Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a thought provoking novel about childhood in an old Southern town. Prejudice is a recurring theme; throughout the novel we watch Scout absorb the discriminatory views of the town, and eventually find the fault in these views and form her own. There are many parallels between the novel and the Australian film Jasper Jones – they both address everyday prejudice, systemic prejudice and show characters overcoming prejudice. By using characterisation, lighting, setting, mis en scene, symbolism and camera shots both texts thoroughly examine the theme of prejudice.
Lee and Perkins both use characterisation and lighting to portray everyday prejudice. At the start of the novel, Jem and Scout’s view of Boo is based on rumours, such as “he dined on raw squirrels,” and “his hands were bloodstained.” Because of these rumours, they,
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In To Kill a Mockingbird, Maycomb is described as a ‘tired old town’. This tells the reader that Maycomb and its justice system are set in their old-fashioned ways. Similarly, in Jasper Jones, the red dirt, Australian wildlife and run down buildings show that Corrigan is also a ‘tired old town’. This mise en scene serves as a background as Jasper is manhandled by the police, further showing the prejudiced justice systems. By showing us the rural towns of the texts, Lee and Perkins are able to portray the systemic prejudice present. The novel is set in the 1930’s, in a still segregated community. This community is willing to allow the corrupt justice system to convict an innocent black man, to protect a guilty white man, in a lengthy court case. Conversely, in Jasper Jones Jasper is not taken to court, the police assume he is guilty without even a trial. Use of mise en scene and setting has allowed Lee and Perkins to show the systemic prejudice present in the respective small