To Kill A Mockingbird Gender Analysis
Bear Matthews
Engligh
January 7th, 2016
Basalt High School
Ms. Wagner
Gender Roles in To Kill a Mockingbird
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee surreptitiously investigated ethnic and class-based problems that delved into gender responsibilities. First, Harper Lee chose the name Scout, which unquestionably transcends both boys and girls. Scout then metamorphoses, although symbolically, from being a girl to a boy and then returning to her female role. In doing so, she imbues the social-cultural strata of her society, leaving leaders gasping for more. Quintessentially, Harper Lee uses gender voids to explain the women's liberation efforts that took place in later societies. This is seen in Harper Lee’s, Go Set A Watchman, the sequel to TKAM. The character Harper Lee uses most through the theme of gender roles is Scout as seen below.
I was not so sure, but Jem told me I was being a girl, that girls always imagined things, that's why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could just go off and find some to play with. Chapter 4, Para. 119 …show more content…
As the book evolves, scout refuses the superfluities and flounces that match the personality expected of young girls.
Rather, she prefers a boyish way of being, along with games, and fights. This is not expected of her in this society (Allegory). Since the death of her mother, it would seem that Scout lost touch with her society's expectations of her and would rather juggle from one corner to the other, eventually challenging dominant gender roles. (Lee, 51) However, she was not entirely spiteful towards her accomplices, but only debased those she felt owned a false demeanor, alike Aunt Alexandra. Together and with her friends, Alexandra looked down upon underprivileged, or black people, whom they considered ‘rubbish’ which made her embody the feelings inherent in the broader society. Indeed, this was their female role as expressed by Harper
Lee.
The men in this novel are seen as ‘breadwinners’ for their families. (Characterization) Atticus along with Mr. Cunningham pride themselves being seen by others as role models of responsible husbands who can splash benevolence as much as they can. For instance, Atticus pays most of his bills to Mr. Finch. Besides, they are quick to castigate those who do not fulfill their fatherly roles, like Mr. Ewell. Moreover, Mr. Ewell is an embedment of evil. (Lee-Chapter 17, Para. 84) He is seen as an abuser of children. That is a role of which should be shunned as is clear from the attitude of his contemporaries.
In the middle of the novel, one can find that Scout doubles as a boy and a girl. Scout puts on both jeans and rough, worker like clothes. Indeed, she loses sight of her feminine frame of mind when Jem explodes in his feminine comportment. (Oxymoron) Although the odds are against Jem, since he cannot hide his masculinity, he starts to understand the irony of his behavior in addition to scouts, thus reinforcing Scouts’ travesty. (Lee-Chapter 1, Para. 72-75)
However, at the end of the narrative, Scout tends to regain her composure and appreciates she is still a young woman of grytte and poise. This turns out to be ironical since she has always shunned being a girl. From this point of view, Scout sees herself growing into adulthood as a woman. It could be argued that her discomfiture creates a leveling between the two worlds, and with that, -- killing a mockingbird in her own style.
Engligh
January 7th, 2016
Basalt High School
Ms. Wagner
Gender Roles in To Kill a Mockingbird
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee surreptitiously investigated ethnic and class-based problems that delved into gender responsibilities. First, Harper Lee chose the name Scout, which unquestionably transcends both boys and girls. Scout then metamorphoses, although symbolically, from being a girl to a boy and then returning to her female role. In doing so, she imbues the social-cultural strata of her society, leaving leaders gasping for more. Quintessentially, Harper Lee uses gender voids to explain the women's liberation efforts that took place in later societies. This is seen in Harper Lee’s, Go Set A Watchman, the sequel to TKAM. The character Harper Lee uses most through the theme of gender roles is Scout as seen below.
I was not so sure, but Jem told me I was being a girl, that girls always imagined things, that's why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could just go off and find some to play with. Chapter 4, Para. 119 …show more content…
As the book evolves, scout refuses the superfluities and flounces that match the personality expected of young girls.
Rather, she prefers a boyish way of being, along with games, and fights. This is not expected of her in this society (Allegory). Since the death of her mother, it would seem that Scout lost touch with her society's expectations of her and would rather juggle from one corner to the other, eventually challenging dominant gender roles. (Lee, 51) However, she was not entirely spiteful towards her accomplices, but only debased those she felt owned a false demeanor, alike Aunt Alexandra. Together and with her friends, Alexandra looked down upon underprivileged, or black people, whom they considered ‘rubbish’ which made her embody the feelings inherent in the broader society. Indeed, this was their female role as expressed by Harper
Lee.
The men in this novel are seen as ‘breadwinners’ for their families. (Characterization) Atticus along with Mr. Cunningham pride themselves being seen by others as role models of responsible husbands who can splash benevolence as much as they can. For instance, Atticus pays most of his bills to Mr. Finch. Besides, they are quick to castigate those who do not fulfill their fatherly roles, like Mr. Ewell. Moreover, Mr. Ewell is an embedment of evil. (Lee-Chapter 17, Para. 84) He is seen as an abuser of children. That is a role of which should be shunned as is clear from the attitude of his contemporaries.
In the middle of the novel, one can find that Scout doubles as a boy and a girl. Scout puts on both jeans and rough, worker like clothes. Indeed, she loses sight of her feminine frame of mind when Jem explodes in his feminine comportment. (Oxymoron) Although the odds are against Jem, since he cannot hide his masculinity, he starts to understand the irony of his behavior in addition to scouts, thus reinforcing Scouts’ travesty. (Lee-Chapter 1, Para. 72-75)
However, at the end of the narrative, Scout tends to regain her composure and appreciates she is still a young woman of grytte and poise. This turns out to be ironical since she has always shunned being a girl. From this point of view, Scout sees herself growing into adulthood as a woman. It could be argued that her discomfiture creates a leveling between the two worlds, and with that, -- killing a mockingbird in her own style.