The True Antagonist

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Recommended: Prejudice and discrimination against minorities

Every well-written fictional novel has a protagonist, and an antagonist. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, does have a clear and definite protagonist, but a strange antagonist. Narrated in the perspective of a young girl named Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, the book follows the story of her younger life, but quickly transitions to a dreadful court-case caused by the false accusation of an African-American solely based on the mere fact of him being a person of color. Throughout the novel, it becomes clear that Maycomb county antagonizes its people- making it the antagonist. Obviously, a town itself cannot be the antagonist, however, the people of a town can. Alienation, hatred towards those who support righteousness, and distressing conditions articulate this. Maycomb county alienates the poor and embarrassing people. When the novel introduces the Cunninghams as one of the poorest family in Maycomb, Atticus says, “‘Mr. Cunningham [...] came from a set breed of men’” (Lee 28). The head of the family is Mr. Cunningham, and therefore represents the family as a whole because the husband and father in a family usually makes the money in a 1930s family. Lee uses a metaphor to compare the Cunninghams to a set breed of people. “Breed” means an animal that has a different appearance than others. “Set” means the trait passes on- referring to poverty. A “set breed” conveys a type of animal or person differentiated by specific traits or appearance. This means the Cunninghams are set off from other families. They become alienated from society. Since poverty runs in their family, “Cunningham” synonymizes to “poor.” The county alienates them, thus alienating the poor. The county also alienates the Ewells, but for being embarrassing. Atticus says,... ... middle of paper ... ...d prejudice. However, he has to leave his “cocoon,” meaning exposure to these negative aspects of his hometown. Jem becomes vulnerable, causing him to discern the harsh prejudiced people and racists he lives among- distressing him. Distressing a person means antagonizing a person; therefore, Maycomb antagonizes its people. Antagonization clearly presents itself in Maycomb county. The alienation of the poor and embarrassing, hatred towards people who encourage righteousness, and distressing its population shows this to be true. By making the county as a whole the protagonist, Lee conveys that racism and prejudice cause conflict in society. Interestingly, instead of having one antagonist to represent all that is evil, she says that all of the people who make up a county or community each work together to cause trouble, and potential death of an innocent “mockingbird.”

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