What is the meaning of "the code of our society"?
Throughout the novel, the code of our society is not mentioned until the court case but appeared in many ways in the plot beforehand. Atticus was sharing with the people of the courtroom his closing statement when he began to discuss Mayella Ewell. He started off by mentioning, "She has committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time- honored code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with." (271-272) The code of society is basically the unspoken law that states that everyone's ideas and opinions should stay the same. This quote shows how the code of our society twists government laws. For instance a set of laws was made called the Jim Crow Laws that allowed African Americans to be separate but equal with white citizens (this was a government law). During the time period of the Jim Crow laws African Americans remained separate, but white citizens version of equal was influenced by what was cemented in their mind, the code of society. In that case the idea that hadn't changed was that whites overpower blacks.
Harper Lee chooses to wait to explain the idea of "the code of our society" until the end of the novel. Learning that the code of society causes the racism at the end of the book, allows the reader to look back on all of the instances that the code of society applies to. For example when it comes to Dolphus Raymond you really understand the meaning behind why he makes himself appear worse than he is (but looking like an alcoholic). This shows that Dolphus Raymond understands the code of society because he knows that people are not willing to change so it is not worth for him trying to change their opinions of him (being that he is a horrible person because he is disrespectful to his own race as a result of marrying an black woman). Harper Lee was wise in explaining "the code of the society" towards the end of the novel.
In what other instances does the code of society apply to in the novel? Do you think Harper Lee should of explained the code of society in the beginning of the novel? In modern times what do you think is the code of society?
Harper Lee could have explained the code of society if she wanted to earlier in this novel. All she would have needed to do, would be giving a situation where someone could have explained it. Harper Lee made a good decision to put the "code of our society" towards the end of the book, because it gives the reader time to understand the town, the people in the town, and if they haven't figured out that there was definitely an unwritten rule like this one. It was good for her to mention it for those readers who may not have caught on. It also adds on to the theme of the story. Harper Lee does this by having "the code of our society" show up all throughout the book. Having most people be racist, and having the same views as everyone else. Harper Lee made a good decision adding this into the book, and also in deciding to put it towards the end of the novel.
ReplyDeleteEarlier in the book, explaining the 'code of society' would not have had as much of an affect as during the trial. When the 'code of society' is revealed during the trial, it gives even more reason of why Tom Robinson is innocent and why Mayella Ewell should be found guilty. It proves that no matter what Atticus says and proves, the society is not going to change their views on Tom Robinson simply because he is black. Harper Lee made a smart choice to include the 'code of society' later in the book rather than earlier because it made the court case more serious. It proved exactly that what Mayella did was un-speakably wrong, but Tom Robinson was still going to be blamed because Mayella needed someone to blame it on.
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