To Kill A Mockingbird Tradition Analysis

For the South, tradition is “understood as an embodiment of the ‘givens’ that must be constantly fought for in each generation, and adjusted to new conditions” (Genovese 4). In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the fight is, not only for tradition, but also with it. Scout and Jem are confronted with “Maycomb’s ways” (Lee 37) and are forced to struggle with, try to understand, and conform to these ways. They, along with Atticus, strain to maintain their family place in the community while forging a new path to the future free of some of the entanglements of the tradition in which they have been born. The traditions of Maycomb are the cause of much conflict for the Finches. They are an atypical family with a single parent who is male raising

Aunt Rachel, the townspeople, Mrs. Dubose, and their schoolmates all stand united in opposition to this decision and action and are infected with “Maycomb’s usual disease” (117). “Like the dog infected with rabies, the citizens of Maycomb are infected with … racism, which makes them just as irrational and just as dangerous as [the mad dog] Tim Johnson” (Jones para. 8). Atticus’ decision to defend Robinson, in the words of Francis who undoubtedly spoke for his grandmother also, “certainly does mortify the family” (Lee 110). Aunt Rachel had “almost said Atticus was disgracin’ the family” (197). The defense of Robinson causes the fight between Scout and Francis, as well as strife between Scout and Cecil Jacobs (99). Jem, though less prone to violent outbursts than Scout, is driven to anger and resentment by the attacks of Mrs. Dubose and the mob of townspeople against Atticus (135-36, 203-04). The conflict produced fear in Jem, in addition to resentment

“The principle tradition of the South—the mainstream of its cultural development—has been quintessentially conservative” (Genovese 1). This conservative development engenders in Southern children a conservative bent that even they sometimes do not recognize or appreciate. Although they struggle against some of the traditions, they embrace others instinctively. For instance, the tradition of not offering Cunninghams anything they could not repay is supported, defended, and passed on by Scout (26). Some of the conflict surrounding tradition plays out between Scout and Miss Caroline, her teacher, because the latter does not understand the Maycomb ways (28). Both Scout and Jem have adopted the traditions surrounding the Radleys, “hot steams,” and spitting in the hand (52, 49, 28, and 42). The conservative religious strictures against gambling, especially playing cards, and shooting on Sunday are generally observed by the children (73, 198). Jem acquiesces to the ideal of Southern femininity and insists that Scout “started bein’ a girl and acting right”