To Kill a Mockingbird Essay
Prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. This individual definition of a word is a major theme in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Someone being prejudice about someone else is the reason for most of the characters actions. It is shown through Tom Robinson’s trial, the communities view of Boo Radley and Mayella Ewell. This is why Harper Lee portrays how damaging prejudice can be.
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was set in Maycomb County, Alabama. It was highly racist and equality was not present at the time. This novel shows the way that black people were treated in the 1960’s such as them; being forced to go to different churches and not being able to go to school. Some black people
…show more content…
had poorly paid jobs and worked as domestic servants, but the hardest circumstances they were put in was when they were charged for doing something against a white person, because when they were on trial pleading for innocence they would always take the white persons verdict over them, no matter the amount of evidence, it would be the skin colour that would determine the outcome.
This specific circumstance was shown in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ when Tom Robinson was accused of rape against a white female, Mayella Ewell. Before his trial there was a lot of racism towards the blacks. Whites were always given more rights than them. They got successful jobs and could make black peoples’ lives misery, especially if they were caught doing something against the law with a black person by lying in court under oath about serious matters, which can end up getting the black person killed. The people around Maycomb use a common word for a black person, which is nigger. Scout doesn’t understand racism, she would call someone a nigger instead of a Negro because of the school environment she grew up in as well as her neighbourhood, so when she was told it was wrong she didn’t understand why at first. But when she learns more about Attics’ job being a lawyer and him defending a black man, she realises that it was an offensive word and because more aware of her actions and also the people around her this is shown when she "collars" Cecil Jacobs for saying …show more content…
"He's nothin' but a nigger-lover!" about Atticus, but he repeats it again and Scout is enraged and waits for him to come out and once he does she punches him in the teeth.
Atticus then talk to Scout about being a nigger love "Scout," said Atticus, "nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything—like snot-nose. It's hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody." "You aren't really a nigger-lover, then, are you?" "I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you." Atticus experience a huge amount of racism when defending Tom Robinson, his children were threatened and his reputation deteriorated. He still defended him through all that and even knowing that he wouldn’t win. "There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads --they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life." Jem realised the seriousness of racism when Tom Robinson was killed, Atticus replied, "Tom
Robinson's a colored man, Jem. No jury in this part of the world's going to say 'We think you're guilty, but not very' on a charge like that. It was either a straight acquittal or nothing." Harper Lee showed how one event could change people’s opinions dramatically in the novel. Before Tom Robinson’s trial people didn’t realize how inhumane they treated black people and how they would so easily choose whites over blacks. In the trial it was majorly racist. I believe the message that Lee was trying to get across to us in this novel was that no matter where we are, who we are and what we live in racism will always be around us, and we have to try and change that and treat everyone equally. Boo Radley lived a life of extreme prejudice. He was also portrayed as a monster and Scout and Jem saw him to be like a boogie monster. The town all had a picture made up in their head
Not only were blacks referred to as “niggers” but, anyone associated with them, except for slave masters, were called, “nigger” lovers. An example of this is that a character named Atticus Finch is defending a black person named Tom Robinson in court. Because he is doing this, most people in town are calling him a “nigger” lover. Not only are the adults saying it, but their children are saying it too. Since Atticus is defending this man, he has also tried to been jumped many time also. But Atticus makes a very interesting point during the court case. “The witnesses for the state have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted. Confident that you gentlemen, would go along with them on one assumption, the evil assumption, that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are immoral beings, that all Negroes are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that of one mind of their caliber.
was Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. In this novel Atticus is defending Tom Robinson in his case. He was called a, “Nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything—like snot-nose. It's hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves…. I certainly am [a nigger-lover]. I do my best to love everybody” (Lee 144). This quote illustrate how Atticus has nothing against colored people and treats them as how he would treat his normal clients. During his court trial, the white people kept on questioning why he defends Tom Robinson. “’If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doin' it?’ ‘For a number of reasons,’ said Atticus” (Lee 100). Atticus knows that society wouldn’t accept his actions and thus, he is practicing civil disobedience. Like King, Finch also practice civil disobedience in the name of
Towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus decides to represent a colored man by the man of Tom Robinson, who is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. Atticus believes that Tom is innocent, but he does not think that Tom will be found not guilty because of they way the townsfolk treat colored people. They treat them like dirt; like they are worth nothing. Atticus went ahead and represented Tom despite the fact that he knew the townsfolk would call himself and his children names and treat them disrespectfully. Even Scout’s relative Francis said rude things about them. “‘I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-...’ ‘Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.’” Atticus set a good example for Scout and Jem. He had a difficult decision to make, but he chose what he thought was
Throughout the time approaching the trial, Atticus is commonly called a, “N****r Lover.” Mrs. Dubose even says, “Yes indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I'll tell you! Your father's no better than the n****rs and trash he works for” (Lee 135). This quote shows the strong hatred that the citizens have toward the Negroes and anyone who supports them. They have this strong hatred for the Negroes for no real reason other than their skin color. Scout realizes what is going on with the racist remarks and cruel comments, but can not understand how one human could be so mean to another. However, the evils related to race are not the only evils that Scout experiences during the
Prejudice is defined as an "opinion formed without taking the time and care to judge fairly".In the novel 'To kill a mocking bird' there are several themes present like growing up, bravery and prejudice, but the main theme in this book is prejudice.
racism in the society is not as strong as it used to be but it is
Prejudice is arguably the most prominent theme of the novel. It is directed towards groups and individuals in the Maycomb community. Prejudice is linked with ideas of fear superstition and injustice.
