Examples Of Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird

910 Words2 Pages

Injustice of people based on race
“...my father had fought for him all the way.’ Then Mr. Underwood’s meaning became clear: Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case.’ Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (pg. 323). The trial is shown as injustice because an innocent man goes to jail. Injustice isn’t just shown in the trial it’s shown throughout the whole book, multiple characters (like Tom Robinson, Atticus, Dolphus Raymond) in To Kill A Mockingbird were discriminated against due to the color of their skin and who they associated with.
Even though Dolphus Raymond, Boo Radley, Mayella Ewell and more faced injustices in the book the one that affected everyone whether good or bad was Tom Robinsons trial. His trial was merely based off of the color of his …show more content…

Atticus, Scout and Jem becomes more aware of the prejudice in Maycomb County when a black man, Tom Robinson is accused of doing something he didn’t do. Atticus loses his case and he along with Scout and Jem learn that blacks cannot have a fair trial, Jem has a hard time coping with this. However, they do learn through this process not to assume someone’s character without knowing the first, such as Boo Radley. “...Atticus, he was real nice…’...most people are, Scout, when you finally see them” (pg. 376). Scout and Jem’s view of their father changes from the beginning of the story, where they view Atticus as an old lawyer and that all he does is work and read to the end where they realizes that their father is really a good man. The events/conflicts in the novel, big or small all connect to Scout and Jem’s life. In just a few years, they grow from being an innocent young girl and boy to mature adults. These events have made them more aware of the world around them, and as a result they lose their

