of the most important themes related to growing up in both “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “September” are through the character’s loss of innocence.

Jem’s naivety is shown once again when he and Scout watch Tom Robinson’s court case. He whole-heartedly believes that the case is in Tom’s favour, “We’re gonna win, Scout. I don’t see how we can’t… Don’t see how any jury could convict on what we heard.” However, this innocence is shattered once the verdict is declared – Tom is guilty. In a single moment, Jem is forced to instantly mature to come to terms with this verdict. Jem leaves the courthouse in angry tears, saying that it just “ain’t right.” These tears highlights Jem coming to the realization that the real world isn’t always righteous and fair like he had always innocently assumed it would be. This coming of age is also exacerbated by Tom’s subsequent death, which makes Jem realize just how precious and fragile life is. Jem’s drastic change in perspective is later shown when Jem scolds Scout shortly before she is about to kill a doodlebug, demonstrating that Jem has grown up to hold a more mature mindset. On the other hand, September also depicts a tragic loss of innocence as a part of growing up. Initially, Paddy is obedient to Rick, Ed’s father. He is always looking for Rick’s approval before doing anything and innocently follow’s Rick’s every word. However, Paddy slowly realizes that his life compared to Ed was must less privileged. Ed is able to get an education and

isn’t required to not do farm work, while Paddy has to slave away on the farm all day. Paddy questions why that was the way things were, and Paddy comes face to face with the answer when he is brutally bashed after being found standing near a white girl’s house. He realizes that if it was Ed in his position, Ed would never have been physically assaulted like he had, and that this was a matter of skin colour, not what was right and wrong. Paddy decides to fight back against this racism and stands up for himself against Ed’s. This shows that Paddy is maturing because he is realizing what is right and what is wrong and fighting for it, yet he cries when he leaves Ed on the ground after their final boxing match. He cries because he must affect their friendship in order to fight for what is right. The fact that he had to do this to his own friend shows the innocence he has lost in order to stand up against the racism. Both Jem and Paddy’s loss of innocence are crucial parts in their journey in coming of age, and the tears they shed are a testimony to that.