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Gender Roles and Feminism in killing a mockingbird
Gender Roles and Feminism in killing a mockingbird
Gender Roles and Feminism in killing a mockingbird
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“I do my best to love everybody… it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you” (Lee 144). This strong statement is shared from Atticus to his daughter, Scout, in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The difficult topics of racism, prejudice and gender roles are discussed in this episodic novel as a black man is accused of raping a white woman. Two episodes embody these themes as Lee introduces a snowperson and a mad dog implementing symbolism and bigotry. These symbols hold much greater meaning and their inclusion within the novel develops the plot and effortlessly examines the recurring themes dealing with race and gender. Throughout the novel, gender and gender roles are essential to …show more content…
During the missionary tea the expectations of a southern woman are revealed: share gossip, wear a dress, and act respectfully. At the time of Tom Robinson’s trial, “Miss Maudie can’t serve on a jury because she’s a woman” (296). Women are seen as too “frail” to deal with such sordid cases, and would interrupt the case rather than help (296). The distinction between men and women is made clear which makes the episode of the snowperson ironic. Jem first shapes the snowperson as Mr. Avery but Atticus does not want to upset Mr. Avery as he demands Jem to disguise it. The snowperson is then decorated with a sunhat and hedge-clippers, transformed into a woman, Miss Maudie. Scout hears Atticus and Miss Maudie discussing the snowperson, “... erected an absolute morphodite…”, which she mistakes for the word hermaphrodite (91). A hermaphrodite is an individual in which reproductive organs of both sexes are present which is ironic since genders are differentiated by both appearance and traits. The symbolism of the snowperson demonstrates that although genders are differentiated, they are equal, both contained within one
The book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee gives insight to society's prejudice against age, gender and especially race and how it impacts communities and individuals in a destructive way. Lee establishes how women did not have the same rights as men when she writes, ""For one thing, Miss Maudie can't serve on a jury because she is a woman-" "You mean women in Alabama can't-?" I was indignant." The use of aposiopesis is effective in conveying how shocked Scout felt after hearing this discriminating rule. The hyphen also displays the way Scout precipitously interrupted Atticus in disbelief. This reveals how Scout knew if Miss Maudie could be on the jury, Tom might have been ruled fairly. It proves that gender prejudice made the difference
“She had never told on us, had never played cat-and-mouse with us, she was not at all interested in our private lives. She was our friend.” (Lee 59) This was how Scout described Miss Maudie, Scout was explaining her perspective of herself and that she wants to be treated like an adult and that the only one to do so was Miss Maudie. Consequently, this helps the readers understand Scout. Also, Miss Maudie helps to develop Jem’s character by giving him a big cake when he’s supposed to have a small one like Scout and Dill. This shows that she doesn’t consider him a kid anymore which reflects Jem’s journey to adulthood throughout the book. “I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them.” (Lee 288) This quote was Miss Maudie’s way of explaining to Jem and Scout what their father’s job was, in other words, what his character’s job was. Miss Maudie’s quotes and actions were able to help the characterization of the main
It is acknowledged by many readers that there are many different social classes in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. One of the most obvious social class distinctions is between skin colors, which can be seen through this novel. Since most readers’ focal point of this novel is on the distinctions between skin colors, they are unlikely to pay attention to the difference in social class within the white community. Lee wants to illustrate a contrast in white society and how characters behave differently through the uses of character foil, characterization, and the theme of society inequality in order to emphasize the differences in social classes.
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee sheds light upon the controversy of racism and justice in his classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The notion of equality in accordance with the law and the pursuit of justice are hindered by racial discrimination. The essence of human nature is pondered. Are we inclined to be good or in the wrath of evil? The novel reflects on the contrasting nature of appearance versus reality.
“To Kill a Mocking Bird” is a novel which was written by Harper Lee. In my essay I will discuss how Harper Lee explores the theme of prejudice by looking at the writing techniques and how they affect people.
Harper Lee provides the reader with several examples of typical Maycomb females. She establishes Scout's masculinity with fighting and explains her demeanor by contrasting it with the typical female adults of the novel. The author also allows Jean Louise to wear masculine clothing and gives her a manly nickname. Therefore, the author favors Scout's unique personality and implies women do not have to act in a stereotypical manner. The book might inspire young girls to become independent and create their own unique personalities. To Kill a Mockingbird emerges as an important novel that contradicts female society and suggests that girls should not feel pressure to act in scripted "womanly" roles.
