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American society after WWII
American society after WWII
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Miss Gates describes Germany as a dictatorship which is the main reason Hitler was able to do so many horrible to things to those innocent people. She then does a comparison between Germany under Hitler’s rule and American society claiming that, “Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced” (329). Miss Gates describes America as this very equal place where there is no type of injustice similar to that in Germany under Hitler’s rule. She is confident that people in America do not believe in persecuting people because there is no prejudice which proves she is completely blind to the injustice all around her. Although, not as severe, the black community in Maycomb did face some of the same unfair treatments, the main event being the Tom Robinson trials, thus making Miss Gate’s teachings an example of situational irony. …show more content…
This is all ironic because she is so confident that everybody has equal rights in America and persecution comes from only those who are prejudiced, when injustice is seen right there in Maycomb. During the Tom Robinson trial, everybody knew that he was innocent, but it was a white man and a white woman against a black man, they clearly had the advantage. White people always had special privileges while the black people did not and were treated as inferiors similar to how the Jewish people were treated under Hitler’s rule. All in all, Miss. Gate’s appalling blindness to all the inequality in Maycomb makes what she tells the students a prime example of situational irony, Maycomb is exactly what she says it is
“We see the town of Maycomb in its worst light, willing to execute an innocent man for a crime he did not commit rather than question their belief in black inferiority and their social taboos about interracial relationships” (Felty 299). This quote may seem extreme, but it is completely accurate in Scout’s hometown of Maycomb, Alabama. In the town of Maycomb, prejudice and discrimination are a common theme in the lives of its citizens. This is shown in various ways. For example, African Americans are treated as lower class citizens because they are discriminated against by white people.
One of the values of Maycomb is racism. However, there are a few that does not believe in this value, including Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Mr. Dolphus Raymond is a white man married to a black woman and has mixed children. He does not believe in society’s ideology regarding racism and knows that some citizens of Maycomb antagonize him. However, he does not care, as he prefers the colored people over white. He knows how unfair society is, from the way he gets treated. Moreover, Jem realizes the falsities of society, due to the injustice he sensed. After Tom’s verdict, Jem’s first clear sense of injustice provided a new perception on the world. When he was young, he believed that the people of Maycomb are the best folks, but the outcome of the trial changed this thought. Furthermore, Scout’s realization of the falsehood in society is with the hypocrisy of Miss Gates. She was taught by Miss Gates how Americans do not believe in persecution. However, Scout saw Miss Gates talk about the African Americans in an adverse way. Learning about the falsehood in society is part of
“Beneath the armor of skin and bone and mind, most of our colors are amazingly the same.” This quote by Aberjhani is very relatable to “To Kill A Mockingbird”. The novel by Harper Lee was published in 1960. The book involves racism, rape, and inequality. A major theme in the book is unfairness. Maycomb County is a small, prejudice town in Alabama. The town is divided between racist Whites, and innocent Blacks. African Americans had no rights and no power in the 1930s. Whites had a lot more rights, and had power over the Black community. From innocent Blacks being killed, court siding with Whites, Maycomb is a very unfair town.
Throughout History, men have looked down on blacks and women. But this does not justify the view that blacks and women are below white men. When people look down on blacks and women, they preform injustice. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is full of injustice. During this time period, everyone looked down on blacks and women, which makes Maycomb one in the same with the discriminators. In particular, the people in Maycomb looked down on Tom Robinson, and many others looked down on Scout. Around the Finch household, Aunt Alexandria always tries to do away with Calpurnia, the black housekeeper and cook as Alexandria says, “We don’t need her (Calpurnia) now.” (182). Injustices in Maycomb include the case of Tom Robinson, the way Aunt Alexandra treats Calpurnia, and the way people treat Scout.
“Then Miss Gates said... ‘We are democracy... Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudice’... ‘How can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around & be ugly about folks right at home’” (Lee 330). Using the typical irony, Lee compares hypocritical Miss Gates’ hate for Hitler to her prejudiced hate for African-Americans. Standard irony, however, is not the only type of irony Harper Lee places in her award-winning novel. Through dramatic irony, situational irony, & verbal irony, Harper Lee utilizes this literary device in its finest form in To Kill a Mockingbird.
