Jasper Jones

“Jasper Jones has a terrible reputation in Corrigan. He’s a Thief, a Liar, a Thug, a Truant. He’s lazy and unreliable. He’s a feral and an orphan, or as good as.”

These words demonstrate how the people of Corrigan view Jasper. Jasper hides Laura’s body because he knows that he will inevitably be blamed for her death. By capitalizing “Thief,” “Liar,” “Thug,” and “Truant,” the author creates a sense that each word is an identity in and of itself; at the same time, the capitalization also implies that by believing in such a simplistic and unshakable caricature of someone, the townspeople are prejudiced to the point of absurdity, for they define Jasper by his perceived faults rather than getting to know the true nuances of his personality.

“You’ll see it, Charlie. Shit. You’ll’ve wished you didn’t, but you’ll see it. It’s not too late but. Are you sure you’re gonna help me?”

Once Charlie sees Laura’s dead body, he cannot remain innocent and uninvolved, and Jasper understands this. Out of fairness, he gives Charlie one more chance to decide whether he will become involved before his life changes forever.

“That’s what you do, right? When you’re readin. You’re seeing what it’s like for other people.”

Jasper explains that Charlie’s literary pursuits given him the ability to understand other people’s perspectives, unlike the prejudiced townspeople. The people of Corrigan believe whatever they are told about Jasper without really trying to figure out if it is true. Jasper understands that Charlie’s reading allows him to see the world from perspectives other than his own.