To Kill A Mockingbird Tradition Analysis

Throughout history, there have always been traditions created in civilizations that are meant to keep the citizens content with the ways of their society. Often times however, tradition can create a restrictive barrier that prevents people from growing both personally and as a community. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), she focuses on the division of people through traditions and racism when a lawyer named Atticus Finch defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman. Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, all characters are prevented to grow in personal and individual ways because of the traditions that restrict positive growth in areas of gender roles, ignorance, and racism.
Firstly, one of the …show more content…
Mayella Ewell represents how oppressive traditions can be because she is set to live the life expected of her, preventing her from growing as a person. First of all, ignorance becomes a part of Mayella Ewell from a very young age through a lack of education. In regards to school, Mayella upheld the tradition of the Ewells to “[go on the] first day every year and then leave” and never return, claiming they have “done [their] time for [that] year” (30). Without going to school with different kinds of opinions, Mayella is confined to the one-sided opinions and ideals of her father and siblings, rather than hearing about other views, denying her personal growth. This lack of education also stops her from learning about academic skills such as reading, writing and math, completely destroying her chance to follow any career she originally wished to pursue. Another example of ignorance are the preconceived notions of the Ewells created by Maycomb traditions which prevent Mayella from interacting with others. The Ewells are known as filthy people who do not so much as bathe in an effort towards becoming better people. Mayella, however, bathes as often as possible and tries to remain clean, even taking up gardening and other hobbies, yet “white people wouldn't …show more content…
Dolphus Raymond lives a lifestyle that is very conflicting with the traditional way of white and black people living separately. Dolphus, a white male, first went against traditional racial barriers when he married a woman of colour. By marrying a black person, he is seen as a disgrace to the white people in Maycomb which leads him to “prefer the company of Negroes”, meaning he associates with them rather than his own race (218). This interracial marriage causes a division between him and the white community, so much so that he prefers being with coloured people over white people. The tradition of separate races prevents growth because when people try to become a more diverse community, they are isolated by their own race. Secondly, Doluphus has mixed children who do not fit in society because of their mixed skin colour. So much as associating with a black person is considered foul if you are a white person because of traditions. Dolphus has children who are mixed in colour meaning that “colored folks won’t have [them] because they’re half white; white folks won’t have [them] because they’re colored” (183). There is no law preventing black people and white people from associating, but it is traditional for them to stay separate. They will not be able to play with other children of either colour without being