To Kill A Mockingbird Belonging Analysis

As an individual develops their personality over time, some feel the need to conceal their true identity in order to establish a feeling of belonging. When they are eventually exposed, some feel accepted by others, while some experience further betrayal. The action of ‘masking’ oneself is seen throughout Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is based on characters living in the 1930’s in the small, rural town of Maycomb, Alabama. The narrator Scout Finch, is a young eight year old, who is the sister of Jem Finch. Scout and Jem are oblivious to what happens around them, but gradually gain wisdom after witnessing unchecked discrimination in their town. As a result of the shocking tragedies in the novel, Jem and Scout recognize that some are not who they seem to be and could be the complete opposite of what they thought. Boo Radley, Calpurnia, and Dolphus Raymond all hide themselves with shields, making it easy to cope with the community.
Blending in with the rest of society, Boo Radley performs various acts of affection towards others, especially the Finch children. Early
On a Sunday morning at church with Jem and Scout, Calpurnia speaks with a woman named Lula and says defensively, “They’s my comp’ny,”...Again I thought her voice was strange: she was talking like the rest of them”’ (100). Scout tries to recognize that Calpurnia grew up in a different place than she did, and that she speaks in a different tone around others; but Scout really struggles with the fact that Calpurnia feels the need to change who she is around them. Following the situation at church, Scout reviews deeply and believes that Calpurnia changed her dialect to not offend the rest at the church. To change how you speak around others is a social norm, especially when you are surrounded by plenty of another kind; this just takes Scout longer to realize than