The Instances of Injustice and Justice in To Kill A Mocking Bird and Silas Marner

The Instances of Injustice and Justice in To Kill A Mocking Bird and Silas Marner

In this essay I am going to compare and contrast the instances of

injustice and justice in "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Silas Marner".

"To Kill A Mockingbird" is set in Maycomb, in the southern state of

Alabama during the years, 1933-35, the time of the Great Economic Depression.

Racial prejudice was particularly strong in the Southern States due to

the earlier abolishment of slavery, slavery played an important part

in the regions' economy. Blacks were still considered as slaves to

whites and these racist ideas, superstitions and the general state of

injustice was at its peak during the years of "To Kill A Mockingbird".

Instead of the abolishment of slavery causing harmony between whites

and blacks it instead worsened the divisions between them. Maycomb is

a prime example of a town containing much prejudice, discrimination

and injustice.

"Silas Marner" was set between 1795 and 1825 in Raveloe, England.

Britain and France were at war from 1793 until 1802 which caused

terrible poverty across the land. In "Silas Marner", there are no

black people so racial prejudice does not come into the book. There is

prejudice against people who are different as there is in "To Kill A

Mockingbird".

"Silas Marner" was written in 1861 by George Elliot, it tells the

story of a miserly weaver, the novel reveals injustice, the

consequences of this injustice and finally the righting of wrong.

In "To Kill A Mockingbird", Maycomb is a very prejudiced town, this

could have been because it was behind time. Most people in Maycomb are

racist except for the more middle c...

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...cted her,

although they were the rich, high-class family, she would still prefer

to live with the kind father she grew up with. This shows justice

because Godfrey rejected Eppie and now Eppie rejected Godfrey.

Silas Marner is the true victim of prejudice. Expelled from one

community because of a false accusation of theft, and finding himself

a stranger in the community in which he goes to live. He first becomes

a miser then I robbed of his gold but the 'blessed' with a needy child

in its place. Eventually through her he is emotionally healed and

finally accepted into the community. As in "To Kill A Mockingbird",

the ending is happy with justice being done.

Both novels are 'moral' stories and both portray a great injustice,

but the justices outweigh them although in "To Kill A Mockingbird", a

man loses his life.