Harper Lee's “To Kill a Mockingbird” is one of the greatest works of American literature of all time. It has been reprinted over and over again and is a staple in almost any writing or history class. There are a number of reasons why it can be argued that this novel is one of the greatest ever written, but perhaps the most compelling reason is the fact that the very mature and complex themes explored in this novel are all relayed through the eyes of a child. This very unique perspective allows the reader to view issues of racism, justice, and identity in an entirely different way. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayThe story of “To Kill a Mockingbird” is told in the first person by Jean Louise Finch, or “Scout,” a young girl living in Alabama during the era of the Great Depression. The nickname "Scout" is a clever indication of the story's perspective. Essentially, a scout observes and gathers information and passes it on to others. This is exactly the case with Scout in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. She relays exactly what she sees and attempts to make sense of it through a child's understanding. The truly compelling factor is that while adults tend to "fit" their words into a social form, children say what they think, regardless of how it will be perceived. The originality of "Mockingbird"'s perspective can be seen in the opening sentences, when Scout refers to the summer when her brother Jem broke his arm. We immediately recognize that if an adult were telling this story, the first sentences would undoubtedly refer to Tom Robinson or Bob Ewell. However, children have a different idea of ​​importance and structure than adults. A child recounting an event in his or her life might devote the entire description to something that an adult would consider insignificant and gloss over something that an adult would consider crucial. This fact adds a certain raw honesty to the plot of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” A child is not likely to lie about events for no reason, so the reader perceives the story with an added level of credibility. In the narration of "To Kill a Mockingbird", Scout often recounts the events that occur and the individuals' reaction to them. , but rarely, if ever, offer analysis or reasoning for either. Describing her first day of school, Scout recounts how their new teacher's repeated attempts to educate them are thwarted and how she ends up crying at her desk. Although Scout never says it, the reader is left to assume that the teacher, fresh out of college, is more than likely "out of her element" in the Alabama woods. This is an example of Lee's genius as a writer. When every element of a story is explained explicitly, the reader is likely to become bored. However, when certain elements are not stated, but rather inferred, the reader becomes engaged. This is yet another example of the value of a child's perspective. Lee continually reminds us of the perspective through which we read history, often in very clever and unique ways. During Tom Robinson's trial, Scout, Jem and Dill watch from the courtroom balcony, where the African American community is forced to attend the trial, segregated from their white neighbors. Because of Scout's unique physical perspective, we realize that we are witnessing the events of the procedure not.