To Kill a Mockingbird Compared with Jasper Jones

Introduction Prejudice refers to the judgements towards a person because of their race, social class, age, disability or sexual orientation. (Cherry, “What is Prejudice?”) Prejudice was, and still is, to a large extent experienced by people all over the world. It is a theme that is presented in so many works of literature in a plethora of different ways. One of the most prominent ways in which prejudice is explored is through the use of characters that perhaps are a different nationality or have a different orientation to the majority of the other characters in the works. Two texts, in which the theme is presented in an admirable way , are ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, and ‘Jasper Jones’ by Craig Silvey. Through the use of the protagonists the theme is presented in a way that allows the reader to realize the harsh reality of the subject matter, yet it is still demonstrated in a approachable and relatable way, further enhanced by the first-person narration of the books. These two characters, as well as some of the lesser characters in the books, and the literary devices used throughout the works, allow light to be shed on the theme of prejudice. During 1930s America, and 1960s Australia, racial prejudice was at its highest point, with African- Americans, and Aborigines, treated as a second class, and forbidden to have the privileges that white people had. Both texts deal with a specific sequence of events in which readers can infer the prejudicial aspect of life in that era. Not only do the books deal with different nationalities and different time periods, but it can be argued that Craig Silvey’s novel is simply a product of Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and this will also be looked at throughout this essay.

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Contextual Information Racism in America was profound during the early part of the 20th century and the most often used racism came in the form of hatred towards the African-Americans. The migration of African Americans happened during

Cited: Berlin, Ida. "African Immigration to Colonial America." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Aug. 2012. . Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: J.B Lippincott & Co, 1960. Print. Silvey, Craig. Jasper Jones. London: Windmill Books, 2009. Print. "Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre." Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Aug. 2012. . Cherry, Kendra. "What Is Prejudice?" About.com Psychology. About.com, n.d. Web. 15 July 2012. . 11