Introduction
Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird explores the racism and racial prejudice that negatively affected the black community and the Justice System in Maycomb. A wide range of key elements of gender criticism can be observed in the literature, where the whole notion of gender is demonstrated to be nothing but a construct. The protagonist is an individual who does not abide by typical behavioral and perceptive patterns of masculinity and femininity. The topic of constructing gender identity in terms of an alternative to heterosexual normativity is revealed in the concept of queer identity, which functions in the semantic field of otherness, marginalization, and deviation. Queer discourse creates a new perspective on issues of gender, sexuality, and identity, in which diversity and equality become the basis for considering all kinds of manifestations of human uniqueness without dividing into norm and deviation. Since the story does not agree on the limits of the definition of queer, the category’s ambivalence is one of its attractive features. Queer describes these actions or analytical models that dramatize the incoherence in the seemingly stable relationship between biological sex, gender identity, and sexual drive. In contrast to essentialist conceptualizations of heteronormativity, which proclaims heterosexuality as a fundamental category of subjectivity, queer phenomenology focuses on the inconsistencies between the two as shown with Scout. It is because of this that the figurative level of a work of art most often becomes the subject of analytical attention in the aspect of gender. This happens due to a certain naively realistic confidence of most critics and analysts in the direct correlation of the character of the heroine, more precisely, her psychological or ideological interpretation with the gender attitude of the author. When analyzing an artistic image in a gender aspect, one should address these phenomena in their discursive nature that form an artistic image as an inclusive subject. The author presents the biases entwined in the fabric of American society during the 1930s. Maycomb society is described as an example of a society where male dominance has overpowered women’s rights and life standpoints. The story’s narrator is done by Scout, who reflects on her youthful years and the narration follows her life through turbulent and difficult moments (Lee 11). Scout is a ‘tomboy’ given her unique dress style as well as her constant interaction without boys, including her brother Jem and Dill who is their mutual friend. The most outstanding theme is racism, although there are notable subthemes, including feminism and gender criticism which are expounded precisely in this discussion. This thought-captivating novel is a good example of American literature because the author develops characters packed with personality, complexity, struggles, and human flaws. Feminism and gender criticism in the United States affected many women and this inspired many authors, including Harper Lee to publish novels tackling the problem from a broad angle.
The novel revolves around a six-year-old girl named Jean Louise Finch (Scout). Scout is not a typical girl, who adheres to the imposed gender roles and societal norms, but forced to do so through the story. Atticus is Scout’s father, who is a lawyer, and prime fatherly figure for the protagonist. He represents an individual for seeks social justice and fairness through the bravery of representing oppressed groups and aiding the latter. Calpurnia is Scout’s family’s African American housekeeper, who serves as a prime role model for the protagonist. Alexandra is Scout’s aunt, who is a product of patriarchal society. She represents a person, who imposes gender roles, prejudice, and patriarchy on women by being strict and traditional. Thesis statement – In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird Scout is exposed to gender prejudice theory through her father (Atticus), Calpurnia, and Aunt Alexandra.
Atticus
Firstly, Scouts learns about gender prejudice and feminism Atticus’s non-adherence to the norms of patriarchy and social injustice. Her father can be considered as the most morally and ethically consistent figure, who teaches Scout and other children the concept of empathy by stating: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 26). The quote supports the claim, because Atticus represents a proper fatherly figure, who is viewed by children as abnormal in the beginning of the story, such for not liking fishing or hunting as other men. He states: “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (Lee 96). He was the reason for Scout’s growth and understanding of the inherent injustice of their society. Without his example, Scout would not be able to see the ugly normalcy of Maycomb people, who are racists and misogynists (Anand par. 14). Therefore, Atticus provided a proper moral guidance and moral compass to Scout by showing that one’s view or perspective of justice and fairness does not depend on what society considers as normal. There are numerous instances in the novel, which imply that women are not able to engage in activities performed by men. Meanwhile, the novel also explains why women are limited in partaking in such activities. A good example is when Scout asked Atticus why people in their society did not sit in the jury stand. The explanation behind this is that ladies should be protected from disreputable cases, which shame society. Therefore, based on the viewpoints of Atticus, the reason why women cannot serve as jury in this society is that they are supposed to be protected. Hence, women slow down how activities are done during the trial process because they do not belong in that work environment. This response clearly shows the extent of gender violation in a society where male dominance is highly felt.
