Racism In Harper Lee's Novel 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

Jasmine Wang

Shozo Shimazaki

Lit/Writ

12 December 2014

Today, the word “Ferguson” has the ability to launch a heated debate about the issue of racism. Though racism is a significant problem, it is just a branch of the larger subjects of prejudice and judging. One theme of Nelle Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is that people make wrong judgements about others through rumors, drawing conclusions without considering the entire story, and looking for a reason for someone’s behavior.

By telling the story of Boo Radley, Harper Lee suggests her belief that rumors cause misconceptions that lead to falsely judging others. While explaining about the Radley place, Scout recalls, “According to Miss Stephanie ... As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo

Racism causes people to judge others unjustly because they are prejudiced against individuals of their race. The hero of Lee’s novel, Atticus, is a lawyer who must defend Tom Robinson, an African American man, who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus provides nearly inarguable evidence that Tom is innocent. First, he prompts Mr. Tate, a witness, to confirm that “It was [Mayella’s] right eye [that was blackened]...she was bunged up on that side of her face” (192). Then, Bob Ewell (Mayella’s father and the second witness) “[agrees] with everything Tate said” (200). However, “[Robinson’s] left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side. It ended in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony [Scout] could see that it was no use to him” (211). Therefore, it is exceedingly improbable that Tom Robinson, who cannot use his left arm, blacked Mayella Ewell’s right eye. Furthermore, Mayella’s father is left handed, and known for being a drunk. This evidence alone should be more than sufficient to convince everyone that Robinson is innocent. However, the jury, which is composed exclusively of white males, concludes that he is guilty as charged. Lee voices her own thoughts through Jem, whose “face was streaked with angry tears... ‘It ain’t right,’ he muttered....”