Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

Johnson explains that the children soon desire to meet Arthur by saying “as the children learn, it takes a strong mind and a big heart to come to love Boo Radley, of whom they are at first so terrified” (Johnson 2). In the end, Scout gets to meet Arthur and speaks to him without a problem. The kids soon embrace the thought of Boo after learning about the town’s prejudice towards him, but he is not the only victim of prejudice.

Scout and Jem live in a southern town that changes their viewpoint on the treatment that ordinary people receive. Johnson explains his analyzation of how “during the course of the novel, the children pass from innocence to knowledge” (Johnson 2). The Kids witness many occasions that racism is present. Their innocent

world in which everyone is equal changes before their eyes in the novel. They are first directly exposed to racism when they go to the church with Calpurnia. A fellow member of the church says to Calpurnia, “you ain’t got no business bringin white chillun here” (Lee 158) because it is an all black-church. This is a significant event as it allows the children to experience racism first hand. The kids also see racism during the court case when Mayella says ‘there [are] several niggers around’ (Lee 247). The kids see how Mayella perceives black people. She considers them nothing more than just a useless thing and not actual people. The town’s racism is evident during the court case when a man says “she [does] something that in our society is unspeakable; she [kisses] a black man” (Lee 272). The kids do not know that interracial activities and interactions with blacks are frowned upon in their society. Scout also asks Atticus “you aren’t really a nigger lover, then, are you” (Lee 144). The kids hear this term get thrown around many times as Atticus is defending a black man in a court case. They do not know what it means so they ask Atticus. Scout and Jem see many difficulties in society with racism, but they also see difficulties through Mayella’s life.
The children see a new perspective through the life of Mayella and the struggles she encounters.

Bernard describes one of Mayella’s struggles when he writes, “when he returns, she must endure his abuse day after day” (Bernard 62). Mayella not only must tolerate the disrespect from the outside world, but also from her father. Her father should be one the most compassionate people towards her but instead he abuses her. This causes Mayella to feel powerless. Bernard proves this by saying, “like her father, Mayella realizes that one of her few opportunities for power in society is to abuse a black man” (Bernard 62). Her father is so relentless towards her, that it makes her violent towards other people. With Mayella’s father and society showing her so much disrespect, that when someone actually gives her respect, she thinks it is a mockery. During the court case, Atticus calls Mayella ma’am and she responds with, ‘long’s he keeps on callin’ [her] ma’am an sayin’ Miss Mayella. [She] [doesn’t] hafta take his sass” (Lee 243). She considers his politeness sass because she does not believe someone in Macomb County will give her the respect she deserves. Mayella not only struggles with disrespectfulness from people but also her appearance towards others. Scout elaborates on this by saying, “Mayella [looks] as she [tries] to keep clean” (Lee 239). Mayella makes an attempt of looking clean but while living in poverty, it is very hard for her to do. Scout also describes her as, “somehow

fragile-looking, but when she [sits] facing us in the witness chair she [becomes] what she [is], a thick bodied girl accustomed to strenuous labor” (Lee 239). Scout assumes that she is very fragile. That is what most people in Maycomb would think because she is a girl living in poverty. Mayella’s last struggle is her education. Living in poverty causes her to not be able to go to school. She must stay at home and work instead of receiving a proper education. When asked in court how long she went to school for, her response was, “‘Two year - three year - dunno’” (Lee 244). She had not gone to school for so long, that her memory was hazy about it. Mayella goes through multiple problems within the novel, and this teaches Scout and Jem that not everyone is fortunate enough to live a comfortable life.
Scout and Jem see many different perspectives throughout the novel. They pass from a life of innocence and immaturity, to a life of realization and wisdom. They grow up thinking all is good in their society. They think this until they start hearing the rumors about Arthur, which is the main cause of their progress through different events that change their outlook on society.