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How does culture shape identity in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, culture is defined as the beliefs, customs, arts, etc. of a particular society, group, place, or time. These factors play an important role in shaping the identity of individuals that is depicted throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. There are several scenes throughout the novel that depict young children using derogatory, racially charged comments. Cecil Jacobs announces to the schoolyard, "Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers" (Lee 48). Francis Hancock tells Scout, "He’s nothin’ but a nigger-lover!" (Lee 52). Even Scout is subjected to Southern culture when she says, "Well, Dill, after all he's just a Negro" (Lee 122). Their negative beliefs and feelings towards African Americans are greatly influenced by the prejudiced society they grow up in. Children are not inherently biased towards race, but are influenced by their surrounding culture, which shapes their identity. Cecil Jacobs and Francis Hancock were raised to believe that African Americans were inferior, which is expressed in their comments towards Scout. Scout continually hears racial slurs throughout her community and asks her father what terms such as "nigger-lover" mean. Atticus is concerned about how his children will react following the trial. He tells his brother,



"You know what’s going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease" (Lee 56).



Atticus mentioning "Maycomb's usual disease" refers to the community's prejudice against African Americans. He is worried that his children will become racist individuals like the majority of the citizens in Maycomb. Without experiencing a moral upbringing from their father, Scout and Jem could easily become prejudiced individuals because of the cultural influences from their community. 

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