Both texts ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ and ‘Jasper Jones’ communicate the importance of justice and the relationship it has on the two different children in the two different texts. Though these two texts are completely different being a book and a film, there are still many themes shared between the two. Both different texts describe with major detail the different changes in the perspectives of children that has occurred through the result of growing up and having to mature. Both texts also discuss the different implications for a child’s understanding and their interpretations of the justice system as well as justice itself. Through both the texts, the children aging, is how the relationship between both the protagonist and their fathers describe the stories. The fathers in the two different texts offer their children moral education and different examples of the ideals of justice. The two different texts describe the flaws that occur in the justice system in connection to the social and historical context of both settings. The texts both relate to the bad effects that a small town mentality had or will have on a child.
Scout is the main character in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee writes the novel as Scout as a grown adult, narrating the novel in her view. Harper Lee overemphasizes the relationship between the aging of a child and the perspective that grows with it. Harper also goes through the different implications this has for a child’s interpretation and description of justice, as these provide an insight into the thoughts Scout had as a child. Scout’s naive perspective and innocence throughout the opening of the novel expands as she learns to consider other people and their different outlooks, this is first encouraged by her father. Her father is Atticus, he then teaches Scout a lesson that become very valuable “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. Through this quote it captures the theme of perspective that then carries out throughout the plot of the novel from that point.
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The quote was used as an example to give Scout an idea on how to minimize the intensity of different negative situations and the consequences that can come out of it. When Scout first hears these words she does not understand the meaning behind it until the final chapter. When Scout first starts to understand the words her father once told her she says “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.” Through this quote it is focused the attention on to the relationship between perspective and justice as Scout has come to the realization that the way society views people compared to the way they are in reality, which was then and still continues to be a problem in today’s society as the justice system still fails to provide justice for those who are accused. Through Scout understanding this flaw she begins to adapt the way she acts in the future and carefully considers the different perspectives of those she chooses to surround herself with, being a source of justice where her society fails to provide.
The film ‘Jasper Jones’ in comparison to the novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is less about getting a better perspective, and is more towards developing a perspective whilst practicing it. Viewers can see through the beginning of the film that Charlie (played by Levi Miller) has the ability to consider other people's opinions when Jasper Jones (played by Aaron McGrath) asks ““But I hoped you might see things from my end. That’s what you do right? When you’re reading. You’re seeing what it’s like for other people.” Hearing this quote, it highlights the different approaches to reach the same theme of perspective through the two different texts. The novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ goes through the theme perspective by describing the process of a child growing the ability to consider people's perspectives, but in the film ‘ Jasper Jones’ it instead defines the practice and perfectibility of understanding people's perspectives. From beginning of the text, Charlie is already able to consider perspective but through a different way, he considered perspective through his writing and love of literature. Through the film Jasper acts like some sort of an incentive for Charlie, Jasper pushes Charlie to consider the perspective of other people, those people mainly being the ones that suffer from the small town scrutiny of Corrigan. The Jasper constantly pushing Charlie he learns to consider the thoughts and feelings of his parents Wesley and Ruth, he begins to understand the reason for their actions while being frustrated by this, he is also justified to them. Similar to the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird’, Charlie is able to think about all the different perspectives allows him to make the realisation that the injustice shown by the small town and the hard socio-cultural setting of outback Australia in the 1960s. Charlie also came to the realisation that his words may have different effects on other people and how his words can be received.
People can argue that the relationship Scout had with her father is what helped her to consider the different perspectives, as her father is the one who presents the idea to Scout in chapter three. Scout’s father Atticus acts as a moral educator to not just Scout but also Jen, throughout the plot of the novel. Scout grows up in a small town called Maycomb County, the education system is where the small town mentality first starts being fueled, this is seen when the first grade teacher known as Ms.Caroline tells Scout to forget what her father has previously taught her, “Your father does not know how to teach. You can have a seat now, Scout then recounts, “I mumbled that I was sorry and retired, mediating upon my crime.” Reading this quote the relationship between education and injustice is first seen, the teacher first shows that she is small-minded and determined. It is seen that the effect the teacher instantly has on Scout, she is quick to trust the teacher judgment and changes her views, soon after mentioning to her as a crime. It is through Atticus that made it possible for Scout to get away and escape the flaws of the educational system, as he gives her the opportunity for her to be educated at a higher level. It is clear that Scout has a large amount of respect for her father and is always wanting to listen to his opinions and be shaped by his views to be the person he wants her to be. Through the novel, Scout constantly refers to Atticus, his actions are usually fair and unbiased as he tries to teach his children compassion, this is seen when he says “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.” We can see from that Atticus is capable himself of being compassionate while maintaining a clear mind in most situations. This is a trait he wants to pass on to his children, pushing them to be comfortable, despite what society pushes them to do.
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