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Jasper Jones themes: morality, scapegoats and guilt
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- 1Theme: Moral DualityA feature of coming of age stories is the transition from a one dimensional view of morality and ethics to a far more complex understanding of right and wrong. The world that reveals itself to Charlie is one in which contradictory views and behaviors enjoy coexistence.
When the Sergeant who savagely beat Jasper comes to Charlie’s house and is comforting and familiar, Charlie has a difficult time:
‘I remember thinking that if I hadn’t seen the cuts and bruises on Jasper’s face for myself, I wouldn’t have thought for a second that this burly paternal copper was capable of locking up an innocent boy without charge and beating him. If JJ hadn’t shown me the cigarette burns on his shoulders, I wouldn’t have suspected this man to be the monster he was’ - 2Theme: ScapegoatsDespite their own grave personal flaws, Corrigan’s citizens have Jasper Jones pegged as an unrepentant bad boy. Whenever a crime or a misdemeanor occurs – such as the burning down of the Post Office – he is the one to blame. Jasper is a convenient tool for Corrigan.
‘In families throughout Corrigan, he’s the first name to be blamed for all manner of trouble. Parents ask immediately: Were you with Jasper Jones?’
Ironically Jasper immediately scapegoats Mad Jack Lionel, as responsible for Laura’s death. Even though he knows what Laura’s father is capable of, it is as if even he cannot conceive of such a monstrosity from the town’s upright president. Yet on far less evidence he leaps to Mad Jack’s guilt - 3Theme: Morality Vs EthicsWhen Jasper asks Charlie for help, he also asks Charlie to develop a new moral code; one that sees beyond conventional morality to a deeper, more complex understanding of ‘right and wrong’. Jasper does not deny that he is a thief, but he has a moral code for it:
‘...outside of my old man’s pocket I never stole a thing I dint need. Nuthin big, ever. Nuthin people couldn’t go without. They never ask why. Why would he be stealin? They just reckon it’s my nature’
Jasper’s thoughts on conventional religion indicate that morality is a personal choice:
‘There’s nuthin up there that gives a shit if I took a pack of smokes or lifted a tin of be - 4Theme: Responsibility and CulpabilityLaura tied the rope around her own neck and hung herself. Yet both Jasper and Eliza claim culpability for her ‘murder’. Like Jasper, Eliza feels responsible for Laura’s death, telling Charlie ‘I killed her. It’s all my fault. I killed Laura’. Of course this isn’t literally true. Laura took her own life.
In attempting to unravel what happened to Laura, Charlie begins to ponder what people are capable of. He watches the cricket coach laugh as the cricketers relentlessly bully and physically assault Jeffrey: - 5Theme: Law and LegalityJasper’s position in society forces Charlie to recognise that there isn’t necessarily a relationship between law and justice.
When Jasper argues that he and Charlie must figure out who killed Laura, Charlie’s response is that they should go to the police:
’Jasper, there’s still a chance that they won’t blame you for this. There’s a chance, isn’t there? I mean, you’re still protected by law...’
In contrast, Jasper knows that the rule of law does not apply to people like him.
‘Bloody hell. Listen, Charlie, we can’t tell anyone... Because they are gonna say it was me. Straight up. Unnerstand? - 6intertextuality in Jasper JonesExtremely useful in characterisation i.e. Charlie’s constant referral to Atticus allowing the reader to associate similar qualities between the two. The same goes for Eliza and Audrey Hepburn.
‘He [Jasper] must have presumed me to be genuine and fair. Like Atticus Finch: dignified and reasonable and wise’.
‘I try to reason with him, like Atticus might’
‘I try to reason it through as Atticus Finch might’
‘I wonder too if Jasper actually needs my help. Whether he came to my window looking for Atticus Finch or Tom Sawyer. A brain or an ally. Maybe both’ (p. 144)
character parallels in the book such as Mad Jack and Boo Radley. - 7—
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