This is a over view of the book "To Kill A Mockingburd". It views the book from the main character's view.

Essay by swelchUniversity, Bachelor's January 2003

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To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee's greatest novel, focuses on the maturation of Scout in the "tired old town (Lee 3)" of Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930's. Maycomb is a southern town full of tradition, gossip, and burdened with a legacy of racism. The novel tries to encourage equal treatment and non-prejudice. Scout Finchs, the young narrator, innocent standpoint compels her to questions about why the blacks are treated the way they are. These questions are critical in Scouts search for her own identity. She needs to know how to treat a black or white person and how not to treat them. She must find a role to play in the racial game. Throughout the novel, Scout is torn between two competing philosophies of how a black person should be treated. Scout has many influencing her on how to treat Southerners. Scouts father, Atticus Finch, and her aunt, Alexandra, is pulling her in two opposing directions.

The first time Aunt Alexandra appears, we immediately see the lack of respect she has for Calpurnia. Aunt Alexandra shows Scout who holds the power. "Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia,' was the first thing Aunt Alexandra said (Lee 127)." Thank you and please was never told to Cal, coming from Aunt Alexandra. Cal always symbolized authority and strength throughout Scout and Jem's childhood, by acting like a mother figure to the Finch children. Scout has never seen Cal in such a low position as Aunt Alexandra has put her. Alexandra has decided that Cal will not do as a role model for Scout. Cal has a respectable place in the Finch family due to the many years she has dedicated to them. Aunt Alexandra senses the closeness the family has to her and she is...