Harper Lee's leads the reader on a two-year journey of
discovery as seen through the eyes of the young Scout. Allowing Scout to tell her tales
from both a child's present day perspective and from that of an adult in the
future gives the reader different and varying aspects to consider. When Scout the
child describes events that she does not totally understand, the reader sometimes has to
read between the lines in order to establish the truth for himself. In this manner, it
becomes an education for the reader as well.
Jem's journey
is even more emotional than Scout's. In addition to dealing with the onset of puberty,
Jem (unlike Scout) still has to deal with the memories and loss of his mother. The
author chooses to allow Atticus to give Jem a streak of independence, rather than making
Jem a clone of the young Atticus. The two are probably not that different, but Atticus
does not attempt to mold Jem in his image; rather, he tries to set him on a straight
path that will eventually lead to success. The children's exposure to--and the
understanding of--the racism around them and the deficiencies of public education are
just two examples of social problems that still affect people in the 21st century.
Reading To Kill a Mockingbird becomes a historical lesson on life
in the Deep South in the 1930s--a prime reason that the novel is a requirement for many
public schools around the United States.
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