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Examples Of Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird

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To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic novel written by Harper Lee, educating readers of the racial injustice in the small town of Maycomb. Set in the 1930’s and narrated by young Scout Finch, Lee has incorprated erudite language features and strutural elements to create a sense of suspense to evoke feelings of nervousness and empathy into the reader.
Lee’s writing style emphasises the audience’s nervousness and continues to build a sense of suspense through language features and strutural elements to expose Maycomb’s hidden injustice caused by racism. Mayella’s initial hostilty is presented through her dialoge with Atticus and is heightened by Mr Ewell’s foreboding actions presented through short, structured syntax. ‘He sat up straight and waited …show more content…
202) The sentence structure indicates the lies Mayella communicates to the court and her guilt. Continuing on in the scene, Mayella slowly gets flustered and agitated with Atticus’ cross examination as ‘Atticus’s voice […] lost its comfortableness; he was speaking in his arid, detached professional voice.’ (pg. 204) Mayella falters at Atticus’ question. “Huh? Yes, he hit – I just don’t remember… it all happened so quick.” (pg. 204) These developments increases the reader’s anticipation a very deliberate manner and the the slow pace of action is continued through stiled dialoge and vocbulary as Mayella ‘sniffed wrathfully’ (pg. 204) at Atticus to develop the tension and a sense of suspense. Mayella’s hesitation and confusion during this scene positions the reader to feel doubt towards the strain in her account. These emotions of nervousness and tension is enhanced by the repetition of Mayella’s refusal to answer Atticus questions. ‘Why didn’t your screams make [the children] come running? […] No answer.’ ‘Did you scream first at your father instead of at Tom Robinson? Was that it? No answer.’ ‘Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father? No answer.’ (pg. 207) Mayella’s …show more content…
The beginning builds the readers tension by ‘Atticus [doing] something [Scout] never saw him do before,’ (pg. 233) removing pieces of clothing such as his vest and coat. ‘[Attcius] unbuttoned is vest, unbottoned his colar, loosened his tie and took off his coat’ (pg. 223) This sybolies Atticus ridding himself of authority and speaking to the court, not as a lawyer but as a citizen of Maycomb. Continuing in the scene, Atticus’ speech is firm and strong to persuade the audience and jury of his perspective of the crime. ‘She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did somethin that I our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man.’ (pg. 225) This creates tension and irony as there is nothing truly ‘suspenseful’ happening. Atticus is simply stating the truth of Maycomb’s racial injustice proven through his case with Tom Robinson. This subject is further enchanced through syntax and repetition. ‘assumption – the evil assumption’ (pg. 225) By repeating the word assumption and putting emphasis that it is a evil assumption positions the reader to feel empathy and connect with Atticus’ perspective. This use of syntax esblishes Maycomb’s dated beliefs on Negros as evil, enchancing their overall subject of racial injustice. ‘all Negroes lie,

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