The Outsiders Motif
Physicist Albert Einstein once stated, “Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” Einstein means that humanity must escape the uncompromising standards of society and become caring for and appreciative of every individual. Additionally, he implies that humankind needs to expand their sympathy towards others, and accept and welcome everyone, no matter how different. Similarly, Harper Lee addresses this idea in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird through revealing her belief that everyone should be accepted for who they are inside, not who they appear to be on the outside. Harper Lee writes about how society has certain standards that the world must relinquish in order for everyone to be viewed with respect and compassion. Specifically, she uses the outsiders motif in order to show how societies cannot grow and flourish when others are rejected for their perceived weaknesses.
Firstly, Lee uses Mayella Ewell to illustrate the outsiders motif. For example, Harper Lee writes that Mayella is the eldest of seven
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children whom she takes care of because her mother is dead, and her father spends the family’s money on alcohol, then drunkenly abuses Mayella. During the trial of Tom Robinson in the courthouse, it is implied that she does not have any friends when Atticus interrogates her, shown by the quote, “Yes, don’t you know anyone near your age, or older, or younger? Just ordinary friends?” said Atticus… “You makin’ fun o’me agin, Mr. Finch?” said Mayella. (245). Mayella spends her life trapped in her home with nowhere to go and no one to help her. Here, Lee demonstrates that Mayella’s qualities cause her to be viewed as an outsider in Maycomb County. Because she is considered an outcast, nobody pays her any attention, and she goes unnoticed most of the time. This connects to Einstein’s statement by showing how the people of Maycomb should have compassion for Mayella because, even though she is less fortunate and considered different, she is still an individual who deserves to be shown kindness and respect. This is important because when humanity learns to accept others for who they are, the world can become and more loving and compassionate place. Secondly, Lee uses Boo Radley to illustrate the outsiders motif further. For example, Boo Radley had not been out of his house in an extremely long time, most likely because of a disease, causing many people to spread untrue and absurd rumors about him throughout the novel. Specifically, in the beginning of the story, Jem fallaciously describes Boo Radley when he is looking at the Radley House. He says, “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained… There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time” (16). Here, Lee demonstrates that because Boo Radley is thought to be crazy and very different from most of the people in Maycomb, he is considered an outsider as well. This also connects to Einstein’s statement by showing how people must not victimize others for their uncontrolled features. This is significant to the novel because it adds to Harper Lee’s theme of acceptance, that human beings must disregard a person’s visible flaws, and open our hearts to see their real worth and beauty. Overall, in Albert Einstein's quote, it is explained that humankind must look beyond others' physical imperfections and open our eyes to clearly see each individual's real beauty.
Harper Lee uses the outsiders motif to illustrate how societies are immobilized when people are constantly judging others based on appearances. Because of differences in wealth, race, education, and health, many long-lasting untrue stereotypes are created about outsiders. To Kill a Mockingbird still holds contemporary value to readers and to all of humanity because it is a powerful novel that teaches the ugly truth of prejudice and discrimination that still exists today. This is important because it can cause others to realize the problems in everyday society, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia, and encourage people to change their hearts then change the
world.
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, is a novel which explores the theme of challenging racial prejudice. Within this novel, Lee has portrayed unintentional racial prejudice through the characters Atticus Finch, Link Deas and Scout Finch. With these characters, and their roles in exploring the theme of racial prejudice, Harper Lee has set unintentional boundaries for readers, as result, racial prejudicial thinking from contemporary perspective, in comparison to historical views, is challenged to a small extent.
To conclude, it is proven during numerous instances found in Harper Lee’s award-winning novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, that societal pressures and the rigid rules and boundaries that society sets can overwhelm anyone of any class, race or background. It is unjust to assume anyone’s character by their set status but unfortunately, negative after-effects immediately take place as soon as one tries to step out of their preordained place. As Mayella Ewell, Scout and Jem Finch and Atticus Finch were the examples of this bitter truth, there are many other characters affected by the societal impacts on everyday life in the novel.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a perfect example of how people like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are pushed to the bottom of the ‘social hierarchy’ while others that may be less deserving are put higher. It shows that simply things you encounter in your everyday life can steal your innocence, and that moral laws that have been created are both fulfilled and neglected.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.
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.
To Kill A Mockingbird is a heroic tale of leadership and courage during racial times. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus, To, Jem and Scout are unfortunately exposed to a really racist and prejudiced society and town. Which ends up causing them to lose a case and really confuse Jem and Scout when they are young. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, it uses characterization to help show a theme of loss of innocence when people are exposed to surprising and unfair situations.
