Chapter 19: "Geography Matters..."

   Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is an exceptional example for this response, as well as many of the others. Geography defines and develops character and plot, it is the setting or details that creates the plot. The first aspect of geography that is key to the plot of this novel is the time period. It takes place in the years 1933-1935, which is a time when racism was prominent. Racism and general judgments of people create the plots of Mockingbird, which is shown in the Tom Robinson trial, when no one believes Robinson because of the color of his skin. African American individuals were not equal to white Americans. Racism was also the largest issue in the southern United States area, like Alabama, where this novel is set, which makes that geography. Another aspect is the size of the town of Maycomb. It is a very small town which makes the novel what it is. If it had not taken place in a small town and perhaps in a big city, it would not have been the same. The concept that everyone knows everyone and it is challenging to keep secrets in their community is what makes this plot. The final aspect is the financial class of the small town. It is described as a "tired, old town," and it is understood that it is not exactly a town inhabited by wealthy people. It is the middle to lower class people that live there, and that explains for the the behavior and lack of an education for a lot of the folks of Maycomb. Without these aspects of geography, To Kill a Mockingbird would not be the wonderful, famous novel that it is.