Harper Lee's novel is considered an American classic. Set in the 1930s, at the time of the Great Depression, the United States was a time of excessive poverty and daily struggle for many. The book tells the story of the early life of Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and her brother Jeremy Finch (Jem) as they grow up in Maycomb County, Alabama. Told in first person from Scout's point of view, it's an excellent way to convey the feelings she struggles with, as well as beautifully conveying the events that unfold. Set over a 3-year period, the book addresses many of the problems children encounter growing up, including their curious drive for information and craving for knowledge. Lee also intertwines Scout and Jem's story with many of the larger issues of the time such as violence, prejudice, and social inequality. This review will first focus on the story and provide a summary of the major events and turning points before moving on to examine the themes and deeper meaning behind the book and the messages, if any, that Lee was trying to convey to the reader. The novel is beautifully constructed in two parts. The first of these deals with introducing the characters to the reader and placing them in context. The two children live with their father Atticus, a lawyer, who receives help with education and household chores from the maid Calpurnia, a black woman. The sleepy street where Scout and Jem live with their father Atticus has a number of residents who are described to us individually. The most notable of these is the Radley family who live a couple of doors down from the Finches. The Radleys are a family shrouded in mystery as they seem to live an eccentric life. They make no effort to engage in that... middle of paper... yes, Name, just a lady." This shows the pressure Scout is under since Aunt Alexandra's arrival and how she begins to conform to the gender role that he aunt wants her to cover. Scout is not allowed to have her own dreams if they don't fit into the structured life of a Southern lady is probably the most important in the novel he is surrounded by prejudice in everyday life, whether it's watching his daughter be told she must fulfill her gender role or trying to defend Tom Robinson from accusations stemming from his race. However, it is through the character of Atticus that Lee presents another of the main themes of the novel, the inherent goodness of man Ending theme; Loss of childhood innocence, shown through the narrative and signaled by the scouts' understanding that Bo Radley has been freed from crime..