Sometimes the setting and environmental surroundings of
where you are can affect what you do. In this case, the setting of “To Kill a
Mockingbird” helped keep the plot going. This book was set in an old age and
time period so things were really different. They all live in a small town
where everybody is known. In this part of time everyone was completely racist.
So racist that it changed the ending of this book. These examples of factors
can affect a plot of a story greatly.
The time period of this book effected how they acted. Since
this is set in the olden days, children were grown to act very proper. They
talk, act and handle situations differently too. One major key point is that
there is no modern technology so for example; no DNA testing for crime scenes.
This is something that would’ve been needed at the end of this book. “Presently
I picked up a comb from Jem’s dresser and ran its teeth along the edge” page
178. This shows how their Aunt Alexandria is teaching Scout and Jem to act
mature, proper, to take good care of themselves and to have good hygiene. The year that this book is set in effects the
output on problems in the story, things could go differently if this book was
set in more recent times.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” was also set in a small town where everyone
is known or heard about and has lots of gossip. To prove how it’s a small town,
some examples would be; Rumors are being spread about Boo Radley around town.
Even though these rumors are not even true, still everyone believes what people
tell them. Another example would be that
since it’s a small town the transportation is fast. Jem, Dill, and Scout can
all hand out easily and can basically walk to each other’s houses. Scout makes
a play about Boo Radley’s life even though she doesn’t really know anything
about him whatsoever. “a s the summer progressed, so did our game. We polished
and perfected it, added dialogue and plot until we had manufactured a small
play upon which we rang changes every day.” Page52. This proves how word gets
around even to children easily. This shows how everyone knows one another and
children made up a play about a local man. You should be careful what you say
because there are ears everywhere.
The last plot changer is the racism and unfairness in the
town. They like to use the “N” word instead of saying African American which is
very disrespectful and mean. Scouts dad, Atticus Finch supported a black guy named
Tom Robinson in a court case, so people hated on him and looked at him
differently just because he supported someone of a different color then them
which is extremely unfair. The major
sign of racism is when the cruel jury pleaded the innocent Tom Robinson Guilty. “This case is as simple as black and white”
Page 271. This is a really good quote showing how people were predigest. Tom
was obviously innocent but just because he’s black they just assumed
differently. He couldn’t Have raped
anyone because he was crippled. Racism is very unfair.
As you can see the setting of this book affected the plot
extremely. The time period It was set in, the fact that it was a small town,
and the racism were a big part in the outcome of this book. If these factors
weren’t included in the book, the plot would be very different. The book would
probably not even be called this or even be about anything stated before.
Fin.
