Women in to Kill a Mockingbird
Elizabeth Manford
Word Count: 2568
WOMEN IN TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD
Back in 1960, a book emerged on the market that would be rated as one of the most unforgettable classics of all time. To Kill a Mocking Bird, written by unknown author Harper Lee, depicts a realistic picture of attitudes during the 1930’s. During this time in history, racism was a huge issue and hatred between black and white civilians led to violence, even fatalities. America was a completely segregated society. Anger and resentment was brought on when in October of 1929 the Wall Street Stock Market crashed. The Great Depression marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profit deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth. Virtually all sectors of American society were affected in some way by the Depression.” (www.education.com). White citizens felt that the coloured ‘second class’ citizens were taking their jobs as they saw themselves as the ‘superior race’.
Maycomb, a fictitious small town in the deep south of America was based upon Harper Lee’s own home town of Monroeville, Alabama. It is a town wrapped up in its own trials and tribulations. It too has the segregation between the black and white communities. Generations of families have lived and died there, so heritage is of great importance. It was very rare for people to move there from out of town. The town “grew inward. The same families married the same families until the members of the community looked faintly alike.” (Lee p.144).
To understand women in To Kill a Mocking Bird, you have to understand that change was a taboo subject. During the 1930’s, women were seen as submissive homemakers. Feminism in the south was unheard of. Feminists who did manage to retain a sense of urgency in stirring enthusiasm and public support for equal rights had ‘to face an antagonistic majority of their society, who felt that a woman put her talents to their best use in the domestic
Word Count: 2568
WOMEN IN TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD
Back in 1960, a book emerged on the market that would be rated as one of the most unforgettable classics of all time. To Kill a Mocking Bird, written by unknown author Harper Lee, depicts a realistic picture of attitudes during the 1930’s. During this time in history, racism was a huge issue and hatred between black and white civilians led to violence, even fatalities. America was a completely segregated society. Anger and resentment was brought on when in October of 1929 the Wall Street Stock Market crashed. The Great Depression marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profit deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth. Virtually all sectors of American society were affected in some way by the Depression.” (www.education.com). White citizens felt that the coloured ‘second class’ citizens were taking their jobs as they saw themselves as the ‘superior race’.
Maycomb, a fictitious small town in the deep south of America was based upon Harper Lee’s own home town of Monroeville, Alabama. It is a town wrapped up in its own trials and tribulations. It too has the segregation between the black and white communities. Generations of families have lived and died there, so heritage is of great importance. It was very rare for people to move there from out of town. The town “grew inward. The same families married the same families until the members of the community looked faintly alike.” (Lee p.144).
To understand women in To Kill a Mocking Bird, you have to understand that change was a taboo subject. During the 1930’s, women were seen as submissive homemakers. Feminism in the south was unheard of. Feminists who did manage to retain a sense of urgency in stirring enthusiasm and public support for equal rights had ‘to face an antagonistic majority of their society, who felt that a woman put her talents to their best use in the domestic
Bibliography: Lee, H., 1960. To Kill a Mockingbird. 1989 ed. London: Manderin Paperbacks Moran, M., 1988-89 Staff, T., 2008. http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/To_Kill_A_Mockingbird_Lee/To_Kill_A_Mockingbird_Study_Guide19.html. [Online] [Accessed 20th February 2013]. Teachers, T. o., 2011. http://library.thinkquest.org/12111/SG/SG5.html. [Online] [Accessed 22nd February 2013]. Moran, M., 1988-89. http://www.loyno.edu/~history/journal/1988-9/moran.htm. [Online] [Accessed 22nd February 2013]. Simkin, J., 1997. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAjimcrow.htm. [Online] [Accessed 25th February 2013]. Staff, T., 2008. http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/To_Kill_A_Mockingbird_Lee/To_Kill_A_Mockingbird_Study_Guide19.html. [Online] [Accessed 20th February 2013]. Teachers, T. o., 2011. http://library.thinkquest.org/12111/SG/SG5.html. [Online] [Accessed 22nd February 2013].