The Sociological Lens on The Casual Vacancy: A Survey of Smalltown Sociology Anonymous 10th Grade

No matter who you are, the people with whom you interact and the environment with which you are accustomed will always impact your behavioral tendencies. Published in 2012, the novel The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling follows the social dynamics of a small town as the citizens navigate a polarizing political crisis. Rowling’s choice of setting provides for an environment in which the characters can share social behaviors with one another and develop a unique culture. Studies indicate that the small town setting cultivates an environment where the inhabitants share common goals. An example of this type of study is an article published by The New York Times that examined multi-generational family farms. This study illustrated how families living and working within close proximity to one another often share the common goal of working toward a certain standard of suburban living. The study demonstrates the tendency of people to seek the ideal suburban lifestyle. Similarly to how journalists have examined the behavior of real families, literary critics have analyzed the behavior of characters by viewing works through the sociological lens, one of several literary lenses. Literary lenses are common tools used by literary analysts to...