The Role of Racism and Social Injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird

860 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: to kill a mockingbird point of view on racism

Themes encountered in ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird.’

To Kill a Mocking Bird is a book that has been turned into a movie. The themes that are covered in this interesting book and movie ranges from racism, prejudice to social injustice which goes to show how human beings can be very cruel to fellow human beings simply because they are different from themselves. Tom Robinson’s trial further shows that in a society where the white race is seen to be superior, no other race mattered. This paper therefore is an analysis of the themes that emerge from the court proceedings of the Tom Robinson trial. It goes on to analyze how the content shapes the language used and how social identities, functions and relations are performed through language choices.

The movie ‘To kill a Mocking Bird’ is based on a novel under the same title. The story in the novel is about Scout Finch, her brother Jeremy and their widowed father Atticus who is a prominent lawyer in a little town of Alabama called Maycomb. Maycomb is suffering during the great depression but because Atticus is a prominent lawyer the family is reasonably well off compared to others in the little town of Maycomb. Life was hard and there existed a distinct social hierarchy amongst the white community in Maycomb. Slavery was a norm and the relationship that existed between the black and white was only that which could be expected in such circumstances and nothing beyond.

The white community in Maycomb is very racist. When Atticus agreed to defend Tom Robinson a black man accused of raping a white women named Mayelle ewell, his family is subjected to abuse from other children and the white community even to the extent of ruining their Christmas celebrations. However, because the Finches black...

... middle of paper ...

...r normal nor accepted. Racism

Throughout the entire novel, the use of a non-standard form of English is evident. The use of “I got something to say and then I aint gonna say no more’ by Mayelle indicates not only the class in social hierarchy that she represents but the fact that her educational background is quite limited. In fact according to the novel, Mayelle and her family are amongst the lowest and of course the poorest in the white community.

Everyone knows who the Ewells are in the community and to even think that she had the courage to accuse Tom Robinson, of raping her is unthinkable. She in fact, came up with the whole lie about Tom Robinson in order to cover her shame of tempting Tom Robinson and to indirectly raise her standard as with her current status, she is just as good as a black even with her white skin texture.

Show More
Related

  • How Is Racism Shown In To Kill A Mockingbird

    830 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, racism is a major theme. Atticus Finch, the narrator’s father, defends a negro, Tom Robinson, in the court of law against a white man, Bob Ewell. Robinson had reportedly raped a young white girl, Mayella Ewell. But according to Robinson he had gone to help Mayella, as he often did, with work around the house. As he starts helping Mayella, she tries to get Tom to kiss her and will not let him out of the house. Bob Ewell sees this and chases Tom out of the house and accuses him of raping his daughter. Atticus goes against almost everyone in Maycomb County’s opinion in defending Tom Robinson. Throughout the course of the novel, racism effects many characters such as Tom and Helen Robinson, Scout and Jem Finch, and Mayella and Bob Ewell. All these characters had there lives

    Read More

  • Racism, Discrimination, and Social Class Explored in To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    song, we characterize it only by what the other birds sing. Hence, we see the

    Read More

  • Tom's Guilt In To Kill A Mockingbird

    455 Words  | 1 Pages

    During the entire testimony, the jury is composed of white men only who view the testimony with a general stereotype of black men. Mayella Ewell is the object of racism as Atticus says,

    Read More

  • Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sum up, the social relationship between these people here, this old town Maycomb is complicated and pretty tense. This novel has taught us so much, thanks to Harper Lee – one of the greatest writers of all time. It has opened our eyes wider about racism at that time and compared it to nowadays it has become so much better. People are equally, no matter what skin color you are, what religion you have, or where you’re from, what you’re appearance looks like, we are all equal, and we are all the same – human. So instead of treating badly to one another we should all united and make the world a better place.

    Read More

  • To Kill a Mockingbird - Equality

    618 Words  | 2 Pages

    Few people are the same as they are on the street in their homes. Few people can treat others equally; no matter what colour their skin is. Atticus Finch is one of those precious few. Racism in the town of Maycomb is nothing but disguised by the polite smiles and ladies missionary meetings; although it is the strongest belief that each person of the town holds apart from some such as Atticus. Racism is an issue of great importance, yet to the eye of a visitor waltzing through, it's just a slight whisk of air.

    Read More

  • Racial Prejudice and Oppression in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

    2110 Words  | 5 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee's only novel, is a fictional story of racial oppression, set in Maycomb, A.L. in 1925 to 1935, loosely based on the events of the Scottsboro trials. Unlike the story however, the racial discrimination and oppression in the novel very accurately portrays what it was like in the 1920's and 1930's in the south. Tom Robinson, the black man accused of raping a poor low class white girl of 19, never stood a chance of getting a fair trial. This can be supported by giving examples of racially discriminatory and oppressive events that actually took place in the south during the time period in which the novel is based. In addition to actual historical events, events and examples from the book that clearly illustrate the overpoweringly high levels of prejudice that were intertwined in the everyday thinking of the majority of the characters in the book supports the fact that Tom Robinson never stood a chance of getting a fair trial.

    Read More

  • Differences in Social Classes in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    858 Words  | 2 Pages

    Therefore, through the uses of character foil, characterization, and the theme of society in equality, Lee was able to accurately depict her view of the white society in Maycomb by the characters in this novel. The difference in level of politeness, occupation, and behaviors implies how people like the Finches are representing higher social class in Maycomb, because they do not prejudge people based on their skin color.