To Kill a Mockingbird, the novel by Harper Lee embodies a work of Southern literature, set in the 1930s in a small town in Alabama. The book’s genre exemplifies a coming-of-age historical fiction story. The narrator, a young girl named Scout Finch, describes the lessons she and her brother Jem learn when their father, a lawyer named Atticus, defends an African American man who stands accused of raping a white woman. The novel’s premise revolves around the efforts of a father raising his children and guiding them in their moral development. Along the way, the book deals with the themes of courage, prejudice and maturity. These three concepts are defined differently by Atticus than by most of the other people in the town where he lives. According to Atticus, courage means doing what remains as right and resisting what remains as wrong, even if other people oppose you. In contrast to the prejudice of the townspeople, Atticus believes it important to treat everyone equally. Maturity, in Atticus’ view, refers to having a sense of conscience and seeking to protect those who remain innocent. As these definitions show, Atticus Finch displays a strong sense of ethics. His goal as a parent remains to pass his values on to his children. This paper will argue that Scout and Jem learn the true meanings of courage, prejudice and maturity through the influence of their father and the example he sets for them.
Maudie Atkinson is a modern day woman in her mannerism compared to a traditional woman such as Alexandra Hancock; Miss Maudie's futuristic view point is very apparent through her actions. She says in a conversation with Scout and Jem about the trial that is about to occur, “'Just because it's public, I don't have to go'”(Lee 159). Lee shows the characterization of Miss Maudie as a strong, rebellious woman for not attending the court case even thought its an event in the towns history where most citizens of Maycomb attended. Miss Maudie shows her independent thinking of a modern day women in the society of Alabama. She concluded that she does not want to attended the court case when she says, “' 't's morbid, watching a poor devil on trial for his life. Look at all those folks, It's like a Roman carnival”'(Lee 159). Maudie Atkinson illustrates her unique thinking because she gives her own opinion on the situation that is occurring. A majority of the citizens in Maycomb feel that Tom Robbins is guilty but Miss Maudie's mind is not conflicted by racial prejudice. Lee uses c...
After the jury decided that Tom would be sentenced to death Jem and Scout are confused why “you never see anybody from Maycomb on a jury-they all come from the woods” (221 Lee)” Atticus honestly answers,”For one thing, Miss Maudie can't serve on a jury because she's a woman-’ Scout says ‘You mean women in Alabama can't-?’" (221 Lee) Scout believes that men and women are equal and aren’t smarter than one another. Normally women or girls don’t question if they can be on a jury or not, they just accept it. However, Scout breaks gender roles by questioning why someone can’t be on a jury just because of their gender. She’s in awe when she realizes someone as smart as Miss Maudie can’t be in the jury just because she’s a woman. Jem and Scout first meet the 7 year old Charles “Dill” Baker Harris reading a book at his Aunt Rachel’s house. Dill introduces himself and that he can read and if Jem needed anything to be read he can do it for him. That caused him to show off his little sister. “Scout yonder's been readin’ ever since she was born and she ain’t even started school yet (7 Lee)” In the south during the 1930s women weren’t expected to read. School wasn’t supposed to care or be the focus. They were supposed to have other things on their minds like how the look, making sure they act like a proper lady and being able to cook.
After reading and studying Harper Lees novel To Kill a Mockingbird, I have concluded that Harper Lee used semantics and symbolism to develop the consistent theme of racism throughout the novel. While analysing different critic’s opinions and views of symbolism and semantics in To Kill a Mockingbird, I found many ideas that aligned with my hypothesis. The three critics and time periods were Mary D. Esselman (1990), Adam Smykowski (1996) and Annie Kasper (2006). The three critics were in agreement that Harper Lee uses this technique to enable the reader to understand society, in particular racism in the Southern American states in the
In many societies, women can be seen as inferior to men as some believe women symbolize weakness and vulnerability. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, portrays the child narrator, Scout Finch, as a bullheaded tomboy who is the daughter of a lawyer defending Tom Robinson, a black man, who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, in the 1930’s. Scout’s hardships are shown throughout her life, and without a mother figure she is left clueless on how to be a proper lady during these difficult times. Her Aunt Alexandra later becomes Scout’s necessary mother figure. Harper Lee uses Scout’s female perspective, Aunt Alexandra’s guidance, and the ideology that women should follow the etiquette of being a proper woman
Mayella, the woman defending against Robinson, comes from a low income and low educated family, making them a poor family. Yet Mayella’s word is still favored against Tom because she still holds a higher social status than Tom just because she is white. In fact, in the novel, Atticus has an important quote regarding the court system that is still true today, “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins.” (Lee, H. (1960). To kill a mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott. pg. 251-252).
Gender bias is very common in the corporate world. Throughout history, males have been dominant in the workforce, whereas women have been excluded. Currently, only 4.6 percent of the Fortune 500 CEOs are women. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, women rarely even work outside of the house. In this novel, Harper Lee shows the differences between the roles of males and females, specifically the distinctions between occupations and social values in the 1930s.
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.