Moreover, Atticus also represented a loving father figure, who not only provide moral guidance, but also strong emotional support to Scout, which helped her to go against the gender roles and norms of society. For example, Atticus states: “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change” (Lee 69). In other words, Atticus teaches Scout about holding one’s ground despite the odds and forces greater than oneself (WQXR). Such a lesson and support is the reason why Scout is able to see how gender roles are social constructs imposed on women, because her father is a contrasting figure compared to the other men facilitating the system of patriarchy. Scout does not stick to societal gender roles, and she is disappointed when the elderly people force her to behave in certain ways. As Scout grows up, she starts attending school, and things get worse when she is forced to put on a dress. She is not comfortable wearing a dress because she constantly wore boy clothes back home (Wessh 19). Nonetheless, she has no choice because wearing a dress is considered suitable clothing for all girls in society. Scout is less concerned about societal norms, which seems to limit other women from engaging in important activities. Lee tries to dramatize both Jem and Scout transition from their childhood innocence and the assumption that all people are good because they have not experienced the real world (Lee 124). Given the depiction of Scout’s personality, Lee manages to highlight themes of feminism, gender roles, and prejudice. The ethical voice in the novel is exemplified by Atticus, who is unique and has experienced immoral without losing his trust in the human ability for goodness.
Calpurnia
Secondly, Scout learns valuable lessons from Calpurnia, because the latter is a prime mother figure for the protagonist, who teaches about discipline and responsibility without any involvement of imposition of gender roles. Her righteousness and pragmatic wisdom are supported by the fact that “Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side” (Lee 4). The quote supports the claim, Calpurnia was a critical mother figure not only for Scout, but also for other children by being demanding, unsentimental, and strict. Unlike Atticus’s teachings, Calpurnia provided more pragmatic and practical lessons. For example, she states: “It aggravates ’em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talkin’ right, they’ve got to want to learn themselves, and when they don’t want to learn there’s nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language” (Lee 114). Thus, Scout learns about being adaptable in a society she lives in, because Calpurnia is the person, who is most skilled in it. Her righteousness and pragmatic wisdom are admired by Atticus, who stands up for her against his own sister (Wikipedia). The main reason is that she is an African American woman in a highly patriarchal and racist society, which makes her life highly challenging. Therefore, similar to Calpurnia, Scout also faces prejudice from patriarchal society. The use of insults and hateful comments against women is also considered as another way through which feminism was illustrated in the early years. Scout’s brother’s use of insults ensures that her sister does not voice more concerns for fear that she is not allowed to interfere with their undertakings in the future (Lee 27). There is a clear indication that Jem has slowly adjusted his viewpoint about the place of women in society by insulting Scout. Every action taken against another person, especially through the use of bad language often bears consequences. Following the continuous insults, Scout somehow understands her position in society and starts hanging out with female friends, precisely Miss Maudie.
Moreover, Calpurnia plays a major role in teaching Scout about tolerance and unity. For example, the author writes: “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?” Calpurnia said, “It’s the same God, ain’t it?” (Lee 107). Without the housekeeper, Scout would not be able to see and learn about African Americans, which made her tolerant and empathetic towards the group. The latter quote showcases that discrimination and racism can be mutual between White people and African Americans, but Calpurnia stands up for the children by pointing out the fact that all people are one under the God. In other words, Lee does not depict the issues of discrimination, misogyny, and racism in a simplistic manner, but showcases the intricacies of these matters (Wikipedia). Therefore, such a complexity enriches the story and provides a deeper perspective on how inequality impacts both sides. The personality of Calpurnia is worth paying attention to, and Scout yearns to learn from her. This brought about their constant interaction, exchange of ideas, sharing girls’ stories and ultimately they became the best of friends. Although Scout often dealt with different situations using the skills learned from his father, Calpurnia proved to be wiser in terms of her optimistic standpoint, even during the difficult times (Santopietro 53). Hence, Miss Maudie faces different situations with realism and solid positivity.
Aunt Alexandra
Thirdly, Aunt Alexandra is a family matriarch, who represents a person imposing gender roles on Scout, which teaches her about the effect of patriarchy coming from women themselves. It is important to note that Aunt Alexandra enforces the above criticisms to make Scout comply with gender roles despite observing how difficult she has become to them. Therefore, she engages in varied ‘right activities,’ including joining clubs, hosting missionary circles, and gossiping with an urge (Lee 89). The quote supports the claim, because it is not only men in society who judged women based on their behaviors, but also some women who played a part in this campaign. Aunt Alexandra insists that Scout cannot be a responsible woman if she does not learn to dress like a girl and interact with people in the society. Although predominantly eccentric regarding gender, the above characters vacillate between principles, illustrating that gender is not the stable norm that changes depending on each individual. Lee portrays characters who resist following the paradigms of femininity and masculinity and rather fill middle-class ranks as Scout’s tomboy behavior typifies (Wessh 85). After coming across diverse models, Scout steadily displays these gender-bending predispositions. Therefore, Scout’s search for her identity as a tomboy serves as a coming of age journey. Scout’s environment plays a vital role and positively influences her character and opinions. The role played by Aunt Alexandra and Calpurnia is important in the upbringing of Scout and her perspective about the real world (Lee 102). Through the path taken by Scout, there are numerous themes that Lee seeks to convey, such as the uncomfortable lifestyle brought about by racism, loss of innocence and gender issues. Seeing the representation of gender stereotypes and sexism in the novel is thought provoking and informative because it sheds light on the manifestations of conventional beliefs in the life of a young girl.