    Read More

  • Racial Injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird

    1321 Words  | 3 Pages

    In a desperate attempt to save his client, Tom Robinson, from death, Atticus Finch boldly declares, “To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 271). The gross amounts of lurid racial inequality in the early 20th century South is unfathomable to the everyday modern person. African-Americans received absolutely no equality anywhere, especially not in American court rooms. After reading accounts of the trials of nine young men accused of raping two white women, novelist Harper Lee took up her pen and wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, a blistering exposition of tragic inequalities suffered by African Americans told from the point of view of a young girl. Though there are a few trivial differences between the events of the Scottsboro trials and the trial of Tom Robinson portrayed in To Kill a Mockingbird, such as the accusers’ attitudes towards attention, the two cases share a superabundance of similarities. Among these are the preservation of idealist views regarding southern womanhood and excessive brutality utilized by police.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Racial Injustice

    345 Words  | 1 Pages

    Racism has always been a controversial topic in history. All people face racism, no matter what race you are, and it’s an injustice. Racism is a major issue in today’s society, because … THESIS STATEMENT

    Read More

  • The Theme of Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most important events in the book was Tom Robinson’s trial, which was unfairly judged due to the fact that the jury could not see beyond the color of Tom’s skin. The put their own racist opinions ahead of what is right and just. One of the most important events in the novel circulated around racism. However, the most focused on point of Tom’s life was not the only point in his life where racism has been shown towards him. The Ewell’s are a major source of racism towards Tom. Whenever Mayella Ewell wanted Tom to help her, she was rude to him whereas Tom was very kind to her. Tom was even nice enough to refuse payment of his work for her since he saw that she was poor and realized she needed the money. For his kindness, Tom is returned with bitterness with the only reason for this being because of the color of his skin.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird

    2121 Words  | 5 Pages

    One of the widely recognized controversies in American history is the 1930s, which housed the Great Depression and the post-civil war, the ruling of Plessy versus Ferguson and the Jim Crow Laws, and segregation. While textbooks detail the factual aspect of the time there is only one other literature that can exhibit the emotion experienced in the era. To Kill a Mockingbird is the acclaimed novel that displays the experiences of the South, through inequality and segregation, social class differences and the right to fairness. The novel’s experiences are narrated through a grown Scout, who appears as a little girl in the novel, offering her innocent views on the happenings in Maycomb County. The most observed aspect of the novel is race and racism; with Tom Robinson’s trial being the prime focus of the novel, the issue of race is bound to be discussed throughout the novel is race, racism and segregation; with Tom Robinson’s trial being the focus of the novel, the issue of race is heavily represented throughout the novel. With Mockingbird being a common book among English Language Arts and Literatures classrooms, the topic of race is bound to surface amid a young, twenty-first century group of student of students with the inevitability of this discussion, the question remains on how to approach the conversation as an educator. As an educator, one should seek to establish the context of the times, prepare the students for the conversation and examine the other characters and situations similarly to race. Educators must also be introspective before examining their students’ feelings, so that they are not surprised by their emotions and can also express their feelings to their students. The discussion should target a goal, one of examin...

    Read More

  • The Characters Of Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”-Martin Luther King Jr. This quote shows how racism is like darkness and hate and love and light are the only way to drive racism out. The story takes place at the time of the great depression. Scout lives in a very racist and judgement city in the south. A black male is accused of raping a white woman. Scouts dad Atticus gets appointed to be the defendant's lawyer. Racism is an antagonist in To Kill A Mockingbird because the white people of Maycomb discriminate the blacks and make them feel lesser. The theme racism can be harmful to everyone is shown by many characters throughout the book.

    Read More

  • Racism in To Kill A Mockingbird

    549 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tom Robinson’s trial, and in fact his entire life, was badly affected by racism. It is truly a testament to the corruption of society when a person who has earned a bad reputation is held in higher esteem than a person who was born with it, as is the case with Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson. Even though Tom was obviously honest in his testament, the jury sided with Bob Ewell because he was white. They made this decision despite the fact that the Ewell family was widely known to be a worthless part of society. Jem, not being racially prejudiced, could not understand this mentality. As Atticus pointed out, “If you (Jem) had been on the jury, son, and eleven other boys like you, Tom would be a free man.”

    Read More

  • Relationships In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    “You aren’t a nigger-lover, then, are you?” “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody…” (Lee 108). While Atticus Finch tries to teach his children that all men are created equal, not everyone in Maycomb, Alabama feels that way. To Kill A Mockingbird is a story told from the perspective of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, whose family is constantly criticised because of her father’s choice to defend a black man in court. In the 1930’s white men and women felt they were superior to colored people, they talked of how Atticus Finch was ruining his family’s name by defending a negro. The story, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a story about the prejudice the people of Maycomb County had towards one another.

    Read More

  • Hypocrisy and Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

    461 Words  | 1 Pages

    Hypocrisy is as much a part of Maycomb’s society as church and community spirit. For example, Mrs. Merriweather talks about saving the poor Mruans from Africa, but she thinks black people in her community are a disgrace (p.234). The hypocrisy of this teaching is shown as soon as she mentions the word ‘persecution’. This is due to the fact that she herself is persecuting the black people of Maycomb by not raising an eyebrow at the killing of innocent black men. Furthermore, it is obvious Bob Ewell is abusive to his daughter, Mayella, and that he is the one who violated her, not Tom Robinson (p.178). Since there is such hypocrisy in Maycomb, there are excuses made for whites. The jury probably thinks that if they pronounce Tom innocent the citizens will mock them as they do to Atticus. Harper Lee uses hypocrisy to show how the people of Maycomb are so engulfed in a variety of elements that they unknowingly complete acts of unjustified discrimination.

    Read More

More about The Role of Racism and Social Injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird

Open Document