Examples Of Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird

Prejudice, in itself is injustice, becomes a major player in the fight for justice when the forces of justice are antagonized. Through trials of court and mentality, Lee brings her characters and readers on a journey through the deep south to show the change of power and righteousness from prejudice to justice. In To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee utilizes the characters, settings, and conflicts in order to illustrate the impact of prejudice on justice.

Several key characters make evident through their actions that prejudice can overcome justice. Dolphus Raymond displays the effects of prejudice in that he hides the truth about his life so that the community will only attack him instead of his beloved kin. Dolphus felt he had to give others

a “reason” why they “don’t--like the way the way [he] lives” because he believes that they will “never, never understand” why he lives the way he does with his “mixed children” and married the love of his life, an African American woman(Lee 268).

Raymond showed how the amount of prejudice in the area caused him to be dishonest in his activities, all in an attempt to protect his family. This showed how in many instances, prejudice was more powerful than justice and truth. In court when even though Bob Ewell was a rubbish excuse for a man, and there was a lot of evidence to suggest that Tom was innocent, the jury still ruled Tom’s case guilty. Atticus was able to deduce that “Mr. Ewell could have beaten up Mayella”(Lee 238) because “the only good hand” Tom possesses is “his right hand.”(Lee 273) But the “jury never looks at” someone they’ve convicted, and “not one of them looked at Tom

Robinson” Judge Taylor sheepishly revealed verdict for the case, “Guilty...guilty...guilty…guilty...”(Lee 282) The court was supposed to be a place of justice and honestly, but when it came down to it, the fear of going against the prejudice present was more than the passion for justice. The court was supposed to be the place where all people are equal, and justice would be carried out, this showed that even the court couldn’t overtake the effects of prejudice.
The setting being set in the early to mid 1900s, showed how prejudice fuels the need for justice. Even after Tom died, the whole community still discriminated at him. After “Tom’s death,” the community deemed the horrid occurrence as “typical,” they thought it “typical” of a “n*****’s mentality to have no plan.”(Lee 322) The event showed how prejudice still prevailed even through the death of Tom, who represented the suppressed and innocent. The prejudice was still evident even after Tom’s death, if not maybe even stronger than when he was alive. This shows that the prejudice was still stronger than the justice. In the middle of the court session when Dill spoke out about how he couldn’t understand why Mr.Gilmer and the court was so cruel to Tom, since they are all people, in which are equal. Dill voiced out to Scout about how he “couldn’t stand“ how “hateful” Mr.Gilmer was to Tom(Lee 266). The young, unaware lad continued explaining that “it ain’t right,” even if Tom is “just a Negro,” to “do ‘em that way,” objectifying him in the one place where justice is supposed to be in a surplus(Lee 267). This is one of the first times someone speaks out about racial and social injustice along with prejudice, this showed how the prejudice angered those serving justice. The courtroom has finally exhibited some justice, this is because prejudice has provoked justice to take action.
The conflicts between the struggle for justice over prejudice, shows that in the end, justice overpowers prejudice to protect and right the wrongs for the innocent.

When in court Atticus gave a speech about how all men are created equal and that in the court all people are equal, how there is no sustainable evidence that Tom is guilty, along with explaining that Mayella was not innocent. Atticus pointed out that there is not “one iota of medical evidence” to prove that Tom could be guilty of the crime along with validly stating his well reinforced and supported opinion that “it was guilt that motivated” Mayella(Lee 271) to lie about the predicament of the incident where “she tempted a Negro” something their “society” deems “unspeakable” and unjust(Lee 272). In his aggravated, and rightfully so, state Atticus elaborated that “there is one way” in which “all men are created equal,” the court. Atticus explained that the court should do their duty and analyze the situation based on the evidence presented instead of biases. Although the verdict was guilty, this was a big step for all those invested in justice, it opened their eyes to the obvious and prevalent prejudice, akin to a horrendous act. When Boo killed Bob Ewell to protect the children because he was attacking them, Bob being the man that primarily influenced Tom’s death. Sheriff Tate and Atticus acknowledged that Bob, being the monster he was for manipulating the court and case in his favor against Tom his only

advantage being he is white, was finally dead, but since Boo, the elusive, but evidently caring man, who was also treated in a way akin to how Tom was, killed Bob with a knife to save the children from his grasp. Tate and Atticus were quite content that justice had been served, maybe not at the desired time but it occurred nonetheless, but they knew that people would talk about the innocently protective man, so they deemed it “clear-cut self defense”(Lee 365) and made up a story to “prove” that “Bob Ewell fell on his knife”(Lee 366) to cover for the already wrongly discriminated Radley lad in hopes of keeping the facade of his elusiveness to avoid more drama. Tate explained the predicament at hand being that “There’s a black boy dead for no reason” but also that now “the man responsible for it’s dead” so justice has finally been fulfilled and the only thing left now is to leave it alone and “let the dead bury the dead.”(Lee 369) Boo was an innocent man that brought justice when faced with the effects of prejudice, eminently saving innocence, Scout and Jem. Through Boo and his actions, it is shown that justice always makes itself evident, through any vessel, at the end, Scout brings Boo back home, implying change bringing innocence home, indicating the change of power from prejudice to the well portrayed justice.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee utilizes characters, setting, and conflicts in order to communicate the impact of prejudice on justice. Prejudice is a strong present force, but justice imminent prevails to right the wrongs and protect the innocent. Justice prevails in the face of prejudice to protect the innocent.