“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 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 conveyed through the eyes of a child. This truly unique perspective allows the reader to see issues of racism, justice, and identity in a completely different way. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The 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 time of the Great Depression. The nickname “Scout” is a clever indication of the story's perspective. A scout, in essence, observes and collects information and passes it on to others. This is exactly the case with Scout in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. He reports exactly what he sees and attempts to make sense of it through a child's understanding. The truly compelling factor in all of this is that while adults tend to “tailor” their words to fit a social form, children say what they think, regardless of how it will be perceived. The originality of the perspective of “Mockingbird” can be seen right in the way of the first sentences, when Scout refers to the summer when her brother Jem broke his arm. One immediately recognizes that if an adult were to tell this story, the first few sentences would undoubtedly refer to Tom Robinson or Bob Ewell. Children, however, have a different idea of ​​importance and structure than adults. A child describing an event in his life might devote his entire description to something an adult would consider trivial and gloss over something an adult would consider crucial. This fact adds a certain raw honesty to the plot of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” A child is unlikely to lie about events for no reason, so the reader perceives the story with an added layer of credibility. In the narrative of "To Kill a Mockingbird", Scout often recounts events that occur and individuals' reactions to them. , but rarely, if ever, offer analysis or reasoning for either. Describing her first day at 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 can assume that the teacher, fresh out of college, is more than likely "out of her element" in the backwoods of Alabama. This is an example of Lee's brilliance as a writer. When every element of a story is explained explicitly, the reader is likely to become bored. When, however, some components are not stated, but rather deduced, the reader becomes involved. This is yet another example of the value of a child's perspective. Lee continually reminds us from what perspective we are reading the story, often in very clever and unique ways. During Tom Robinson's trial, Scout, Jem and Dill watch from the balcony of the courtroom, where the African-American community is forced to watch the trial, segregated from their white neighbors. Because of Scout's unique physical perspective, we realize that we are witnessing the events of the proceedings not only through her eyes, but also those of the African American. The position of the scout is also symbolic. As a child, she physically observes and.