In Maycomb, feminism, gender criticism and stereotypical interpretations about femininity and masculinity are predominant. For instance, Scout’s Aunt stresses these conventions when she supports the opinion that Scout should play inside the house with small stoves. Based on her Aunt’s viewpoint, Scout is supposed to submit to domestic chores and comply with societal norms. While women engage in house chores and are considered appropriate in society, men journey outside and engage in different adventures. Aunt Alexandra constantly grumbles about Scout putting on overalls to Atticus who is irritated by her recurrent criticism. Scout fails to understand her Aunt’s fascination with her dress code and other behaviors (Lee 82). Aunt Alexandra frequently reminds Scout that she cannot make a good wife if she does not know how to dress and she should focus more on ‘girly’ adventures and activities to adhere to societal norms. Aunt Alexandra is depicted in the novel as judgmental and a person who develops prejudices in her mindset about other people. Scout reflects upon the opinions, attitude, and criticism of her Aunt and insists that she is not informed about the real meaning of social norms (Santopietro 97). Lee clearly describes the character of Aunt Alexandra and her attitudes towards gender criticism. Scout feels bitter about Aunt Alexandra meddling and this justifies why she prefers hanging out with Miss Maudie who has a positive attitude about every aspect of life. As Lee depicts the character of Scout from childhood to maturity, there are notable changes that begin to occur in her life. For example, Scout starts to mature and acquire a good understanding of the real adult world.
Indeed, the process of Scout’s transformation into a mature lady was significantly influenced by her exposure to Aunt Alexandra’s upbringing methods. Since her early childhood, Scout experienced continuous advising on her looks and behavior as a future wife and a lady. For example, “when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants” (Lee 74). Later, in the final chapters of the novel, as Scout appears among other ladies wearing a dress and is asked where her britches are, she answers, “under my dress” (Lee 210). In such a manner, this scene demonstrates the transformation of the main character’s identity from a tomboy to a feminine personality who adjusts her prior habits to social norms.
Her transformation into a mature lady is evident in the language she uses when referring to other people and her worldview shift implied in such a change. The childish names she used to call them become substituted by more formal, which indicates her consideration of interpersonal relations on a new level. For example, Boo Radley suddenly becomes Mr. Arthur in the final chapters of the book, which indicates how Scout’s perception of the man changed under the influence of his treatment. As Scout describes one of the scenes, “if Miss Stephanie Crawford was watching from her upstairs window, she would see Arthur Radley escorting me down the sidewalk, as any gentleman would do” (Lee 255). Thus, the cumulative impact of people around her contributed to Scout’s growing into an adult who maturely acquires social gender roles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird Scout is exposed to gender prejudice theory through her father (Atticus), Calpurnia, and Aunt Alexandra. Atticus represents a male figure, who teaches Scout the concepts of morality, ethics, empathy, and justice, which are critical for feminism. Calpurnia is a key mother figure for Scout, who provides more pragmatic and practical lessons on unity, racism, inequality, and tolerance. Aunt Alexandra represents a product and force of the patriarchal system, and she imposes gender roles and prejudice on Scout. Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird uses several themes, including racism, feminism and gender critique to communicate an important message to the readers. From here, more research can be done on the role of representation, exposure to a diverse group of people, and women-to-women gender role imposition.
Works Cited
“Harper Lee’s Only Recorded Interview About ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ [AUDIO].” YouTube, uploaded by WQXR, 2016, Web.
Anand, Tara. “Gender Roles And Stereotyping In ‘To Kill A Mockingbird.” Medieval Fragments, 2017, Web.
Lee, Harper. To Kill A Mockingbird (Enhanced Edition). Harper Collins, 2014.
Santopietro, Tom. Why to Kill A Mockingbird Matters: What Harper Lee’s Book and the Iconic American Film Mean to us Today. St. Martin’s publishing Group, 2018.
Wessh, Joe. The Theme of Racism in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. GRIN Verlag, 2019.
Wikipedia. “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Wikipedia, Web.