Gender, race, and class in Go set a watchman and to kill a mockingbird

Gender, race and class studies explain how societies establish and maintain inequalities in different settings. When it comes to exploring moral dilemmas and social justice, American literature continues to be among the most influential bodies of works. This paper examines the complex relationship between gender, race and class in Harper Lee's novels Go Set a Watchman and To Kill a Mockingbird through the lens of intersectionality theory coined by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw. The use of intersectionality theory in the context of these works is notable due to its focus on how intertwined, multiple identities interact to form characters' experiences of privilege or oppression. In order to demonstrate those instances, the analysis aims to examine struggles characters in the novels face in navigating their intersecting identities within the confines of their social environment, particularly the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Movement. By using particular excerpts from the novels, this research pays special attention to power relations and social dynamics in the fictional Maycomb County where plots are set.