More handpicked essays just for you.
Theme of racial discrimination in to kill a mockingbird
To kill a mockingbird theme essay discrimination
Fairness to kill a mockingbird
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
How many times have you heard someone say, “That’s not fair!”? Life is a constant battle in determining what is and what is not fair. Khaled Hosseini once said, “It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime.” The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is about the unfair trial of Tom Robinson. In 1930 Maycomb, a young girl named Scout learns from her father the lessons of racism, inequality, and injustice. Scout and her brother Jem are curious about the mysterious neighbor Boo Radley, who ultimately save their lives. There are many steps on how to be fair which include: listening to both sides, telling the truth and offering a compromise.
There are two sides to
…show more content…
every story. It is important to listen to both sides of the story before you decide which side is correct. In the trial of Tom Robinson the prosecutor firmly believes that Tom is guilty of rape. Guilty because he is black not because there is any evidence to prove he did it. Atticus is certain that his defendant is not guilty and being unjustly accused. The Judge is forced to listen to both sides of the story as you can see from chapter 18 page 186. “ Now let’s consider this calmly -” “ began Atticus but Mr. Gilmer interrupted with an objection: he was not irrelevant or immaterial, but Atticus was browbeating the witness. Judge Taylor laughed outright” “ Oh sit down, Horace, he’s doing nothing of the sort. If anything, the witness’s browbeating Atticus.” The step of listening to both sides is very important. You need to be sure that what is being said is relevant. You can run into a problem if someone objects without evidence to back it up. Many people base their argument on things that are not relevant. Sometimes this happens to me when my parents continuously question me for coming home late. They sometimes are not willing to listen to my side of the story. Usually parents pay more attention to the time on the clock than to the fact that it was not fault that the parent driving me home was late. This is important because everyone should be listening to both sides of the story. Sometimes even when you tell the truth it can work against you. Telling the truth is always the most important step in order to be fair.
People will treat you fairly if they know you are telling the truth. Harper Lee uses many examples of the importance of truth in her book. Scout and Jem find ways to bend the truth to Atticus. They discuss how to lie and not get caught. In Atticus’s closing statement he says, "You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire." (204) It is important for the jury to know that Tom Robinson is a human being just like they are. Atticus tries to remind them that telling the truth and lying has nothing to do with your race. He wants the jury to rethink their position about Tom. Atticus knows that Tom is telling the truth and he needs the jury to see that also. It is not always easy to convince people that you are infact telling the truth. When I was little I witnessed someone’s bike being stolen. I even recognized the person who did it. No one believed me because I was only 7 years old. When my family heard a story through a neighbor about what had happened they were surprised to see that I was right. There could have been a few potential problems …show more content…
from this situation. What if something worse happened and no one believed me? No one would have caught the issue because no one would’ve thought that I was telling the truth. I was telling the truth but because of my young age people found it hard to believe me. As important as it is to tell the truth, if no one believes you, you may need to resort to a compromise. Offering a compromise is another step in determining how to be fair.
Sometimes the only way to make something fair is to make a deal. There are many examples of compromises presented in the novel. One example happens on Scout’s first day of school. She is very unhappy with her teacher who says that Atticus should not be reading to her every night. “ Do you know what a compromise is?” “ he asked.” “ Bending the law?” “ No an agreement reached by mutual concessions. It works this way,” “ he said.” “If you’ll concede the necessity of going to school, we’ll go on reading every night just as we always have. Is that a bargain.?” (31) This is a great example of a compromise between Scout and Atticus. As her father he is able to persuade her to follow what her teacher says and still read after supper. The compromise makes everyone happy. In my own life I have to make compromises all the time. I make sure to satisfy the neighbors by babysitting their children while still being able to have a social life, irish dance, and help out at home. In order to keep everyone happy I schedule things carefully. For example, I was able to change the time I hung out with my friends so that I could accommodate my babysitting schedule and chores at home. Flexibility and understanding between people helps to keep compromise
fair. Fairness is a collection which involves many steps. Listening to both sides, telling the truth, and offering a compromise are three important steps that help you to be fair. Even though everyone says “ That's not fair!”, there is always a way to work together towards fairness. The wrong decisions on fairness could ruin someone life. Life isn’t fair but if you take the time to see things with an open mind you can certainly live a happy life.
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.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a remarkable novel following the childhood of Jem and Scout, the son and daughter of Atticus Finch. Living in a small and drama filled town of Maycomb County they encounter a great deal of people who do not stand by their word. Hypocrisy occurs throughout this novel first by a man named Dolphus Raymond, then by two women Mrs. Merriweather and Miss Gates.