Atticus Finch does not let anyone else's opinion affect what his beliefs are. In chapter eleven of "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus explains to Scout what a "nigger-lover" is. He tells Scout, "It's hard to explain-ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want to use a common, ugly term to label somebody" (Lee 113). Obviously, Atticus doesn't believe the term is funny or clever. The southern town of Maycomb, Alabama had adopted this term as a racial slur. All throughout the trial of Tom Robinson, racist white people judged Atticus for defending a black man. This racism has now been transferred into schools across the country.
In the novel, Atticus defends a colored individual in a racist and sexist society. He willingly accepts the responsibility of defending Tom Robinson; a man accused of raping and abusing a white woman named, Mayella Ewell. Atticus accepts the label ‘nigger lover’ and takes the case knowing he is going to lose no matter how hard he tries to succeed. His simple objective is that he could stand in front of Jem and Scout with dignity and be a good role model. Atticus says ‘I wanted you to see what real courage is...You rarely win, but sometimes you do.’ (pg. 149) By saying this he means that it’s not always about winning something, losing can also be beneficial. In this situation Atticus also shows how he takes a road many others wouldn't have taken: everyone else would want to hear that he or she has won the case instead of losing in front of the jury and all who came to see. Living in the racist and prejudice society of Maycomb, Atticus knows people will believe a white person over a black person because...
Prejudice is a real life problem in the world. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee describes the prejudices found in a small American town in the 1930's. Race, social class, and gender are examples of prejudice.
Prejudice is defined as an opinion formed without taking the time and care to judge fairly. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are several themes presented like bravery, prejudice, and growing up. The main theme in this novel though is prejudice. In the book, it is not just a case of black and white, but the entire novel is about prejudice in many forms, including class, gender and racial prejudice. Throughout the story, we see all these events in a young girl’s eyes named Scout.
(Lee 232). Atticus starts off by repeating the statement the white community addresses on Negroes, that they are evil in every aspect of life, and therefore they should not be trusted by women and in the community overall. Then, Atticus turns the tables on to the people of the courtroom, telling them that they must have lied or done evil before too, henceforth, making other people of different races evil. The racism toward Tom Robinson makes him feel as if he is guilty of his race. The white community makes Tom’s innocence feel obstructed because he has been accused of a rape, as well as being told he is “evil” as well.
Prejudice is a strong word. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, a black man, Tom Robinson, was accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, and was brought to trial. There were distinct views concerning Tom Robinson's innocence – views influenced by prejudice. The townspeople of Maycomb believed in Tom's guilt while Atticus and the children believed in Tom's innocence.
Today, blacks are beaten down by the sense of racial injustices continually even though some feel it should be stopped. In chapter 20, Atticus says during his speech, “That all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women”(273). This quote directly hurts the African American community themselves in the sense that he says “all.” Jim crow would agree with this, confirming the inferiority of the blacks. Although, Atticus himself doesn’t believe this, he says it during the trial to furthermore elaborate on the innocence of Tom Robinson. According to PBS.com, “The (Jim Crow) laws affected almost every aspect of daily life, mandating segregation of schools, parks, libraries, drinking fountains, restrooms, buses, trains, and restaurants”(Freedom Riders). The daily life referred to in the quote above talks about today, everyday, and life in the 1930’s. The facilities that blacks were forced to use was worse, compared to those of the whites. The laws said “separate but equal treatment”, but apparently didn’t do so. Everywhere you go, you are moved by the racism seen and heard, because of the Jim Crow Laws of the 1930’s. In chapter 9, a conversation between Scout and Atticus start her (Scout’s) first experience of racism, “Do you defend niggers, Atticus?”I asked him that evening. “Of course I do. Don’t say nigger Scout. That’s common. “‘S what everybody at school says”(85(different book)). Scout goes to school and even in kindergarten, kids already discriminate those for their race. Cecil Jacobs picks on Scout only because Atticus is defending Tom Robinson. When people go to school everyday, they hear plenty of racist remarks and comments, but for some reason, nothing has been done to protect the rights of others. This racism has gone too far, and somehow, no one has done
Gilmer has his cross-examination with Thomas: “’Had your eye on her a long time, hadn’t you, boy?’ ‘No suh, I never looked at her.’ ‘Then you were mighty polite to do all that chopping and hauling for her, weren’t you, boy?’ ‘I was just tryin’ to help her out, suh’” (Lee To Kill a Mockingbird). Not only is this derogatory, but as an example of white supremacist attitude, it also puts the whole African-American society in the position of the inferior race which would give them the pressure that would make them fearfully subservient. How Thomas addresses Mr. Gilmer, a white man, by “sir” further demonstrates the fearfulness of the African-American community under the self-given authority of the white community. Furthermore, in the court case, Thomas is harassed and humiliated for expressing genuine pity for a woman who happened