the lusty onslaught of the hot-blooded “nigger”. This belief is so great that is allows the doubtful reputation and testimony of a white woman to be superior to the reputation of a stable, gentle, and unassuming black man. Atticus is aware of this prejudice and addresses it saying that he is just as protective of “southern womanhood”, but he refuses to preserve “polite fiction” if it will cost a man his life.The society of Maycomb welcomes the whispering, fanning, and gossiping behavior in its women, and treats them as if they are frail and hardly capable of taking care of themselves. Scout is constantly told to “act like a lady”, “dress like a lady”, and remember to keep her place. Her place seems to be with the women, who have no real role in the business of the town. Even Atticus explains to Jem and Scout that women are not allowed to serve on juries simply because they are women. He comments that women are too talkative and that justice would be halted or impeded by their many questions if they were allowed to serve on juries.These three forms of prejudice – race, class, and sex -- are integrated into the novel and the society of Maycomb, which serves as a symbol of the southern way of life in the 1930’s. With these tools, Lee creates a graphic picture of a restrictive society which prefers to cling blindly to what has always been, rather than change its ways and accept change and progress. ...