In most any case you need to know how to be empathetic. Harper Lee teaches that throughout the book, mostly from the character Atticus Finch, the basic empathy for right and wrong. When Atticus is making his conclusion for the trial of Tom Robinson he says, “this case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 271). While this quote could have many interpretations, to me it seems that Atticus, a man who lives in the small town of Maycomb County, who was considered highly respectful, and kind and was thought of highly in the town, therefore his words were authentic, and truthful. He was put on this case and did he argue, or disagree, of course not. He knew it was going to be an unfair trial, and that he would get large amounts of bad responses from people for taking the black man’s “side”. He simply didn’t care the color of his skin, or what he was convicted of. He found the evidence he needed which most definitely concluded his defendant was not guilty. However when it came down to it in the south during the 30’s there was not a possibility of the black man being right, and the white woman being wrong. It wasn’t even questionable. Nevertheless, Atticus had empathy for the man, so he put time, work, and effort into finding evidence and proving Tom Robinson wasn’t guilty. Most importantly he tried to consider Tom’s feelings, and what he was going through, throughout the whole entire process. He had empathy for Tom
In To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee, people were judged by unfair standards that resulted in oppression. Scout and Jem are the children of a white lawyer who has to defend a black man accused of raping a white female. In the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama, equal rights were not a factor. Which says that the problems of human inequality and the divisions within society are unfair and unjust, like Boo Radley being treated unequally by others. People were judged regarding their race, economic status, or social standing.
Sometimes, people discriminate one thing, but strongly oppose the discrimination of another thing. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, this issue is very much expressed throughout the story. This thought-provoking story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during a time when there’s a rape trial against a falsely accused African American named Tom Robinson. There is also a discrimination, of sorts, towards a man named Boo Radley, by three young children named Jeremy “Jem” Finch, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, and Charles “Dill” Baker Harris. Both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are similar in their own ways through their inherent goodness.
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee sheds light upon the controversy of racism and justice in his classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The notion of equality in accordance with the law and the pursuit of justice are hindered by racial discrimination. The essence of human nature is pondered. Are we inclined to be good or in the wrath of evil? The novel reflects on the contrasting nature of appearance versus reality.
People have been wrongly accused all throughout history. They might not have even been at the crime and got accused of it. There are three main reasons people are wrongly accused. Those reasons are bad behavior, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and race.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, many notable themes arise, but the most prevalent theme is undeniably the theme of man’s inhumanity to man. At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to Scout Finch, who is naive and oblivious to the discrimination that occurs in Maycomb. However, through many events and through meeting many characters, we soon begin to realize that the world may not be so nice after all. Our suspicions are only confirmed once we witness the terrible injustices that occur during the trial.
Yet he took the case with no hesitation. Atticus knows the difference between what is fair and what is true justice. He is well aware that whites and blacks have many differences with one another, but is also educated enough to know that there truly is no diversity in equity, and tries to teach everyone including his children this. ”You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around it.(30)” Atticus is encouraging Scout to respect everyone and consider their true potential without considering false accusations in this quote. He applies what he teaches to his children to the people attending the Tom Robinson trial. Atticus is just one man, but with an unprecedented amount of sense of pride, intelligence, and justice. He reflects the image of the town’s people by showing them what they’ve allowed themselves to become based on their beliefs. He genuinely expresses their deepest consternation. In this quote he tells the audience what they are afraid to hear, but need to hear, “She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old uncle, but a strong young Negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards.(272)” After stating his point and releasing the profound truth Atticus causes for Mayella and Bob Ewell to lose their composure. Nevertheless people of most of the white people of Maycomb continue to refuse to believe that a white woman kissed a black man. But they undoubtedly believe that a black man with a useless left hand beat and raped an “innocent” white woman. Atticus could have predicted the outcome from before he even took the case and refused to defend Tom Robinson. But he
Firstly, Atticus Finch acts justly, fairly, and always helps others who need it. One of his clients, Mr. Cunningham, pays Atticus in entailment. Scout asks her brother, Jem what the meaning of paying in entailment is, “Jem described it as a condition of having your tail in a crack … one morning Jem and I found a load of stovewood in the back yard … Mr. Cunningham had more than paid him” (Lee 20-21). Atticus believes that no one should get any disadvantages because of one’s lower financial state. He shows justice by allowing Mr. Cunningham to pay him in different sources other than money. Also, Atticus is a very wise man. He talks to his daughter with full empathy and understanding to try and help her. When Scout is complaining about her teacher’s attitude towards her, Atticus gives her great advice that, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his shoes and walk around it” (30). He is teaching Scout to be just. He tells her to look at things from a different perspective and notice the difference from hers to someone else’s. Similarly, Atticus who is a white lawyer takes on a case of a black man, Tom Robinson. Therefore, Scout is made fun of for having her father d...
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.
Honesty is a rare trait that few people are able to perfect, but a trait more people should have to make the world a better place. Mrs. Dubois is harshly opinionated and honest leading to Scout learning more about herself, Atticus stays ardent in his morals and beliefs concluding in a new look on black folk in Maycomb, and Tom Robinson is honest with himself enabling him to die with dignity. Honesty is a prominent topic shown through many characters of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
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.
“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.