Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

The Power of Prejudice

A mockingbird is a harmless bird that creates music for the enjoyment of people, thereby symbolizing innocence. Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, an attorney for the state of Alabama, teaches his children, Jem and Scout many valuable lessons, such as how it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, which symbolizes destroying innocence. He also teaches his children to step into the shoes of another person before passing judgement, which helps his children to get a grasp of the destructive nature of prejudice. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the symbol of a mockingbird to demonstrate how even the most harmless and selfless people, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are faced

with the consequences of prejudice.

Atticus Finch resembles the symbol of a mockingbird through his selfless and humble personality. Because of his personality, he is bound determined to help free Tom Robinson but is faced with prejudice for standing up for a black man by the surrounding inhabitants of the racist community in which he lives. While talking with his children, Atticus Finch is asked why he must defend Tom Robinson. Without hesitation, Atticus Finch answers, "For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't, I couldn't hold up my head in town. I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). Through his reasoning, Atticus shows how deeply affected he is by Tom Robinson’s trial and how much he cares about it. From the good of his heart, Atticus helps Tom Robinson because he wants to be the best, most honest person and father he

can possibly be. Consequently, during a brawl with her cousin Francis, Scout is exposed to the harsh commentary and prejudice Atticus is faced with for defending Tom. Scout’s cousin, Francis, insults, “Just what I said. Grandma says it’s bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a [n-word] lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again. He’s ruinin’ the family, that’s what he’s doin’” (Lee 94). Atticus is faced with such prejudice that his own family despises him and even goes as far to say that he is ruining the reputation of their family by standing up for a black man. Undoubtedly, Atticus Finch resembles the harmless and invaluable characteristics of a mockingbird, but, nevertheless, is still faced with the destructive tendencies of prejudice.
Additionally, Tom Robinson resembles a mockingbird because he goes out of his way to help Mayella Ewell with her chores, but he ends up getting hurt from his supportive actions when Bob Ewell falsely accuses him of raping his daughter.

Tom Robinson faces racial prejudice when he is accused by Bob Ewell, as well as throughout the entirety of the trial, including the outcome. In Tom Robinson’s testimony, he describes his interactions with Mayella to the jury, explaining, “‘She’d call me in, suh. Seemed like every time I passed by yonder she’d have some little somethin’ for me to do-- choppin’, kindlin’, totin’ water for her. She watered them red flowers every

day--”
In Tom’s cross-examination from the prosecuting attorney, Mr. Gilmer questions, “‘Were you paid for your services?’”
Responding to Mr. Gilmer’s question, Tom Robinson innocently replies, “‘No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time. I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help her none, and neither did the chillun, and I knowed she didn’t have no nickels to spare’” (Lee 218). Through his testimony, the magnanimous personality of Tom Robinson is revealed because Tom takes time out of his busy work day to assist Mayella with her chores. All Tom was ever trying to do was help somebody in need but was persecuted for his selfless actions because of his skin color. Within Atticus’s final speech to the jury before the verdict is discussed, the racial prejudice that Tom Robinson, a “quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry’ for a white woman” is faced with is revealed when Atticus argues for Tom’s innocence, reiterating the idea Tom was incapable of abusing Mayella in the way that she was by declaring that “Tom Robinson now sits before you, having taken the oath with the only good hand he possesses.” During his speech, Atticus takes into consideration the subject of racial prejudice and presents it to the jury, declaring that Tom Robinson “has had to put his word against two white people’s” (Lee 232). Atticus gave the trial everything he had in an effort to save Tom Robinson from the anticipated guilty verdict, but the ingrained, hateful racism that existed in Maycomb County proved too much for the prejudiced jury members to overcome. Thus, Tom Robinson, an innocent and respectable man, was later killed by the crippling consequences of prejudice.
Furthermore, the mockingbird symbol is portrayed through Boo Radley when he courageously saves Scout and Jem from being murdered by Bob Ewell. All his life, Boo is faced with prejudice from nearly everyone in the town of Maycomb because they all believe he is a vicious recluse simply because he is different from the rest of the Maycomb inhabitants. Towards the beginning of the novel, the social prejudice Boo faces is exposed when Scout gives her and Jem’s description of Boo: “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 blood-stained-- if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. 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” (Lee 14). Their description elucidates the judgements and misconceptions that were passed around regarding Boo Radley. Simply because he never came out of his house and was not well-known, people labeled Boo Radley as different and less than, thereby placing their hateful judgements upon him. However, having turned full-circle by the end of the novel, Scout confesses of her admiration and appreciation for Boo. Through Scout’s thoughts, the mockingbird characteristics that Boo acquires are depicted when Scout reflects, “Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives” (Lee 320). Boo Radley was a kind-spirited and altruistic guy who had a special liking for Jem and Scout, so he gave them little gifts in spite of the games they played about his life. Most importantly, Boo Radley somehow discovered that Scout and Jem were in trouble on the night of the pageant, so he ended up saving Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell’s malicious acts of violence and potential murder towards the children. Moreover, Boo Radley is able to overlook the social prejudice and judgments that people ignorantly label him with in order to stay true to his innocent mockingbird characteristics.
In essence, the mockingbird symbol is portrayed through the characters of Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley. However, not one mockingbird goes undisturbed without the destructive effects of prejudice, be it social or racial. In the end, the hateful nature of prejudice and the people in which it corrupts is overpowering against the good of human nature. In part, the effects of prejudice even manage to disrupt the lives of innocuous, noble characters.