A fully written essay based on a practise context question about "To Kill a Mockingbird". Highlights key points from question in answer. Good response that got a good grade.
Discuss the impact of social (class, race), cultural (southern America) and/or
historical (beginning of civil rights movement, American history + civil war,
race relations as a result to that) context on your understanding of the novel
you have studied this term.
Intro:
Gaining insights into a literary masterpiece often entails delving beyond its
textual aspects and into the intricate interplay of social, cultural, and historical
currents that shaped its creation. The iconic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”
written by Harper Lee and published in 1960 is no exception. Set against the
backdrop of the racially charged American South during the 1930s, the novel
intertwines its characters' lives with the prevailing social norms, cultural
dynamics, and historical events of the time. The novel follows Scout Finch's
coming-of-age as she observes her father, Atticus Finch, defend a black man
falsely accused of raping a white woman. The story explores themes of racial
injustice, morality, and innocence through the eyes of Scout as she navigates
the complexities of her community. The context of classism in the 30’s, culture
of Southern America, and historical context of the Civil War, impact the readers
understanding of the novel through widening their knowledge and fostering
empathy and recognition of the era's realities.
Paragraph 1: (social context- classism)
The social context portrayed in the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" exerts a
profound impact on the reader, illuminating the pervasive influence of classism
within the society of Maycomb. Lee's skilful narrative brings to light the stark
divisions between social classes and prompts the reader to reflect on the
unjust implications of class distinctions. In the 1930s, the United States
experienced significant socioeconomic challenges due to the Great Depression.
The class structure of that time was characterized by distinct divisions based on
economic factors, as the wealthy upper class, flourished with high education
and elite social circles, while the lower class and working class suffered due to
high unemployment and poverty. As Scout Finch, the protagonist, narrates her
experiences, the reader becomes attuned to the sheer contrast between the
privileged lives of the Finch family and the hardships faced by the Ewells. This
divide is poignantly captured when Atticus remarks in chapter 3, "The Ewells
had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations." The juxtaposition
of the Finch family's comfortable life with the Ewell's abject poverty serves to
underline the ingrained inequality of Maycomb’s society shining light to how
the class system worked. Moreover, the Finch family's interaction with
Calpurnia, their black housekeeper, serves as a lens through which the reader
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