“Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”(135). In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Mrs. Dobose declared with finality and disgust, glaring at Jem and Scout as spittle flew from her mouth and onto their faces. As an old, unpleasant, and virulently racist member of the Maycomb community, Mrs. Dobose took it upon herself to educate the Finch children of their father’s unwise decision to defend the black man, Tom Robinson. Although the children had become almost accustomed to the insults and mockery aimed at Atticus, they had never heard them coming from an adult. It was at that moment that Scout finally understood the extent of racism in her little town. One of the main themes-racism- exists throughout the book as evinced by the unjust treatment and accusations Tom Robinson received, the impolite way Aunt Alexandra behaved towards Calpurnia, and the contempt with …show more content…
which the Americans treated and named the Negros. Firstly, racism strongly affected Tom Robinson’s trial. Although Mr. Ewell had earned an unpopular reputation as a dishonest man and his family was regarded with distaste, the jury sided with him just because he was white. They ignored Tom’s simple and obviously honest testaments, and made the decision based on the colour of his skin. Choosing a deceitful person’s words over a trustworthy person’s proved the jury’s biasness due to one’s race and skin colour. According to Tom, Mayella had first touched him and he tried to struggle away without hitting her. Mr. Ewell saw that and probably beat up Mayella, and then accused Tom to cover up his actions. Atticus Finch did his best to fight for Tom and give him a fair chance in the jury’s decision. However, they still chose to declare Tom guilty for harassment, for if they had believed Tom’s statement, that would have meant a huge scandal with a white kissing a black. “[men] couldn’t be fair if they tried. When it’s a white’s word against a black man’s word, the white always wins.”(295). Atticus explained to Scout and Jem regarding the unjust decision of the jury. Despite the astounding obvious evidence proving Tom as innocent, the judges took a look at the colour of his skin and declared him guilty, leading him eventually to his death. The theme of racism can also be seen in the Finch’s household with Aunt Alexandra not showing even a slightest bit of respect to Cal, and hardly treating her as a human being at times. This contempt showed when Aunt Alexandra stepped into the house and immediately ordered Cal to “Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia.”(169). To her, Cal was just a black servant solely there for the purpose to clean and to boss around. Her disapproval for Cal also became apparent when she intervened strongly after Scout expressed her desire to go to Cal’s house that weekend. Straight away, she forbad them to go anywhere with Cal. Furthermore, she also appealed to Atticus to fire Calpurnia for he “had let things go on too long” and she did not trust Cal to raise the children nor did she believe Cal should get treated as part of the family (182). Aunt Alexandra upheld the Finch family name with great dignity and expected the children to do so as well, and mixing with Negros was not what she had in mind. Therefore, she suggested getting rid of Cal and instead, let her raise the children in the proper manner. From Aunt Alexandra’s indifference and behaviour towards Cal, one can sense the amount of widespread racism in the small town of Maycomb. Additionally, the whites referred to the Negros as “niggers” and scorned anyone in association with them.
This hatred for the blacks extended to the Finches as well, for Atticus had agreed to defend a black man. Not only did friends, neighbours, and all the children in school turn against them, family did so as well. Scout, Jem, and Atticus endured hostility, scorn, and loathing directed at them even from their cousin. “Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover” Francis, Scout’s cousin, mocked with distaste, earning himself a punch from an outraged Scout (110). The Finches soon realized what it meant for them for Atticus to willingly defend a Negro in court as people soon looked at them like trash and scum. The words “nigger” and “nigger-lover”, used multiple times in the book, imply the disrespect and detest the community felt for the Negros. “Nigger” became a pejorative word and a racist insult rudely directed at Negros. From the way white Americans threw that word around and openly insulted and spat in Atticus’ face, one can feel how much racism influenced the society in that
day. “It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you. (144)”Atticus comforted Scout after she admitted that Mrs. Dubose called him a nigger lover. At such a young age, Scout and Jem had already been exposed to the adverse effects of racism that exist in their little town of Maycomb. They witnessed Tom Robinson’s unjust trial in court, watching, as the judges made their decision based solely on his skin colour. At home, Aunt Alexandra’s disapproval and hatred of Cal showed through her actions and words. Finally, people, neighbours, and even relatives shunned them after Atticus announced his commitment to help Tom Robinson plead not guilty. Racism, one of the lingering problems in the modern world today, was one of To Kill a Mockingbird’s main themes.
