To Kill A Mockingbird And The Modern Southern Woman

Harper Lee,one of the most brilliant female writers of the South of America,is well-known for her novel To Kill a Mockingbird which caused a great sensation in society when it was first published in 1960.Narrated by the little girl Scout Finch,this novel focuses mainly on Boo Radley’s confinement to the house and Atticus Finch’s defense of the black man Tom Robinson.People’s attitude toward the reclusive grotesque neighbor Boo and Tom who is accused of raping a white woman reveals the cruel reality of racial injustice,social hierarchy and sexism.At the same time,with Scout’s growing perception of the residents in the town,the author reassures us about the innate goodness of humanity.Based on Simone de Beauvoir’s feminist theory and Judith Butler’s queer theory,this thesis attempts to explore the contradictory image of the modern Southern woman.As a representative modern Southern woman,Scout is the main focus of this thesis which concentrates on her struggle against the traditional gender role for women and the compromise she has made to escape isolation resulting from her rebellion.Apart from Introduction and Conclusion,this thesis is composed of three chapters.Chapter One reveals the deceptive nature of the myth of Southern lady.Preoccupation with the norms of female’s role defined by the patriarchal ideology,traditional Southern women are devoid of self-awareness of female identity,which prevents them from realizing their subordinate position in the society.Chapter Two expounds on Scout’s endeavor to deviate from the gender stereotype for freedom.In the knowledge of the artificiality of gender roles,Scout tries to deconstruct the gender binary by gender transgression and the subversion of the male-dominated discourse system.Chapter Three demonstrates the compromise Scout has made for the establishment of a harmonious relationship with others.With her perception of the virtues involved in the responsibility of traditional Southern women,Scout learns her responsibility of being a lady and forms a sisterhood with them.Similarly,the recognition of the goodness of others and men in particular makes Scout changes the way she look at the world.She focuses no longer on gender inequality but on the shared goodness of human being.This commonality unites Scout with others in this society.In conclusion,the contradictory image of the modern Southern woman reveals Harper Lee’s ambivalent feminist view based on the idea of harmony and her humanistic concern for the human relations of the South.Through these analyses,this thesis intends to offer readers a deep insight into the problems of the Southern society in America and help them to comprehend the profound meaning of this novel.