the Importance of tradition in To Hill A Mockingbird.
...ys and clothes. Scout sees what a “southern lady” is as she notices how Aunt Alexandra “chose protective garments that drew up her bosom to giddy heights, pinched in her waist, flared out her rear, and managed to suggest that Aunt Alexandra's was once an hour-glass figure.” Scout was considered to be a very improper girl, wearing overalls and pants, but Aunt Alexandra would still try to introduce her to other ladies. She hoped that Scout would form lady-like habits by watching others. The South was repressing their women to become gentle, mild beings instead of intelligent, well-rounded people. Although this opinion of women was spread widely throughout the country, the Southerners had taken this to a higher degree, and made it a large part of life. Southern pride came from the quality and importance of your family and you’re past ancestors. Depending on your social status, you were either considered better or worse than the next family. Those who were prideful tried to pass the information on to the next generation, hoping to continue the family's good breeding and education. One example is during Scout's first day of school, when the new teacher, unaccustomed to the Southern family identification method, offered Walter Cunningham a quarter to buy lunch. When Walter refused the quarter, Scout presented Miss Caroline with an explanation saying, “Miss Caroline, he's a Cunningham.” Miss Caroline was confused by this and Scout continued by telling her that, “That's okay you'll get to know all the county folks after a while. The Cunningham’s never took anything they can't pay back - no church baskets and no scrip stamps.” This incident shows that each family had a “definition” attached to their last name. Every family has a specific characteristic that was associated with their last name. Since Maycomb is a small town, everyone knew the history of all other family in town. The biggest problem with this is that if your family was known as bad people, like the Ewell’s, you would have to work very hard to clear your name. Racial prejudice towards black people was the main theme in this book. The entire basis of the book focuses on the typical story of a black man on trial for a crime that he didn't commit. The town of Maycomb outlines all black people mostly as corrupt or as criminals. This discrimination becomes apparent in the trial of Tom Robinson. He is wrongly convicted “Guilty . . . guilty . . . guilty” after Atticus gave indisputable evidence that he is innocent, and “not one i...