Examples Of Classism In To Kill A Mockingbird

698 Words2 Pages

To Kill a Mockingbird All men are created equal. Although many believe this statement to be true, some do not. I’d like to believe that as a species, we have grown not just physically but mentally. Unfortunately, while we have gotten better, we’re not quite there yet. In 2018, acts of racism and discrimination are occurring as we speak. As we look back at our history and learn every year about events that we, as young adults of this generation, couldn’t possibly stop, we need to realize the fact that in order to completely mature and grow as human beings, we must learn from the past, and the only way to learn about it is to read about it. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird conveys this message with little to no mistakes. Although the novel is fictional, it tackles some very real problems. Classism is an occurring theme and racism is practically being shoved down your throat every time you turn the page. This might make the story difficult to read for some, because back in 1933, this act of hate was acceptable. Even though there are plenty examples of racism in the times we live in, it’s …show more content…

There is indeed an upper class, middle class, and a lower class that are all determined by wealth and ethnicity. Even if you are a rich black man, you are still labeled as being on the lower class. The Finch household had only one person who was making money and that was Atticus Finch, who just might be one of, if not the only person who wasn’t a complete racist. Atticus was a very prosperous lawyer who held ethical morals and raised exceptional children. He was respected by his community but not because he was one of the greatest gunslingers in his heyday. He was respected and looked up to because a was a white, man who came across a decent amount of money every couple of weeks. Fortunately, all ethnicities respect him which makes him an easy authority to feel relaxed

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Hypocrisy In To Kill A Mockingbird

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a remarkable novel following the childhood of Jem and Scout, the son and daughter of Atticus Finch. Living in a small and drama filled town of Maycomb County they encounter a great deal of people who do not stand by their word. Hypocrisy occurs throughout this novel first by a man named Dolphus Raymond, then by two women Mrs. Merriweather and Miss Gates.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    There 's a point in everyone 's life when people are forced to wear a mask to hide their true selves. People want to fit into what they think is normal. Most of the time, the individual behind the mask is very different from what they are being perceived as. They can be evil and wicked, or they can be smart, loving, and caring. Characters in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee live through the Great Depression and Segregation. They all have qualities that make them unique in their own ways. In the town of Maycomb, Alabama, citizens are put under stereotypes all throughout the novel. Characters get assigned labels that aren 't entirely correct. Dolphus Raymond, Mayella Ewell, and Boo Radley are all products of what it looks

    Read More

  • Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Controversial

    627 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another controversial aspect of the book would be the use of the word "nigger" and its being in the book over 200 times creates constant scrutiny. I feel the word was not used to be racist and its usage in the book gives great representation of the way life was during the pre-civil war era. People need to grasp the concept that that's how black were treated then. In today's society, we would find quotes such as, "Good gracious! Was anybody hurt?" "No'm. Just a nigger," APPALING! But in fact, it was written in an earlier time setting when quotes like that were okay to say.

    Read More

  • Utilitarianism: Jim Doesn T Kill One Indians

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jim is in a predicament of whether or not he should kill one Indian to save the other nineteen that are tied up against the wall. If Jim decides to kill just one Indian, it would be for the greater good, and could be the correct thing to do. If Jim doesn’t kill any Indians himself, but they all get killed because of Pedro or the captain; then morally, for Jim, it could also be the correct thing to do.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Essays: Discrimination and Prejudice

    1388 Words  | 3 Pages

    Discrimination and prejudice were very common acts in the early and middle 1900's. Prejudice in this book is displayed by the acts of hate and misunderstanding because of someone's color. People of color were the majority that were treated unfairly. During this time in the southern states, black people had to use separate bathrooms, drinking fountains, sections in restaurants, churches, and even go to separate schools. Although much of the discrimination was directed towards blacks, there were plenty of accounts towards impoverished families by those that had money. Discrimination is prevalent when people that are different are called names. Some people thought blacks were automatically dumb because of their color. They weren't allowed to do anything but menial tasks (such as chopping wood) and hard labor because they were thought too dumb.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Judgement In To Kill A Mockingbird

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    different social class were crucial. Class structure exist in the novel during the 1930s from the Finches who are in the highest class in the black community who are at the bottom. Atticus Finch, a character from To kill a Mockingbird defends Tom Robinson, an African American, who is

    Read More

  • Jim Crow Laws In Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry

    393 Words  | 1 Pages

    One way the novel accurately interpreted the tragedies in the Civil Rights Movement is when it displays the Jim Crow laws. For example, in the book the Logans could not ride a bus to school because the white children were using it. One of the Jim Crow laws stated that African Americans had to give their bus seats up to whites. The book clearly illustrates the Jim Crow laws in

    Read More

  • Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird

    722 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history, men have looked down on blacks and women. But this does not justify the view that blacks and women are below white men. When people look down on blacks and women, they perform injustice. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is full of injustice.

