Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

In Adichie's TED Talk presentation of the “Danger of a Single Story,” She emphasizes the negative consequences that come with maligning people into stereotypes.These “single stories,” deprive and oversimplify the image of a person, but also can humanize a person's dignity. In the novel , “ To kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee, the author explains racial injustice and the effect that single stories have on the characters of maycomb, alabama. Taking place during the 1930s, this sleepy towns norms were challenged by Scout and Jem's father Atticus finch, driving them away from maycomb's disease. Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Mrs. Dubose are a few Characters subjected to these stereotypes, but the most robbed from their humanity was Tom Robinson.The

accusations of Mayella Ewell and the color of Tom Robinson's skin, fixed the stereotype that the rest of maycomb strongly believed, Tom Robinson had beat and raped Mayella Ewell
The development of Tom Robinson's single story was a result of the Mayella Ewell accusation, but was influenced by the color of his skin. For example, towards the beginning of the book, Tom Robinson's name is mentioned several times, but he is physically absent throughout the beginning of the story. When the lynch mob appears at the jail, the conflict continues to occurs between the mob and Atticus not between them and Robinson. He saids, "They gone?" Atticus stepped back and looked up. "They've gone," he said. "Get some sleep, Tom. They won't bother you anymore"(Lee 128-130) ,Tom continues to be an unseen object they’re against. Getting an idea of Tom only through what people say, puts the people of Maycomb in terms of limited knowledge that they have about him,and the issue, but what still persists is the stigma of a black man always going after white women.In addition, Robinsons stereotype is further developed through the opinion of the rest of the characters.For example,On Christmas Day, Atticus takes his children and Jack to Finch’s Landing where Scout meets Francis. One night, Francis calls Atticus a “nigger-lover.” Scout curses him and beats him up. Once returning to Maycomb, Scout questions Atticus’ determination in continuing to fight in the tom Robinson case, although unaware of the meaning of a nigger lover she feels it as an insult.Scout says,"You aren't really a nigger-lover, then, are you?" Atticus responds, "I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you" ( Lee 107-109). This quote demonstrates the beginning of the growing stereotype of Tom Robinson without any understanding behind the meaning of the word scout is able to acknowledge the negativity behind it and the racial factor that would deride his father's image if involved in supporting a black man. The most influencing factor that allows this stereotype to evolve is the long standing belief of the south behind black man. atticus stated,”the evil assumption that all negroes lie that all negro men are not to be trusted around our women,”Although this quote was said towards the end of the stories it summarizes the cause of tom robinson's hearing of being guilty. It underlines the truth behind why this case was put on robinson,because he was the easiest target as a result of the negative single story.
In addition, tom robinson's stereotype further derides his dignity as he is seen as unreliable to the jury.

Even when Tom appears in person for the first time at the trial, everyone else gets to give their version of what happened before he has a chance to speak this was brought by the black man's stereotype. At the trial, two separate versions of Mayella and Robinsons relationship are seen, holding very different stories. Mayella and her father tell the story that everyone expects to hear, about the Tom that is the town's nightmare. While Tom tells the story that no one wants to hear. Tom a man of family and a hard worker would help Mayella Ewell with broken items around the household, all called to by Ms.Mayella Ewell. On the contradiction to the rest of the Ewells stereotype, Mayella attempting to clean her section of the yard and maintenance. As a result Robinson, had compassion towards her having to handle all the children as well as her father. Contradictory to robinson's testimony Mayella states robinson had led her on, entered into his home, and raped her.In Robinson's testimony, he mentioned that she was different from the rest of the Ewells and eventually began to grow a friendly relationship between each other. Robinson said, “Yes suh.I felt right sorry for her she seemed to try more than the rest of’em.” (Lee 264.) This robbed Robinson of his dignity by feeling sorry towards a white women, he lifted himself above her in the end insulting her robbing him of credibility. In addition, the stereotype made robinson less human, as he began to believe that he fit in that stereotype. During the court hearing he was questioned for running away from the scene a possible sign of being guilty, but as the author wrote, “He would not have ared strike a white women under any circumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run -a sure sign of guilt. Although, not guilty Robinson ran away from the scene as a result of the stigma behind black

men. He understood that he would he in the exact situation he was faced with because of the color of the skin having no possible hope of winning or being proven guilty.Furthermore this can also be seen when the Atticus states,"There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins.”Atticus usually a voice of hope in the story, further understands the impossibility of winning the case in the hands of a jury of white men. Tom Robinson's stereotype robs him of his dignity as Atticus a man of law, hope, and the only person capable of proving him guilty acknowledges the stereotype that ties this man to the accusations finds less hope and begins to confine with these ideals.
Lastly, although single stories can disempower, they can also humanize a character. For example, during the court hearing Tom stated his version of the story that mayella had seduced him and had even kissed him on the cheek. Link deas a white man, interrupts the case and saids, “I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now.That boys worked for me eight years an’I ain't had a speck trouble oputa him.” This story empowers and breaks Tom Robinson's stereotype, a white man standing up for a black man was unforeseen at the time the fact is that “when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins.” Although viewed negatively for most of the case what urged the people to question Mayella's story was not only the stereotype of her family, but as well as the stereotype behind Tom Robinson's family. Atticus says,And so a quiet,respectable,humble negro who had the unmitigated temerity to feel sorry for a white women…” This quote demonstrates how these single stories can also empower. Atticus a man respected by the court standing up for a black man demonstrates the idea of credibility as well as Robinsons hardworking background challenge mayella ewell's statements of Robinson being violent and raoping her. Lastly, Atticus is able to restore Robinsons dignity, but damage the eweels by stating, “We do know in part what Mr.Ewell did:he did what any god-fearing, persevering, respectable white man would do under the circumstances….(Ewll 272-273). Based upon all the evidence presented to the court. Mayella is clearly found guilty, with unalighing stories and time frames. The audience as well as the jury all understand what had occured. This empower Robinson as he is seen to the public eye as a black men held guilty of an unfactual crime, and speaks more negatively of the jury blaming Robinson only for the color of his skin.

Overall,the underlying message Harper lee attempts to evoke with these single stories is the idea that stereotypes should not limit or have power over anyone. The single story of Tom Robinson, demonstrates how dangerous these stories can be, the absurd concept that every black man goes behind a white women, should not entitle Tom robinson or any black man to this single story.There is no possible way to fully stop these single stories from spreading, but to manage these single stories people should learn to understand and have compassion towards each other. In today's world political turmoil has revolved around the topic of immigration most recently the separation of families. These people are subjected to a limited view that the media and administration puts out to the American people . The small minded concept of all of them being a burden to the American economy, a possible terrorist, or drug dealer dispossess the dignity of these people. To view is one thing but to experience is another . As atticus Finch one said, “You never really understand a person until you…climb into his skin and walk around in it.”