To Kill A Mockingbird Cultural Analysis

Although America is known as the melting pot of cultures here and now, the novel To Kill a Mockingbird addresses how Americans used to behave in the early twentieth century regarding the issues of racism, oppression, and social classes inequity. The story is told by the point of view of Jean Louis Finch, also known as Scout, and it recounts how she explores the controversial issues of the 1930s, while Atticus Finch is the voice of reason and morality. Throughout all the story Atticus shows her daughter, Scout, how despite of other people’s way of thinking, she must respect and tolerate them. A good example of this is when Atticus tells Scout and Jem “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,”

Throughout the book, Scout explores the differences between black and whites and how it influences society. For instance, blacks where not allowed to go to the same church that whites did, even though they worshipped the same God. This fact reflects how the African-American minority were mistreated and segregated. In addition, everyone that interacted with them with an equal level of respect, would also be considered as “ neggro lover.” This is clearly seen when Mrs. Dubose yelled to Scout and Jem “‘Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!’” (Lee 105) just because Atticus was “‘ Simply defending a Negro’” (Lee 77) . The novel also shows how the racist behaviour is learned as it is reflected through Calpurnia. Although she is a negro, she grew up around whites and even adapted their racist language. Race is without a doubt one of the components which distinguishes the characters in the novel. The white group of the town is without a doubt racist, and Atticus' choice to guard Robinson leads to a process of 'other-ing', in which Atticus, Scout and Jem are distanced and alienated from the group by because of Atticus' choice of defending Tom