In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Jem becomes more and more engrossed into the reality of the society that he lives in, as time goes on the racism that he encounters from the white community towards the black community in the book with quotes like ” Ni**er” and also “Ni**er Lover” being examples of this. This also shows a corruption in the society when linked to the Declaration of Independence in 1776, with the message of liberty and freedom only being shown as a privilege that only white people can have, for example, in Maycomb the racism towards black people is contravening the act of freedom on their lives. This could also show the society’s hypocrisy as America has become free after the Americans wanted freedom, but in this society they don’t want to give the freedom to the black people, as the British were with them this shows the hypocrisy of Maycomb and teaches Jem the wrong morals.
Aunt Alexandra also bring the class system into play when Jem is asking to bring the Ewell to their house, but Aunt Alexandra doesn’t want them their and refers to them as trash, this shows aunt Alexandra’s views on people who happen to be of a lower fortune of her as the wells could be considered as lower class. This also brings the thought of class to both scout and Jem as Jem after says that ” our kind of folks don’t like the Cunningham, the Cunningham don’t like the Ewell and the Ewell hate and despise coloured folks” this shows the elements that Jem has found from his society, Jem also seems to gradually understand his young sisters urge to stay as a young girl and not to transition into a lady but he also use a quite sexist message in the book when he says that she should make aunt Alexandra happy and take up sewing or something, reinforcing bad stereotype about women. In the book their isn’t much sexist but it wouldn’t surprise me if he learnt this sexism from the society he lives in.
Another shown representation is the term ” Our Kind Of Folks ” This suggests to the reader that Jem has a view on society where their is a set place for each folk, this is also backed up by Aunt Alexandra’s view on class where their are people in upper classes and lower classes, this is especially recognised when Aunt Alexandra is having an argument with Jem about having the Ewells over because they are apparently trash according to her.
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