Examples Of Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird
859 Words | 2 Pages
In the novel, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee some characters suffer in the hands of justice and fairness more than others. Many characters in the novel are discriminated against such as Calpurnia, Dolphus Raymond, Helen Robinson, Burris Ewell and more. However I will be focusing on the discrimination against Tom Robinson for his race, Walter Cunningham for his low socioeconomic status and Boo Radley for the rumors and supposed mental instability he holds. I chose those three because they are the most prominent and I will discuss how the discrimination against the characters therefore leads to their injustice or unfairness.
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Injustices In To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
1174 Words | 3 Pages
There have been many famous pieces of literature, but one that stands out is the 1960's classic To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. Lee, who only wrote one book in her life time, wrote of prejudice, injustice, and racism in the 1930's. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the Deep South in the 1930's. To Kill a Mockingbird is a story in which a black mad is accused of doing something he didn't do. During the whole story some of the two of the main characters, Jem Finch and Jean Lousie Finch, grow up in there mind but, are still of young age. Different things happen along the way but the story is based on what happens to Tom Robinson the black man. It seems like so muck is going on at once but it isn't that hard to figure out that it is injustice. Injustice is a huge concept in this book; it is basically the prejudices and racism going on. In To Kill a Mockingbird there is lots of injustice and prejudice going on. Atticus Finch, Jean Lousie Finch, and Tom Robinson experience injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird.
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Atticus Finch Human Nature
1429 Words | 3 Pages
Atticus is a quiet, humble man who works to the best of his ability given his limited resources, and resolutely supports Tom Robinson’s side of the case, riling up his community imbued with discrimination. Without Atticus, the story would lose its equilibrium, and Jem and Scout would most definitely discard any insight they had into respecting humans for their unique qualities. Atticus supports the fact that, “Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are created equal,” (233), and he tries to use this saying to bolster his argument throughout the trial. Jem and Scout respect the fact that their father is so supportive of equality, but because Maycomb County is already so biased against the black race, nothing Atticus said could have made a difference. After the trial comes to an end, Atticus tries to help the children process the evil essence of Bob Ewell: “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute ... if spitting in my face and threatening me saved
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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
571 Words | 2 Pages
Throughout history, racism has played a major role in social relations. In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, this theme is presented to the reader and displays the shallowness of white people in the south during the depression. The assumption that Blacks were inferior is proved during the trial of Tom Robinson. Such characteristics served to justify the verdict of the trial. In this trial, Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell and is found guilty.
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To Kill A Mockingbird A Villain Analysis
614 Words | 2 Pages
The dominating theme of racial discrimination is clearly evident throughout the book. Unfortunately, the society itself is the ultimate cause of such dilemma. Maycomb County is segregated into the hardworking, honest black people, and the privileged and prejudiced white people. The long hold racist attitude towards the black people are unforgiving as they have not been recognised as human beings, and are treated inhumanely. When Tom Robinson; a respectful black man is wrongfully accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell, Atticus is assigned to fight for Tom in the trial. Due to Atticus being a white man ...
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Life Lessons in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
778 Words | 2 Pages
A small city nestled in the state of Alabama, Maycomb has got its faults, just like any other place in the world, but one of its main faults or (pg.88) “Maycomb's usual disease,” as Atticus calls it in the book is prejudice. Jem and Scout learn a lot about prejudice when a black man named Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell and their father, Atticus, is called on to be his lawyer. They realize the hate that people have buried deep within their heart when they see a black man accused of doing something only because of his color. On pg.241, Scout starts understanding this and thinks, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” As the case continues, up until the death of Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout learn more and more about prejudice and how the hate that people have towards others causes them to take wrong actions. They also see how unfair it is that a white man can get treated better and think of himself better than a black man only because he was born white. This prejudice and the trial cause Jem and Scout to get in argum...
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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 preform injustice. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is full of injustice. During this time period, everyone looked down on blacks and women, which makes Maycomb one in the same with the discriminators. In particular, the people in Maycomb looked down on Tom Robinson, and many others looked down on Scout. Around the Finch household, Aunt Alexandria always tries to do away with Calpurnia, the black housekeeper and cook as Alexandria says, “We don’t need her (Calpurnia) now.” (182). Injustices in Maycomb include the case of Tom Robinson, the way Aunt Alexandra treats Calpurnia, and the way people treat Scout.
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Supporting Characters' Impacts in To Kill A Mockingbird
963 Words | 2 Pages
It was clear based on the evidence that Tom was innocent, but with the jury consisting of only white men in 1930's Alabama, they decided to convict Tom only because it was a white man's word against a black man's. This upsetted Jem and Scout as they were sure that Tom and Atticus would win the case. It made them realize that people with prejudice will make unfair decisions, even when it's clear that they are making the wrong decision: "...but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed." (Lee 323). Seeing this changes Jem and Scout's perception of the people living in Maycomb, as they start to question whether the people of Maycomb were as good-hearted as they thought. Nowadays, there would not be racial prejudice in a courtroom, however the jury that was biased during Tom's trial could be the modern equivalents of people who use racial profiling, racial bias, and stereotyping. The kids and the reader learn that people who make judgements and decisions based on prejudice are people who should not be considered
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Coming Of Age Moments In To Kill A Mockingbird
716 Words | 2 Pages
By Jem recognizing the injustice of his town, Maycomb, his character is able to develop maturity. Jem is a growing young boy who is struggling with the harsh words against his father because of the trial. His father, Atticus is a wise man who sees around the conflicts of the town and as for Jems little sister, Scout she is also a child who is under the influence of those around her. Consequently Jem was stunned by the trail and the cruel way whites treated blacks, Jem states, “ Atticus” Jem said bleakly. He turned around. “ What, son?” “ How could they do it? How could they?” There petite house allows Scout to over hear many of Atticus and Jem’s Conversation, she questions herself on weather Jem is interested in the case or not. Although at this point Jem is emotionally involved to the trial. The case consists of a black man named Tom Robinson who was accused of being sexual active with a young white woman called by the name Mayella . Mayella Ewell comes from a very poor family that treats others with rude manners and no respect. Her father
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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.
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Theme Of Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird
1573 Words | 4 Pages
A possible reason as to why the book was called “To Kill a Mockingbird” is because a mockingbird is a harmless and innocent animal. Therefore, when it is killed, peace is disturbed. In the story, Tom Robinson, a black man, was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Due to this, innocence and peace have been disturbed.
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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.
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Unveiling Injustice in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'
527 Words | 2 Pages
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest” Ellie Wiesel. Readers may find the amount of injustice in Harper lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird a little shocking. This could be why it’s such a popular book. People like the suspense of knowing someone’s right, but still being found guilty for something they did not do. There are many times throughout the book when people are powerless to prevent injustice but they still protest it. This shows that even when people unjustly punish there should always be someone to protest it. The theme of injustice is a common one in harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, whether it be through racism, misinformation, or Arrogance.
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Importance Of Moral Education In To Kill A Mockingbird
1126 Words | 3 Pages
Throughout the novel, readers see the good and the evil come out of most people. Tom Robinson is a black man accused of raping a young white girl named Mayella Ewell, yet he is innocent. Atticus Finch
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Examples Of Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird
933 Words | 2 Pages
Everyone should follow Scout’s example. Atticus has taught his daughter some of the most extremely significant lessons humans lack today. Scout is young and innocent; she sees the world in extravagant gray, not exclusive black and white. Throughout To Kill A Mocking Bird, Scout obtains understanding of justice to the innocent, hypocrisy, manners and understanding others.
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Examples Of Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird