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Examples Of Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Stereotypes in Maycomb rule the town. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, people are expected to be in a certain social standing, and to never cross the stereotypical line. Everyone knows their place, and people socialize within their assigned groups. If the line is ever crossed, there are serious consequences. Girls are expected to dress and act lady-like, and men are perceived as the breadwinners. Another problem is that racism plays a part of the division in Maycomb. Black people are valued as lesser people, and they are treated unfairly. Tom Robinson was mistreated during his unjust trial, and because of the stereotypes and racism he was sent to jail for a crime he did not commit. Scout also finds herself stereotyping Arthur “Boo” Radley. She thinks that he is deformed and psychotic because of his rough past, but later comes to find that he is a great man who only gets judged incorrectly. Even though nothing is as …show more content…

People take their social standing very seriously, and if the stereotypical line is crossed, judgment will be spewed everywhere. Girls are expected to be proper, and be complete southern belles. “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches;” (108) Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to act more lady-like, and also does not want her to be doing anything that is physically demanding. She thinks that ladies have to stay inside, play with their teapots, and dress up in pearls. Scout ignores the stereotype, and does things her way. She is looked at as different from the other girls, but it doesn’t seem to bother her much because she always has her brother and Dill. Gem, on the other hand, is expected to be a leader, and strong. He aspires to be just like Atticus and does what he can to impress him. He defends his sister and does the right thing to prove that he is growing up to be a great

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