When Scout is with The Ladies Missionary Club she starts to pick up on hypocrisy. They want to help the African kids, but they do not want to help the African-Americans in their own town! They are also they are prejudiced against the black community in Maycomb. Another time Scout becomes aware of hypocrisy is with her teacher Miss Gates. As Scout starts to pick up on hypocrisy, Harper Lee is showing another way Scout is growing up. “Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced” (281). This quote is from Miss Gates is full of irony. She says this to her class as she is trying to describe persecution to her class. She does not think Hitler should victimize the Jews. However, Miss Gates persecutes the black community in Maycomb. She clearly shows her hypocrisy during the trial when she persecutes Tom Robinson. Therefore, Scout picks up on hypocrisy and prejudices in the people of Maycomb. Finally, Scout establishes an understanding of
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.
“Jem , how can she say she hate Hitler so bad and then turn around and be ugly about folks right here at home?”This was the question Scout asked that caused many of Lee’s reader's mind to be widened,and that showed Miss Gates Hypocrisy.
Throughout time society has been tested many a time. The tests of society are those which show the development of a society’s culture, morals and value system. The recent events of Maycomb have shown it has not developed or flourished but that with the death of my dear husband, Tom, it has failed miserably. Justice, although bittersweet, is the pie that society has been given the duty to serve. The once-solid pillars of fairness and humanity upon which our society was built are crumbling. The trials and tribulations of Tom Robinson have not only led me to lose faith in justice, fairness and humanity but removed my veil of ignorance and shown me the ignorant “whites” have the power to kill even the sweetest of mockingbirds.
The lack of knowledge in Maycomb about the outside world and their opinions about black people ingrains ‘Maycomb’s usual disease’ into their minds as they have no other opinions about black people. This is shown by the crowd’s outrage as they gather to lynch Tom, not knowing that he was innocent, but blinded by their pre-conceived ideas about black people, thinking that Tom obviously did it as he was black. Their prejudice and ignorance blinded them to the fact that the Ewell’s had manipulated him to their own benefit. Also, this prejudice causes the people who are prejudiced to be as prejudiced towards people who are not. This is shown by Mrs Dubose’s statement to Jem, “Your fathers no better than the niggers and trash he works for.” This shows that Atticus and his family are put on a lower level than normal citizens.
“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.
Sympathy is unfair. An alarmingly large number of people are treated apathetically when they make certain decisions, such as those made by Mayella Ewell in Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird. A common trend in society is to pass judgement on others without giving heed to the situationality of circumstances. When looking at whether or not people deserve sympathy, the specifics of a situation have to be considered. Thus, one must do the same when deciding if Mayella Ewell is deserving of sympathy. The actions she took — specifically, framing a negro man named Tom Robinson for rape — are met with intense scrutiny and criticism. This is, of course, done without considering the rationale of her thought process. On one hand, Mayella can tell the truth
People in this world get judged because they were black back then and judged for being mean to others and being judged even though those people don't really know you. Because people judge others, and tell the community how they should think about them, those who are judged can become lonely. Tom Robinson is an innocent man but because of his color the white people in Maycomb think that he is guilty and they decide to lie about what Tom did just because of his color. Tom was accused of raping a girl and had to go to court because of his color. The people of Maycomb were trying so hard just to get Tom into jail for no good reason.
Hypocrisy is as much a part of Maycomb’s society as church and community spirit. For example, Mrs. Merriweather talks about saving the poor Mruans from Africa, but she thinks black people in her community are a disgrace (p.234). The hypocrisy of this teaching is shown as soon as she mentions the word ‘persecution’. This is due to the fact that she herself is persecuting the black people of Maycomb by not raising an eyebrow at the killing of innocent black men. Furthermore, it is obvious Bob Ewell is abusive to his daughter, Mayella, and that he is the one who violated her, not Tom Robinson (p.178). Since there is such hypocrisy in Maycomb, there are excuses made for whites. The jury probably thinks that if they pronounce Tom innocent the citizens will mock them as they do to Atticus. Harper Lee uses hypocrisy to show how the people of Maycomb are so engulfed in a variety of elements that they unknowingly complete acts of unjustified discrimination.
A small city nestled in the state of Alabama, Maycomb has got its faults, just like any other place in the world, but one of its main faults or (pg.88) “Maycomb's usual disease,” as Atticus calls it in the book is prejudice. Jem and Scout learn a lot about prejudice when a black man named Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell and their father, Atticus, is called on to be his lawyer. They realize the hate that people have buried deep within their heart when they see a black man accused of doing something only because of his color. On pg.241, Scout starts understanding this and thinks, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” As the case continues, up until the death of Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout learn more and more about prejudice and how the hate that people have towards others causes them to take wrong actions. They also see how unfair it is that a white man can get treated better and think of himself better than a black man only because he was born white. This prejudice and the trial cause Jem and Scout to get in argum...