The Different Types of Prejudice Depicted in Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

The theme of prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird broadens to a further extent than just the situation of racial discrepancy between the blacks and the whites. Although, the racial discrimination mainly towards the blacks is the most prominent occurrence of injustice at Harper Lee’s time- the early Twentieth century, the whole novel includes several, other forms of prejudice that portray the unfavourable effects that was endured by innocent people. These blameless individuals were referred to mockingbirds, since it was a sin to kill one as said by Atticus, “Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” So, therefore mockingbirds are a representation of the main events that occurred during Harper Lee’s life such as having African Americans taking away their life due to the colour of their skin.

Harper Lee classifies the historical background of the 1930s current events which was exposed deeply, compared to the situations of the time the book was published, in the 1960s. She exemplifies these means of narrow-mindedness by building awareness of the partiality and segregation between the blacks and the whites. Racism is very common throughout the entire novel. A clear example of discrimination in the fictitious town, Maycomb County is, during Tom Robinson’s trial. Tom was a black man, who was accused of raping a white woman- Mayella Ewell; he committed a crime that would lead to a punishment of: death penalty. Regardless of the fact that there was coherent evidence to prove his innocence, he was still found guilty by the jury’s verdict.

After being convicted, in spite of everything; he was shot when he tried to be free from the inequity. This elucidates how Maycomb’...

... middle of paper ...

... Moreover optimism is presented in the novel, through Scout and Jem, as they are forced to examine the world in which they lived in. They had to observe their society and try to understand more about the bravery and humanity of their town. However, throughout the novel, Atticus constantly educates his children and they show hope for the future for people to be non-judgemental. They didn't understand how a jury could convict a man whom they knew was innocent and it astonished them. Harper Lee, makes the reader comprehend that Scout and Jem purely do something that is only lead by the reality that is exposed to them. They are vastly influenced by the standards and principles of Maycomb, but not forced to proceed by them. The author makes her beliefs against prejudice explicit through Scout’s response towards vital events such as the trial of Tom Robinson.