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To Kill A Mockingbird, By Harper Lee

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In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee depicts a racially biased and socially broken American South in the 1930s. As the narrative develops themes of racial justice, class disparity, gender roles, and moral hypocrisy, it becomes evident that gender inequalities show a powerful influence on shaping the characters' lives and the narrative. Although many may claim that racial injustice holds the most power in shaping the narrative and impacting the characters’ lives, it is actually the flawed gender roles and stereotypes and the limitations and fragility of femininity that truly define a major problem for Maycomb during this time, shaping the lives of many characters in the novel. One of the most significant aspects of the impact of gender …show more content…

Adding on, the controlling gender roles are further shown by when Scout thinks, "I was not so sure, but Jem …show more content…

As a member of the Ewell family, Mayella's circumstances show her fragileness determined by her class and gender, displaying that vulnerability of women portrayed in the novel. Atticus Finch's cross-examination during Tom Robinson's trial shows the harsh reality of Mayella's predicament. He says, "What did your father see in the window, the crime of rape or the best defense to it?" Why don't you tell the truth, child, didn't Bob Ewell beat you up?" Lee, p. 213. This series of questions shows Mayella's difficult circumstances of being forced to tell lies by her abusive father. The phrase "didn't Bob Ewell beat you up?" exposes the violent consequences Mayella faces for exploring her feelings and expressing the lack of companionship she had with Tom. Her experience displays that women from difficult backgrounds are not only controlled by societal expectations of femininity but are also put into physical harm when expressing and challenging the norms. Furthermore, the trial scene highlights how she is pushed into places that she was forced to be in by her father. This is evident when Mayella outbursts, "I got somethin' to say an' then I ain't gonna say no more. That n***** you took advantage of me an' if you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanna do nothin' about it then you're all yellow stinkin' cowards, stinkin' cowards, the lot of you" (Lee, p. 213). Mayella's outburst and the use of derogatory

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