To Kill A Mockingbird: Wearing Masks

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may have been because of Jem
acquiring a mask. He began wearing this mask around the start of his
teenage years, as a result of pressures from peers, and a fear of not being
accepted. Even in these different social and economic times, the 1930's,
issues like popularity and social acceptance were real and present, just as
they are today.It is true that many teenagers today face challanges of
where to place their emotions and how strong they should be, a predicament
Jem was obviously faced with. Jem was afraid of not being accepted if he
accepted his sister, consequently, he wore a mask to project feelings of
discontentment with her and her behavior.
Calpurnia's situation may have been more obvious. Her mask was a
product of a language barrier, which she contrived in attempt to become
more refined and thus give her a higher status among white people. Jem and
Scout were very flabbergasted to learn of her "double life": "Cal," I asked,
"why do you talk nigger-talk to the-- to your ...

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