Propriety means conforming to a social standard. When we refer to society, its almost implicit in its meaning that there are expected standards and norms in each society.
The citizens of Maycomb serve several purposes and uses in TKAM. Lee uses the town to demonstrate a caste system (easily seen in almost any society) that affects the relationships of the people within the different classes. Further, she uses the society to show what's acceptable and what wasn't. For example, she used Dolphus Raymond to show the people's disdain for mixed relationships. She used the ladies Missionary Society to illustrate the judgment and hypocracy that marked the post-slavery South.
The norms demonstrated here were to stay within your class' expectations of behavior, and not to mix races under any circumstances. These norms portrayed the immorality of that society at that time.
No comments:
Post a Comment