In July 2010, the town of Monroeville, Alabama, threw a big birthday party for the book it is most known for: The home town of author Harper Lee celebrated the 50th anniversary of the publication of her extremely successful novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Having always been a “magnet for ‘Mockingbird’ fans”, the town organized “walking tours and marathon readings of the novel in the courthouse” (CBS News). In the US, To Kill a Mockingbird is part of the curriculum of many school districts, highlighting its never-ending fame and its significance.
Harper Lee went on to win a Pulitzer Price for the novel in 1961. At that time, the novel was already a major success, having sold 500,000 copies (cf. Sullivan). In 1962, it was made into a movie, starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. The movie received two Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Screenplay. As of today, the book has been translated into 40 languages, has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, and is still selling about 750,000 copies every year (cf. Sullivan).
Monroeville is not only the home of Harper Lee, but it also serves as the model for the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, in which the novel is set. As a matter of fact, scenes of the movie were filmed in Monroeville. Apart from the setting of the novel, readers and critics were quick to detect other similarities between Harper Lee and the narrator, the six-year-old girl, Scout Finch (whose real name is Jean Louise).
Just as Scout’s father Atticus Finch, Harper Lee’s father Amasa was a lawyer. When Harper Lee was growing up, nine young African-American men were innocently accused and found guilty of raping two white women in the Scottsboro Trials, similar to Tom Robinson’s fate in the novel.
To Kill a Mockingbird is an important novel for both young and old readers because of its appealing way to present the story. The narrator is the six-year-old Scout Finch. The readers see and experience the events of the story through her eyes and learn to appreciate Scout’s way of telling things and her special view of Maycomb’s society. The reason for this is that Scout is an innocent little girl who does not yet fully understand the world she lives in. Besides she is not yet socialized in the society; she does not know about the conventions and norms with regard to race, gender, and hierarchy.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Discussion of Norbert Elias's The Established and the Outsiders
- 3. The Society of Maycomb
- 3.1 "The Ordinary Kind"
- 3.2 The Cunninghams
- 3.3 The Ewells
- 3.4 The Black People of Maycomb
- 3.5 Concepts of Maycomb
- 4. Atticus
- 4.1 His Values
- 4.2 The Relation to his Children
- 5. The Children
- 5.1 Jem
- 5.2 Scout
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the development of Jem and Scout Finch's perspectives on society in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. It analyzes how their understanding of Maycomb's social classes and dynamics evolves from a childlike innocence to a more mature and nuanced view. The paper uses Norbert Elias's sociological model of "The Established and the Outsiders" as a framework for understanding the social structures within Maycomb.
- The societal structure of Maycomb, Alabama, and its impact on children.
- The evolution of Jem and Scout's understanding of social class and prejudice.
- The role of Atticus Finch as a moral compass and influence on his children.
- The application of Norbert Elias's sociological theory to the fictional society of Maycomb.
- The exploration of different social groups within Maycomb and their interactions.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces To Kill a Mockingbird's enduring popularity and significance, highlighting its lasting impact on readers and its place in American school curricula. It discusses the connection between the novel's setting, Maycomb, Alabama, and the author's hometown of Monroeville, emphasizing the parallels between Harper Lee's life and the novel's narrative. The chapter establishes the central focus of the paper: examining the development of Jem and Scout's understanding of Maycomb society and how their perspectives evolve throughout the novel. The introduction emphasizes Scout's perspective as a narrator, highlighting her innocence and lack of socialization which affect her view of the society's conventions regarding race, gender, and hierarchy.
2. Discussion of Norbert Elias's The Established and the Outsiders: This chapter summarizes Norbert Elias's sociological study of Winston Parva, highlighting the distinction between the "Established" and "Outsiders." Elias identifies a sharp division based on the length of residency, leading to differences in power, social cohesion, and group identity. The Established group's long-standing relationships and connections allow them to control local organizations and exclude the Outsiders. The chapter sets the stage for applying Elias's theory to the analysis of Maycomb's social dynamics in subsequent chapters, suggesting that similar patterns of power and exclusion are at play.
3. The Society of Maycomb: This chapter delves into the social strata of Maycomb, portraying it as a small, isolated town characterized by poverty and slow-paced life. The author depicts various groups within Maycomb society. The chapter describes Maycomb's social structure and how its inhabitants, despite their familiarity with each other and seemingly close-knit community, are characterized by sharp social divisions based on class, race and other social factors. It lays the groundwork for a detailed examination of these groups in the following sub-chapters (3.1 - 3.5), which will analyze the different social groups that compose Maycomb’s society.
Keywords
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, Maycomb, social class, prejudice, race, gender, childhood perspective, societal development, Norbert Elias, The Established and the Outsiders, Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, Scout Finch, coming-of-age.
Frequently Asked Questions: To Kill a Mockingbird - A Sociological Analysis
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper examines the development of Jem and Scout Finch's perspectives on society in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. It analyzes how their understanding of Maycomb's social classes and dynamics evolves from a childlike innocence to a more mature and nuanced view, using Norbert Elias's sociological model of "The Established and the Outsiders" as a framework.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including the societal structure of Maycomb and its impact on children, the evolution of Jem and Scout's understanding of social class and prejudice, Atticus Finch's role as a moral compass, the application of Norbert Elias's theory to Maycomb's society, and the exploration of different social groups within Maycomb and their interactions.
How is Norbert Elias's "The Established and the Outsiders" applied to the novel?
The paper uses Elias's theory, which distinguishes between "Established" and "Outsiders" based on residency and resulting power dynamics, to analyze the social structures and power dynamics within Maycomb. It examines how this framework helps explain the social divisions and inequalities present in the novel's setting.
Which social groups within Maycomb are examined?
The paper examines various social groups in Maycomb, including "The Ordinary Kind," the Cunninghams, the Ewells, and the Black people of Maycomb. It analyzes their roles, interactions, and relationships within the town's social hierarchy.
What is the significance of Atticus Finch's character?
Atticus Finch serves as a moral compass and significant influence on Jem and Scout's development. The paper analyzes his values and his relationship with his children, exploring how he shapes their understanding of morality and justice within the context of Maycomb's social complexities.
How do Jem and Scout's perspectives evolve throughout the novel?
The paper traces Jem and Scout's evolving understanding of Maycomb society, highlighting their journey from naive childhood perspectives to a more sophisticated and nuanced understanding of social class, prejudice, and the complexities of human relationships.
What is the role of the Introduction chapter?
The introduction establishes the context of To Kill a Mockingbird, its enduring popularity, and the connection between the novel's setting and Harper Lee's life. It clarifies the paper's central focus: the development of Jem and Scout's understanding of Maycomb society, particularly emphasizing Scout's perspective as a narrator.
What does the chapter on Norbert Elias's work cover?
This chapter summarizes Elias's sociological study, "The Established and the Outsiders," explaining the core concepts of "Established" and "Outsiders" groups, their power dynamics, and social cohesion. It sets the groundwork for applying this theoretical framework to the analysis of Maycomb's social dynamics.
What does the chapter on Maycomb society detail?
This chapter provides an overview of Maycomb's social structure, describing its characteristics as a small, isolated town with various social groups and sharp divisions based on class, race, and other factors. It lays the groundwork for a detailed examination of these individual groups in subsequent sub-chapters.
What keywords are associated with this analysis?
Key words associated with this analysis include: To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, Maycomb, social class, prejudice, race, gender, childhood perspective, societal development, Norbert Elias, The Established and the Outsiders, Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, Scout Finch, coming-of-age.
- Quote paper
- Kathrin Hoffmann (Author), 2011, The Society of Maycomb and its Influence on Jem and Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/270498
