"To Kill a Mockingbird": How does Lee's narrative structure contribute to the impact of the novel on the reader?

The novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is unique because it contains two plot lines and climaxes. Harper Lee has skilfully combined the two plots in the one story to enhance the impact of the novel on the reader. The two plots are strategically interwoven in the novel and make the novel more interesting as well as emphasising the themes and symbolism contained in the novel. One of the plot lines involves Jem and Scout's adventures with Boo Radley, while the other is about Atticus Finch and his fight for Tom Robinson. The narrative structure employed by Harper Lee is both interesting and effective and contributes greatly to the impact of the novel on the reader.

On first thought the two plots are apparently quite different, and are yet in another aspect quite the same. The first plot line, that involving Boo Radley, seems a lot more of a childish, interesting plot. The children wonder about Boo Radley, and at the beginning view him as a monster. As the plot advances, and Jem and Scout mature through their experiences and age, they begin to realise that he is also, like them, a human being. This plot is kept quite alive throughout the book, with small climaxes along the way, like when Boo Radley covers Scout in the blanket. It finally reaches its climax when Boo Radley makes his appearance and saves Jem and Scout.

The other plot is a lot more serious, but yet quite similar. It is also about a man who is initially prejudiced against in society. Tom Robinson, a Negro, for whom Atticus stands up to defend. This plot essentially relies on the first one, in how Scout judges the attitudes of the people in Maycomb. It is through her experiences with Boo Radley that she begins to understand about prejudice, and how people can have unfair views on others who may be a little different. It is in this plot that Jem and Scout gain a further understanding of the 'adult' world, and the prejudice, racism and classes that exist. The novel finally reaches a conclusion when both plot lines intersect, and we come to see how the first plot line ends quite happily, and Scout stands in Boo Radley's shoes, while the second plot ends in the death of Bob Ewell.

Harper Lee uses this unique structure to develop the characters Jem and Scout and their views. At the beginning, they have a very childish and simplistic attitude towards people, and perceive Boo Radley as a monster. However, the first plot develops, and their curiosity about him increases. After a few 'adventures', they realise that he is not the monster that he is made out to be, and in fact, is quite a nice person. The children, especially Jem who is older, begins to develop the sense that people are in fact not all equal, as they thought, but instead there was a certain class system, and prejudice against some people. 'I've thought about it a lot lately and I've got it figured out ... There's the ordinary kind... there's the kind like the Cunninghams... the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.'

As the children begin to realise this, the second plot develops, and the children further experience the prejudice that occurs in Maycomb. They are shocked when Tom Robinson is convicted guilty, when Atticus has basically proven his innocence. The children then begin to understand what the society is really like, and the rigid class structure in the town. By the use of the two interwoven plot lines, Harper Lee effectively communicates the developing maturity of the children, and the system of social prejudice that exists.

Harper Lee also uses her unique narrative structure in order to emphasise and explain the themes and symbolism she uses in her novel. Both the plot lines are similar, in the way that both deal with the theme of prejudice, social and racial prejudice. Both plot lines also develop the symbol of the mockingbird. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are both mockingbirds in their respective plot lines and Harper Lee uses this symbol to develop the theme. Boo Radley is a man who is prejudiced against by society. As the first plot advances we begin to see him as the mockingbird, an innocent man who has been prejudiced against by society. We see the prejudice that occurs, and how Jem and Scout develop a sense of this. 'Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.' Tom Robinson is also a mockingbird, an innocent man who is sentenced because he is black. Jem and Scout are both shocked at this decision, and yet none of the adults are very surprised. The two children are still not fully aware of the extent to which the prejudice exists in the town. Atticus explains that 'They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do it - seems that only children weep.' Again Harper Lee uses the plot line to show prejudice and racism, and shows what its consequences may be. The two interwoven plot lines express the same symbolism, having a greater impact on the reader and emphasising the theme of prejudice.

Harper Lee's unique narrative structure is very effective in contributing to the impact of the novel. Both plot lines centre in on the same theme, using different people and yet similar symbolism. As the plot lines develop we as the reader also see the children develop, mature and learn through their experiences. We see how the children begin to understand about the prejudice that occurs and we the readers are also made to think about these issues. The plot lines intersect at the end of the novel and Scout stands in Boo Radley's shoes, and understands his reasons for his actions. The narrative structure and interwoven plots shows the maturity and development of Jem and Scout, and as a result, we also see the system of prejudice that occurs that society. The narrative structure contributes greatly to the impact of the novel, as it both helps to explain as well as emphasise the themes and symbols Harper Lee uses in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.