Jem Dill And Scout example essay topic

How does Harper lee present childhood in the book To Kill A Mocking Bird? The book is supposed to be written from a child's point of view on their surroundings but an adult writes it from a child's imagination and thoughts. Scout is telling the story and she seems to be very literate and knowledgeable about things. However the book seems to give the impression that she is very intelligent. Jem, Scout and dill are the most important and lead children in the book. Throughout to kill a mocking bird they are seen getting into mischief and you will see the process of them gradually maturing.

One of their most played upon fantasies is Boo Radley. In the book they go through stages were they are so wrapped up in the mysterious side of the Radley's home that they become addicted. There are many different ways that they get into Boo Radley's mysterious life inside his house. As children they have very wild imaginations. They make up a game of his life story. They all have different parts to play in his life story and with their imaginations they create a great atmosphere.

However like all children they go through stages and soon, after the many telling's off for interfering with Boo and disturbing his peace they manage to forget about Boo Radley. This is the same when Dill talks to Jem and Scout about hot steams. Dill seems to lie about most things that he has experienced including information about his father that no one seems to know anything about. He has the wildest imagination and this could be due to the amount of freedom he has. Harper lee gives the impression that they are happy children and have what they want and everything that they need.

The children have quite a bit of freedom in Maycomb however this could be due to the fact that they are growing up in a small and safe, secure atmosphere. They are seen playing in the streets during the day and normally until dark. Nearer the start of the book Jem seems like and ordinary boy. He plays about with Dill and Scout and runs around freely.

He tries to be a child like brother as much as he can but he knows that he has to grow up quicker than any other boy his age. As his mum has passed away he must feel as if he needs to take her place so there are two adult role models in the house instead of one. Even though Atticus is clearly doing a very good job as a father and Calpurnia is a very good mother figure I think that he has shortened his childhood just a little, which enabled him to look out for his sister. School is the main part of any child's life. In To Kill a Mocking Bird school life is talked about for nearly 1 chapter and it gives us a lot of information about other children in Maycomb County. Some of the other children in the book have very different backgrounds and ways from Jem, Scout and Dill.

One of these families is the Cunningham's which scout doesn't really get on with during school. Walter Cunningham is very poor and he does not take anything that he cannot give or re-pay back. He must have a different childhood compared with Jem dill and scout. Walter seems to miss out on a lot and his family doesn't have a lot of money but they get along just fine without it.

We see this in chapter 2 pages 22 and 23 when Scout is explaining about the Cunningham's situation to us and to miss Caroline, her schoolteacher. She says, "They never took anything off of anybody, they get along on what they have. They don't have much, but they get along on it". You don't hear of Walter Cunningham playing in the streets or out and about in the town smiling and having fun.

He seems a very insecure boy with not many friends. Another child that we learn about is Little Chuck Little. He was another member of the population that doesn't know where he next meal was coming from. We also have the Ewells they do not come to school apart from the 1st day as they have been threatened by the sheriff so they just make an effort for a day every year.

The Ewells are not very well kept and the children are in need of many things. It seems like the Finches have the best childhood in the neighbourhood and have the best experiences and advantages in their lives..