In To Kill a Mockingbird, author Harper Lee certainly does develop the theme of family loyalty throughout her novel. She particularly develops it in line with her greater theme concerning development and maturity, which expresses her view that the South is slowly growing and changing and needs to grow and change more. As family members within the story grow and mature, they tend to drift apart, but still remain loyal to each other. It can be said that Lee is using this growth and maturity among family members to show that, just as one must remain loyal to one's family, one must also remain loyal to the South and believe it can improve as it grows and matures.
Multiple examples of family members growing and drifting apart can be found throughout the book. One example can be seen in Atticus's relationship with his sister, Alexandra. Atticus was raised in the same way Alexandra was, on a wealthy Southern farm that used to be worked by slaves. He was also raised to believe the Finches are an affluent family with a background that makes them superior to many around them. While Alexandra maintained these views, Atticus did not. Instead, he and his younger brother Jack were the first Finches to decide not to stay and work the farm, instead pursuing their own occupations as a lawyer and a doctor. As Atticus progressed on his own path away from his family, he developed his own views about equality and what characteristics a good person should own.
We learn Atticus's views of a good person through Scout who, in reflecting on her aunt's comments about "Fine Folks," thinks about how she has been taught that "Fine Folks were people who did the best they could with the sense they had" (Chapter 13). We further learn exactly how much Atticus and Alexandra disagree on views about their family background when she orders Atticus to discuss with his children the fact that they are the "product of several generation's gentle breeding," and the only reactions he receives from his children are tears and other signs of distress. Scout expresses her distress in the following:
For no reason I felt myself beginning to cry, but I could not stop. This was not my father. My father never thought these thoughts. (Ch. 13)
Scout's feelings of distress show us just how much Atticus disagrees with Alexandra; we can tell by Scout's distress that she has been taught the exact opposite. She has been taught not to think of herself as being above anyone else. Atticus and Alexandra further disagree when it comes to issues of race. Due to her racial prejudices that stem from being from a family whose ancestors owned slaves, Alexandra thinks it is disgraceful for Atticus to defend an African-American citizen.
Despite their disagreements, Alexandra shows genuine concern for Atticus's distress at the news that Tom Robinson had been shot by prison guards 17 times. Her concern for her brother's state of mind proves she believes in remaining loyal to him out of love, even though she disagrees with his actions. Plus, even though Atticus disagrees with Alexandra's racist views, he does not ask her to leave his house because he still feels she will be a good feminine influence for his children as they grow up, showing us Atticus also believes in remaining loyal to his sister, despite their disagreements.
Alexandra's views represent traditional views of the Old South, whereas Atticus's views represent a new system of belief in which everyone truly is considered equal. Harper Lee uses Atticus to portray the ways in which the South was beginning to change during this time period and to promote the need for changes to continue. Alexandra and Atticus's disagreements represent the disagreements between the Old South and the New South. But, more importantly, their loyalty to each other represents Lee's view that the people of the South still need to remain loyal to the South, despite the need for change.
If one were to argue the above in an essay, a thesis statement might look like the following: "Harper Lee uses the theme of family loyalty, despite family disagreements, to further develop her theme concerning loyalty to the South."
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