Class Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Reflective Speech: Class Prejudice

Good morning/afternoon Mr. Walton and fellow conference members. Prejudice is the product of a deeply flawed society, it is an attitude of comprehensive intolerance, one that causes certain individuals to hold racial, gender-based and class pejoratives. Among prejudice lay an array of categories such as, race prejudice, gender prejudice and social class prejudice, with each of these descriptions of prejudice a recurring theme in modern literature and art alike. Social-class prejudice is a frighteningly common phenomenon that is entrenched in angst, perhaps it is this fear that has allowed such an attitude to be widely loathed, yet ever present. This discriminatory stance is existent in all facets of society,

As a contemporary theme, it is only natural that prejudice is a dominant theme in the illustrious contemporary classic; To Kill a Mockingbird. Here, Harper Lee exploits the 1930s Southern setting to artfully exhibit the theme of prejudice, demonstrating the profound adverse impact such an attitude has on society. This awarded novel divulges the tale of a lawyer’s fight to save a Negro man from imprisonment after he was accused of rape in the deeply Southern town of Maycomb. Class prejudice is a prevalent theme throughout, with many members of this community holding flagrant classist ideals. Perhaps most notable of these members, is Aunt Alexandra; with her unapologetic discriminatory statements and utter non-acceptance of any individual of lower class than her own central to her character. Throughout the text, Aunt Alexandra is resolute in her fight to ensure her family’s reputation, out of anxiety of

In the context of prejudice, this quote is essentially meaning that those individuals who dislike discrimination are also those who discriminate. This admirable philosophy seeks relevance in an age in which prejudice reigns supreme, with racism, classism and sexism fundamental issues in modern society. Further, this citation supports the notion that class prejudice is derived from fear. In that those who dislike (or fear) oppression, in the form of being regarded as a lowly class, are many who like to oppress, or strictly speaking, discriminate against lower classes. Napoléon’s words are germane to the theme of class prejudice; ascertaining that the cause of oppression lies in the dislike (or fear) of such. From such a reputable source, this quote is efficacious in presenting the issue of prejudice and its cause to the reader. Hence, this quote typifies the notion of fear causing prejudice and validates that this anxiety provides the basis for prejudice’s