There is no doubt that Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a famous novel known for its themes, most of them containing wise life lessons, racial inequality being an obvious and important one. Firstly, racism illustrates the lack of justice and people’s views on prejudice in Tom Robinson’s case. Secondly, the novel touches base on diction notably the racial slurs used. Finally, with racism being a theme of the novel, it affects the characters’ personalities. Harper Lee uses life lessons, diction and characters throughout the novel because it develops the main theme of racism in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Throughout the novel Harper Lee explores the racism, prejudice, and the innocence that occurs throughout the book. She shows these themes through her strong use of symbolism throughout the story. Even though To Kill a Mockingbird was written in the 1960’s, the powerful symbolism this book contributes to our society is tremendous. This attribute is racist (Smykowski). To Kill a Mockingbird reveals a story about Scout’s childhood growing up with her father and brother, in an accustomed southern town that believed heavily in ethnological morals (Shackelford).
Growing up in a prejudiced environment can cause individuals to develop biased views in regard to both gender and class. This is true in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, where such prejudices are prevalent in the way of life of 1930s Maycomb, Alabama. The novel is centered around the trial of a black man who is accused of raping a white woman. The narrator, a young girl named Scout, is able to get a close up view of the trial because her father is defending Tom Robinson, the defendant. The aura of the town divided by the trial reveals certain people's’ prejudices to Scout, giving her a better perspective of her world. Throughout the story, Aunt Alexandra’s behaviors indirectly teach Scout that prejudice is a disease with deep and far reaching roots.
Harper Lee’s only book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is the stereotypical tale of childhood and innocence, yet it successfully incorporates mature themes, like the racism in the South at the time, to create a masterpiece of a work that has enraptured people’s minds and hearts for generations. According to esteemed novelist Wally Lamb, “It was the first time in my life that a book had sort of captured me. That was exciting; I didn’t realize that literature could do that” (111). Scout’s witty narration and brash actions make her the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for, and the events that take place in Maycomb County are small-scale versions of the dilemmas that face our world today. Mockingbird is a fantastically written novel that belongs on the shelves for classic literature that everyone should take the time to read and appreciate for their execution of style and the importance of their content.
Prejudice, a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason nor actual experience, is an exceptionally large dilemma in society today. It is an every day reminder of how uncharitable we, as a human race, can be. Even in the early 1900s, as Harper Lee illustrates in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, prejudiced assumptions have always been causing predicaments. To Kill a Mockingbird, an award winning novel written by Harper Lee, tells the story of how Scout and Jem Finch grows up in a small Southern town suffering through the Great Depression. In To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee expresses the theme of prejudice throughout the majority of her characters. Not only does she have many themes in her novel, but she is also able to incorporate them in many of her characters at once. The theme of prejudice is seen through Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson.
The one major theme that makes this novel not only a great piece of literature but appeals to the adolescents as well is the direct instruction of how to treat others. The novel details examples of moral responsibility through Atticus. Lee, through her use of first person, establishes characters that demonstrate the behavior that she feels is morally necessary for people to show. The characters are role models on many different levels. The author wants the reader to walk away from the book with the same realization as Scout, that people are “real nice . . . once you finally see them.”9 Scout and Jem represent the audience for To Kill a Mockingbird; people that can still see things through the innocence of a child.
It is acknowledged by many readers that there are many different social classes in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. One of the most obvious social class distinctions is between skin colors, which can be seen through this novel. Since most readers’ focal point of this novel is on the distinctions between skin colors, they are unlikely to pay attention to the difference in social class within the white community. Lee wants to illustrate a contrast in white society and how characters behave differently through the uses of character foil, characterization, and the theme of society inequality in order to emphasize the differences in social classes.
Discrimination played a big role in the 1930s and throughout the development of the novel, and still is not completely diminished in the 21st century. Sexism, classicism, and racism all typified the many relationships in To Kill A Mockingbird, from Aunt Alexandra wanting Scout to become a lady, to Tom Robinson's unfair court trial. Prejudices are formed because of the level of ignorance people have when they believe everything they hear from their peers without bothering to be fertilized with education, leading to a division within communities, physically and mentally.
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird expresses the ideology that the social standard of a particular individual, classifies their status in the world. Individuals placed in social classes are labeled to create a sense of social identity. The socio-economic class an individual is born into should not be the determining factor of how the individual is regarded and treated, however, their character and personality should be a primary factor in determining how they are thought of in society.