How does Harper Lee present childhood inpart I of the novel?

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How Does Harper Lee present childhood in part I of the novel?

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel based on the injustice, racism and prejudice of America in the 1930’s.  Lee presents her story through the eyes of a child who’s name is Scout who narrates her story throughout both parts of the novel.  Harper Lee presents childhood; through the eyes of children and her style of writing and language used.

Through the children, we can see how different childhood is in a diminutive town like Maycomb.  Maycomb has very few children which means Maycomb has very little to offer to them which is why the children resort to using their imagination.  The interest of Jem, Scout and Dill in ‘Boo Radley is something that children can relate to-the children have a fascination of forbidden things makes there imagination run wild.  It’s leads them to create plays about Arthur Radley and his life which are shown through a child’s perspective and make a reader relate about their own past.

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Childhood is also displayed through the roles of the adults.  Calpurnia and Atticus both have the final say for the children and it’s these two and Miss Maudie who the children respect and listen to.  The threat of punishment from the adults is what keeps the children disciplined-these three people are the people that the children learn most about in life.  This is shown by the way Scout takes consideration of what Atticus asid before acting, for example ‘As Atticus had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it’.  The ...

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