In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, racism is a major theme. Atticus Finch, the narrator’s father, defends a negro, Tom Robinson, in the court of law against a white man, Bob Ewell. Robinson had reportedly raped a young white girl, Mayella Ewell. But according to Robinson he had gone to help Mayella, as he often did, with work around the house. As he starts helping Mayella, she tries to get Tom to kiss her and will not let him out of the house. Bob Ewell sees this and chases Tom out of the house and accuses him of raping his daughter. Atticus goes against almost everyone in Maycomb County’s opinion in defending Tom Robinson. Throughout the course of the novel, racism effects many characters such as Tom and Helen Robinson, Scout and Jem Finch, and Mayella and Bob Ewell. All these characters had there lives
Dispersed throughout To Kill A Mockingbird are numerous illustrations of racism. Statements such as "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for" (Lee 108) are common throughout the entire novel. The use of racist statements such as these seemed to bother many people who were then driven to ban Lee's book from their schools. If we look back to the times when the book was written, we can understand the use of the word "nigger." During the early twentieth century, the word "nigger" was used as commonly as many people today use the word "black." The general public either didn't realize or didn't care about how demeaning the word "nigger" was. Eventually, some African-Americans became so used to hearing it that they no longer paid any attention to it. Atticus Finch, Scout's father, however, had a different way of thinking. Although Atticus was Caucasian, he realized that the word "nigger" was wrong to say. He did not use that word and he instructed his children not to use that word either. This courtesy did not catch on. People continued to refer to African-Americans as "niggers" and called anyone who was kind to "niggers" a "nigger-lover." Scout realized this and, as she matured, she came to understand how wrong the use of the word "nigger" actually was.
The obvious diction in the novel that shows racism is the use of various racial slurs. For example, various people in the novel such as Bob Ewell and Cousin Francis call Atticus a "nigger-lover" simply for the fact that he was Tom Robinson’s lawyer. Also, To Kill a Mockingbird refers to many black people being farmers on cotton farms. Nowadays, telling a black individual to pick cotton is an insult because picking cotton in the 1930s was slavery. Lee foreshadowed racism through the novel by making these inferences. To add, the use of the word "yonder" is heavily present in the dialogue amongst the children like Scout, Jem and Dill. Lastly, To Kill a Mockingbird embodies the southern accent. There’s an evident difference between the way white and black people speak like abbreviations. For example, Atticus speaks in a very proper fashion whilst Calpurnia, the Finch’s housekeeper, speaks in a more casual manner like "'Baby,' said Calpurnia, 'I just can't help it if Mister Jem's growin' up. He's gonna want to be off to himself a lot now, doin' whatever boys do, so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome. We'll find lots of things to do in here."(Lee 153-154) There are a lot of abbreviations used in this quote when Calpurnia is talking to Scout about Jem. The diction in in this novel helps embody racial inequality as a
For instance, when Scout and Jem are walking home from school, Mrs. Dubose will tell them “your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for” (Lee 105). On page 322, the book says “Tom’s death was considered typical of a black person, at least in Maycomb. The town thought it was typical of a nigger to cut and run” (Lee 322). In the book, Atticus Finch individually defends a black man because he realizes it’s the right thing to do. However, in the grand scheme of things, Atticus actually putting in an effort to defend a black man didn’t make a very large dent in the town’s overall attitude towards black people because he is, no matter what others thought of him, just one man. Practically every student recieving a public education in the United States today read that book. They realize where racism started and grow compassionate for Tom because of the social injustice he faced throughout the book. It’s important for kids to keep reading these kinds of books, so we don’t go backwards in our efforts to stop
Scout Finch is a strong-headed figure who stands up for what she thinks is right, especially when defending her father. Even though she might not understand the exact implications of a slight to her father, she is quick to rush to defend him. Although her anger is sometimes misplaced, Scout’s frustration initiates from a boundless love for Atticus, and a wish to protect his reputation. In one instance, after Atticus is called a “nigger lover”, Scout pounces and pummels the instigator of the taunt. She later told her Uncle Jack, “I ain’t very sure what it means, but the way Francis said it…
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”-Martin Luther King Jr. This quote shows how racism is like darkness and hate and love and light are the only way to drive racism out. The story takes place at the time of the great depression. Scout lives in a very racist and judgement city in the south. A black male is accused of raping a white woman. Scouts dad Atticus gets appointed to be the defendant's lawyer. Racism is an antagonist in To Kill A Mockingbird because the white people of Maycomb discriminate the blacks and make them feel lesser. The theme racism can be harmful to everyone is shown by many characters throughout the book.
