Tradition In To Kill A Mockingbird

“Tradition makes the mind a slave - you are no longer an individual, but merely a product.” Bruce Lee describes the aftermaths of tradition by saying this. He realizes that instead of thinking themselves, most individuals are just a product of thousands before. Since many aren’t able to think themselves, this leads to ignorance from many. This effect is especially seen in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama described in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Set in the Great Depression Era, Scout Finch, the narrator, and her older brother Jem Finch are residents in the Southern town Maycomb. During Scout’s second grade, the town’s white trash, the Ewells, accused Tom Robinson, a black male, of rape. Judge Taylor decides to appoint

The Christmas before Tom Robinson’s case, Scout pays a visit to her uncle Uncle Jack. During her visit, Francis, Scout’s cousin, confronts Scout about her father: “If Uncle Atticus lets you run around with stray dogs, that’s his own business, like Grandma says, so it ain’t your fault. I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I’m here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family — ” (110). Since the majority of the Finches don’t live in Maycomb County, one can assume that Francis uses the word “mortify” as a way to try and express the deep disgust several members of Scout’s family felt solely because Atticus decided to defend Tom Robinson, an African American. As a result of Atticus’ appointed case, the Finches face constant abuse and discrimination from others because of the prejudice present in Maycomb and the South. Therefore, the conflict of Tom Robinson’s trial describes the discrimination of not only African Americans, but also the one’s that defend them. When Dill recounts his experience accompanying Atticus to provide Tom Robinson’s wife the sorrowful news of her husband's death, Lee\ express another example of discrimination caused by Maycomb’s prejudice. After hearing Dill’s account, Scout reflects on her reading of Mr Underwood’s news article which described the senselessness of Tom Robinson’s jury decision and eventually, murder. Scout is confused at first; Tom Robinson was given due process to his death and Atticus had fought along him through the whole case. However, she suddenly realizes: “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (323). A free man is a significant concept in American culture, signifying the ability to act