The novel To Kill A Mockingbird exposes the reality behind the mask that people wear to protect themselves from ideas and thoughts that they have but don’t want to accept because they are scared to be vulnerable to society and possibly themselves. Throughout Harper Lee’s creation, though the mask is not directly shown or stated, it is implied in many situations. Maycomb county wears a mask that narrows their vision so they are unable to see other people’s side of things. The upper class white families in Maycomb are the most prone to this mask regarding to the fact everyone is below them, especially the black community. *quote* *backup info* Maycomb’s mask threatens the equality between people, genders, and races; most of the characters know …show more content…
Certain causes can initiate the usage of the mask. Feeling vulnerable is a main cause for the characters to put walls up. They don’t want to show people that their armor is taken off, and that they are able to be attacked for whatever they say or do; most importantly, their views on the black community. For example, Dolphus Raymond. *quote* *backup info* Atticus decides to teach Scout to see things clearly while she is still young because it is crucial for children to learn how the world works while they are still impressionable. His reasoning for doing this is because he also does not want Scout and Jem to grow up being closed minded and ignorant like the rest of the people in Maycomb county. The mask that Maycomb county encounters affects everyone, and not in the positive way. The white community can’t be one with the black, no matter if they want to or not. Mayella Ewell wanted to be with Tom Robinson, a black man. This was so unacceptable, that her father made her testify in court that he raped her. *quote* *backup info* Whites in Maycomb took extreme measures to “protect their identity.” This also makes it impossible for the black community to show their worth and that not all of them are monsters or thieves or