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
Needless to say, because Atticus is defending Tom Robinson, an african american, it gets his family criticized for defending “Negros”. Cecil Jacob tells Scout that her father “defends nigger” (Lee 74). Mr. Bob Ewell calls Atticus a “nigger lover” for defending Tom Robinson. Ever since Atticus took the case for Tom Robinson, The Finches became from being applauded to criticized for defending Robinson, and again applauded for trying his best to defend Tom
How would you like it if someone walked up to you and berated you based on the color of your skin? A characteristic like that isn’t even something you can control, so an insult of that nature can leave one furious and oppressed. Discrimination is inevitable in any culture, throughout history, in modern times, and even in ancient times. For example, the oppression and murder of 6 million Jewish people during the Holocaust, the African Slave Trade which occurred for multiple centuries, and more recently, the “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya people in Myanmar, brought on by the government of the Asian nation, all of which are tragedies doomed to happen when history repeats itself and people do not learn
Racism presents itself in many ways in the town of Maycomb. Some are blatant and open, but others are more insidious. One obvious way that racism presents itself is in the result of Tom Robinson’s trial. Another apparent example is the bullying Jem and Scout had to endure as a result of Atticus’s appointment as Tom Robinson’s defense attorney. A less easily discernible case is the persecution of Mr. Dolphus Raymond, who chose to live his life in close relation with the colored community.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, many different themes come into view. One major theme that played a big role in the character’s lives is racial prejudice. Racism is an unending problem throughout the book. The song “Message from a Black Man” by The Temptations has many similarities to the theme of racial discrimination. Therefore, both the novel and the song prove that racism was a great obstacle for some people at a point.
As previously mentioned, the point of view in this narrative is from Scout. Her upbringing has been respectful to the African-Americans in her society and she shows this with her relationship with her maid, Calpurnia. Other children her age have adopted their parents' racially prejudice views, causing her of many problems. Atticus's lawsuit seems to isolate his children and Scout is taunted with remarks in the playground. Her only retort is violence and Atticus, as an virtuous father, does not condone this behaviour either: "My fists were clenched I was ready to make fly. Cecil Jacobs had announced the day before that Scout Finch's daddy defended niggers."
To Kill a Mockingbird is a story about equality. In the setting of this book (Maycomb, Alabama) the inequality of races is completely normal to people’s everyday lives. The disrespect of African-Americans in this book is an ordinary occurrence that most people have grown up accustomed to, but there are some who don’t wish to be a part of this discrimination. One of these people being Atticus Finch, the father of Jem and Scout. Atticus uses the world around him to teach his children how to give all people respect no matter what their race or social class is. Atticus Finch is a good-hearted, moral lawyer in the discriminatory town of Maycomb Alabama. Amongst the blabbermouths and discriminatory townspeople of Maycomb, Atticus wants his children to be different from them, and to learn how to respect the dignity of everyone using the changes in their lives to teach them.
Racism and discrimination is a major societal issue in society in the past and even today it is also a major theme in the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. two main characters in the book Scout and Jem, live with their father in a town called Maycomb their father Atticus who teaches them many life lessons such as treat all humans equally no matter what their race, is a lawyer for a man named Tom Robinson who is accused of a crime and is discriminated against all through the trial and even until his death. African Americans have been treated unfairly in society for a very long time, along with in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. Many of the characters in the book are discriminated against. For example, Jem and Scout are discriminated against by the African Americans when they go with Calpurnia to her church.
Race and Class define society and making it so that society loses itselfs world of connection. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, the novels shows and gives people an understanding of the time. To begin, during the Tom Robinson trial, Tom was convicted as guilty due his class standing and his skin colour. Secondly, there are many families in Maycomb who stand in a different class. Finally, the segregation in Maycomb is very harsh and can show an issue with race and class. Race and class keeps society apart, resulting a very negative understanding of people.