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Feedback on Essay for To Kill A Mockingbird (1 Viewer)

dh5d75

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Would it be possible if anyone could give feedback or mark my extended response, please? It is worth 10 marks and is from Term 1 of Year 10. I have attached the marking criteria and the question.

Thanks.
Redacted Marking Criteria.png1652183989482.png

In To Kill a Mockingbird (TKaM), Harper Lee critically deliberates on the disputed views on the role and value of marginalised groups in Southern Society. Ideas of race and the role of women in Southern Society appear in connection to many major events occuring at the time of publication signifying the beginning of a large shift in cultural ideals and attitudes.

Racial segregation is the most blatant and pronounced aspect of TKAM and permeates all aspects of life in Maycomb. Racial Segregation is echoed through Lee’ use of a limited narrator and foreshadowing to critique and reflect on Lee’s own experience in Monroeville, Alabama. Effectively being reduced to the likes of garbage and mirroring the views held on Black Americans at the time, many of Maycomb’s black citizens live on the outskirts of the town near the dump where the white citizens of Maycomb dare not approach. Lee demonstrates this in, “the kind like the Ewells down at the dump and the negroes” where she utilises Scout’s limited narrative to exemplify how children like Scout are educated on the roles and value of those different to them and as a result reflects the attitudes displayed at the time. As Scout almost dehumanises the Black Americans of Maycomb the reader understands the social attitudes toward. Further, racial segregation permeates all aspects of life, whether it be physical or intellectual. Even the minds of the citizens of Maycomb are predisposed to assuming the worst in a person of colour. Using foreshadowing Lee demonstrates this. In “a black dog suffered” Lee foreshadows the death of Tom Robinson signifying the already strong-held belief that Tom is guilty. In the ‘Jim Crow’ era the physical segregation between races often became a mental one. Many were regarded as innocent before they had even been given a chance at defence. Thus, TKAM reflects the attitudes of the era in which it was written to a great extent.

Additionally, the Role of Women play's a large role in the text and has evident roots to Harper Lee’s childhood. Experiencing increased pressure from most figures in her life to change Scout reflects the rising rebelliousness of the time seen in the Civil rights and Hippie movements. Scout, a tomboy, makes great efforts to fit among the ‘boys’, Dill and Jem by attempting more traditionally masculine activities. Jem becomes angered and Lee presents this using first-person direct. In “You don’t have to come along, Angel May”, the boys attributes Scout’s resistance to their behaviour as girlish even though Scout presents are more rational view and thus reflecting the belief in male superiority at the time. Adding on, first wave feminism had taken a strong hold in the 1950’s and was emerging as a major cultural shift in the way many expected and encouraged women to behave. The rise of fierce feminist leaders such as Eleanor Roosevelt often received mixed views from many different fronts. In TKAM Lee addresses the works of Eleanor Roosevelt through allusion. “I think that woman, that Mrs. Roosevelt lost her mind”, alluding to the feminist acts that Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt promoted Lee demonstrates the attitudes to Gender Roles at the time. Thus, Lee perpetuates the The Role of Women standards of the 1950’s, reflecting the attitudes of the era in which TKAM was written to a great extent.

Hence, TKAM is truly a product of its time, reflecting the values and attitudes of the era in which it was written.

P.S. I didn't have time for a full conclusion, hence, the tiny sentence.
 

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