2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

symbol of Robinson becomes unnoticed, buried not only under the racism of the town, but also from the failure of the reader to only recognise him as an object until the end. Furthermore, the single reason that Skeeter writes the book is so she can establish a career for herself. The novels expose society’s oppressive expectations of women during the respective eras that the novels were written in. The representation of the beliefs surrounding women in Lee’s novel is distinctive towards its specific era, as Scout is only provided the pathway to becoming a submissive woman. Conversely, the transgression of the character Skeeter represents a more modernised society, that are becoming more adaptable to the equality of women. Conclusion Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird (1960) and Kathryn Stockett’s The Help (2009) , both novels explore the relationships and beliefs expressed by their respective communities. These beliefs are expressed through the characters and the situations that unfold and also, those who attempt to transgress against these ideas. This essay provides a close examination of the transgression of characters surrounding the prejudicial attitudes towards race, social class and gender. Thus, the reader is able to reflect on society’s racist attitude, adherence to the social hierarchy and gender stereotypes during the time period that it was written in and the reader’s personal impact on society today.

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