Examples Of Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird

Have you ever wondered what discrimination could do to you? Have you ever seen the affects of racism in your society? Well Jem and Scout know what it can do in the book To Kill A MockingBird by Harper Lee. Scout and Jem are the children of Atticus Finch in Maycomb County. Their father Atticus is a lawyer and teaches them not to be racist or discriminatory towards others, but soon they realize the place they live in is full of racism, and everyone else if very racist. They have these realizations through multiple events that cause them to lose their innocent view of the world. Harper Lee depicts the theme of growth and maturity through two of the characters, Scout and Jem, as their views of society change through their exposure to discrimination.

One way Harper Lee depicts how Scout and Jem change their views is through the way that they realize the hate in their community.

Scout's cousin Francis is talking with Scout out in Aunt Alexandra's yard. He asks her questions about her father and starts to talk badly about him: “‘Nigger Lover’ he yelled”(110)! Francis says this about Atticus because he is defending Tom Robinson in court, and when a white person helps out a black person they are looked down on in this society. Scout has not yet realized this part of their society yet and is confused when Francis yells this about her father. After these events happened they force Scout to realize how people see her family as, especially her father. However, white people aren’t the only people who discriminate in their society: “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here-they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal”(158)? When Calpurnia brings Scout and Jem to her church they are greeted with a fair amount of hate from Lula, one of the church goers. When she refers to Scout and Jem she does so by saying white chillun, not even acknowledging them as normal children but as some foreign species. Lula even goes as far as to question if the church is still Calpurnia's as well because they see her as a traitor of sorts just by being near white people in public. This confrontation troubles Scout and Jem greatly because they were under the impression that church was a place where there

happiness, but their view changes as they realize how much hate is truly in their society.
Another way Harper Lee depicts how Scout and Jem change their views is through the way that Dolphus Raymond is characterized.

Dolphus Raymond is seen walking around as a drunk whenever he comes to town. Dill and Scout are walking out of the court and come across him. But after talking to him for a little while they realize something different: “‘Scout, it’s nothing but Coca-Cola’”( 267). The kids realize that all Dolphus is drinking is Coca-Cola instead of beer all the time. They grew up hearing stories about this man and about how he is all bad but in this one confrontation they realize the truth, he is just protecting his family. Because Dolphus is married to a black woman and has mixed kids, it’s basically a death sentence for him and his family: “‘I try to give ‘em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason. When I come to town, which is seldom, if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whiskey-that’s why he won’t change his ways’”(268). By giving his community a reason as to why he does the things that he does, it has saved his and his families lives. Scout and Jem are confused as to why someone would do this to themselves, but after Dolphus explains himself they understand him and their society a little bit

more.
The most important way that Harper Lee shows Jem and Scouts change of view is through the unfairness in the justice system. Atticus has been defending Tom Robinson for a long time since he was wrongly accused of rape, and has developed a very strong case. Atticus has managed to whittle away at the opponent's case due to the lack of evidence they have provided: “‘The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross-examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant. The defendant is not guilt, but somebody in this courtroom is’”(271). Atticus has presented to the court how Tom Robinson is not guilty in anyway. The kids both believe Tom will get off okay and be not guilty, but they still have a little to learn about their society. “‘Guilty… guilty… guilty… guilty…’”(282). Even though the evidence was greatly stacked in their favor Tom still lost only because he is black. No matter the circumstances in this society black people will always be charged guilty against the word of a white person. When Scout and Jem hear the news they can’t handle it and begin to cry over the unfairness in their society.
Scout and Jem's change of view can be traced back to their exposure to discrimination. Throughout the story the characterization of Dolphus Raymond, the unjust justice system, and their hateful community creates the mold that is the basis for their new point of view. Scout and Jem are greatly impacted throughout the story and their personalities and understandings of the society they live in change as they undergo these experiences. The lessons that can be learned by reading this story can connect with everyday life, by being able to identify discrimination after reading this book you will be able to stop it from happening in everyday life.