Gender, Race, and Class in Go Set a Watchman and To Kill a Mockingbird

Abstract

Analyses of gender, race, and class reveal how inequalities are created and sustained in various contexts. American literature remains one of the most influential bodies of works in terms of representing social justice and moral dilemmas, providing crucial insights into key perspectives on these identity categories. Guided by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality, this thesis explores the complex interactions between gender, race, and class in Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman and To Kill a Mockingbird. The intersectional analysis of these novels is significant in its focus on how interconnected, multiple identities interact to shape characters’ experiences of oppression or privilege. The analysis seeks to explore how characters navigate their multiple identities within the constraints of their social environments – specifically, the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Movement – demonstrating that the combination of identities they embody determines their social positions and experiences. Particular attention is given to power dynamics and social relations in the fictional Maycomb County highlighting how these forces shape social roles and individual agency. Ultimately, the thesis emphasizes how Lee’s works contribute to broader discussions about racism, gender, and justice in American literature, drawing on specific examples from both novels.