    Read More

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

    858 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is acknowledged by many readers that there are many different social classes in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. One of the most obvious social class distinctions is between skin colors, which can be seen through this novel. Since most readers’ focal point of this novel is on the distinctions between skin colors, they are unlikely to pay attention to the difference in social class within the white community. Lee wants to illustrate a contrast in white society and how characters behave differently through the uses of character foil, characterization, and the theme of society inequality in order to emphasize the differences in social classes.

    Read More

  • The Plight of the Black Man is Caused by the White Man

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the course of years, the black man has become free from the white man's oppression. This significant extremity of history is one of the most important building blocks our nation. We as a people have learned and grown from the knowledge of the harsh treatments of blacks as slaves. Although the world has yet to completely rid itself of all racial injustice and prejudice, the seemingly appearance of the release of from the fetter of society is a mere step in the right direction. The plight of the black man has lasted from the very beginnings of the founding of our young nation, they have been enslaved and neglected, culture and people-wise. The oppressor of a unique and different race is the Caucasians, who in numerous circumstances have been the overseer of degradation of many. All men are created equal, what does this phrase mean to the masses of the people? Strictly defining, some people assume that men refer to the men who wrote the constitution and what constitutes the color of the skin. This however is not applicable to the race of the African American.

    Read More

  • All Men Are Created Equal

    620 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Lula stopped, but she said, ‘ You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillum here---they got their church, we got our’n it is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?’” (Lee 158). This question from Lula directed at Cal shows the large difference in way of life between the upper and lower class. She shows that the upper and lower class do not interact with each other and do not quite get along. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, equal creation is not often seen in social classes with the large gap between upper and lower class, but this division between the classes can be crossed. The upper and lower classes have a hard time understanding one another with their large differences in way of life, but the position of upper and lower class is not permanent to a person.

    Read More

  • Social Class In To Kill A Mockingbird

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird expresses the ideology that the social standard of a particular individual, classifies their status in the world. Individuals placed in social classes are labeled to create a sense of social identity. The socio-economic class an individual is born into should not be the determining factor of how the individual is regarded and treated, however, their character and personality should be a primary factor in determining how they are thought of in society.

    Read More

  • Bernard Marx In Brave New World

    1596 Words  | 4 Pages

    This novel went against many ideals at the time since it was published in 1932 and most readers were more conventional and did not accept newer ideas like in today’s society.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Censorship In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1145 Words  | 3 Pages

    Some believe that having strong themes like this, have a negative impact on a youths mind. These are strong and powerful themes that have a great significance in society. Think about from this perspective. Who reads to kill a mocking bird and leaves promoting rape, promoting lynching, believing racism is fair. The answer is no one. Harper Lee positioned the reader to see a serious situation through the eyes of a young girl. All she knows in life is what she’s read, what her father has told her and what those around her have said. This has positioned lee in an offensive position against the justification of these themes. Harper Lee didn’t promote rape, she addressed the problem it has on society, in order to combat it. We can’t just act like it never happened. The same way we can’t shun Anne Frank’s diary for talking about the holocaust, or the crucible for addressing witch trials. These were serious events that shaped society. If we blocked out any information of the actions of Hitler, how can we be sure another person wont follow in his footsteps. These novels don’t tell the reader what to believe, rather show them the impact events like this have on us. If student were never exposed to the impact of racism and profanity in novels like this how can we know that the next generation will not believe that white supremacy is the right thing to believe in. These books are a gateway to a better tomorrow, and aren’t taught to students because they are fun and exciting, because they certainly aren’t, but to educate the bulk of society what is morally

    Read More

  • Racism In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    The N-word has become a grand controversy because the word is repeated over 200 times and often offends readers. The use of the word especially by a young child shows how it was part of everyday vocabulary during the time period but shows readers how much African Americans were degraded then. Racism has become almost second nature to many white Americans that they are able to use the n-word casually in daily language. Racism is still an unconscious thought for many today and readers are able to see throughout the novel, it is very difficult to fix the unconscious habit. It is evident that the whites had a deep hatred for the blacks which resulted in a scene where the whites were extremely gullible because they are always willing to believe that a fault was committed by a slave and do not consider the fact that a white person could have easily been the one at fault. In the scene everyone believed the con artists that the slaves were the ones who stole the money made it a lot easier for the cons to escape with the family fortune

    Read More

More about Examples Of Classism In To Kill A Mockingbird

Open Document