To Kill a Mockingbird

Name :- Khandate Soumya Prakashsing
Dept. Of Sociology, SPPU Pune,
First published in 1960, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is widely regarded as one of the most significant literary works that tackles the enduring problems of social stratification, racial inequity, and justice in 20th-century America. The book, which is set in the Great Depressionera fictitious town of Maycomb, Alabama, follows young Scout Finch and her brother Jem as they make their way through a society that is influenced by discrimination, social differences, and moral dilemmas. As sociology students we frequently view the world through its prism, To Kill a Mockingbird provides a deep examination of societal norms, systematic inequity, and the ways that race and class intersect to shape both individual and community identities. The social structure of Maycomb is inflexibly divided along ethnic and socioeconomic lines. Due to their education and family background, the Finch family has respect among the upper middle class. Families like the Ewells and Cunninghams, on the other hand, stand in for the underclass and working poor, respectively. The Cunninghams’ sense of dignity despite their poverty and the Ewells’ use of their racial superiority to oppress others despite their lower socioeconomic standing are two examples of how class stratification and power dynamics overlap in the book. Lee’s representation of the Ewells, and Bob Ewell in particular, highlights the ways in which structural injustice feeds cycles of ignorance and poverty. Tom Robinson is a Black guy who is at the bottom of society, thus Bob Ewell’s false charge against him is a desperate attempt to establish supremacy. This act demonstrates how, even at the price of justice, the nexus of race and class is used as a weapon to maintain white supremacy. The main plot of Tom Robinson’s trial reflects the racial tensions that characterized the South during the Jim Crow era. The systemic racism embedded in Maycomb’s legal and social structures is best illustrated by Robinson’s false accusation and subsequent conviction. Through the trial, Lee dispels the fallacy that the institutions that are supposed to administer justice are impartial. The all-white jury’s verdict, despite strong proof of Robinson’s innocence, reflects the community’s ingrained prejudices and general adherence to racial hierarchy. A deeper examination finds that the trial also highlights how social norms contribute to the continuation of inequality. In addition to being a legal representation, Atticus Finch’s defense of Robinson includes a moral stand against the social mores that are prevalent in his community. Atticus’s role as a white man defending a Black defendant, however, emphasizes the limitations of personal initiative in the face of structural oppression. Even though Atticus is praised for his moral bravery, the deeply ingrained bigotry that permeates Maycomb cannot be destroyed by his acts alone. In addition to its analysis of race and class, To Kill a Mockingbird also looks at gender roles and the limitations placed on them by patriarchy. The strict gender norms of Scout’s Day are challenged by her defiance of conventional femininity. She rejects the limited roles that are allocated to women and girls, as seen by her tomboyish behavior and preference for overalls over skirts. Lee exposes the wider effects of these expectations on personal identity and agency by criticizing the social pressures to adhere to gender standards through Scout. Scout’s aunt, Aunt Alexandra, represents the upholding of patriarchal standards by pressuring Scout to conform to traditional femininity and maintain the social standing of the Finch family.