Theme Of Dehumanization In To Kill A Mockingbird

Extinguishing the Flame of Hope

How does dehumanization cause people to feel hopeless? What can this hopelessness lead to? Dehumanization is depriving people of their human qualities or rights. Dehumanization is present in fictional novels and in today’s society. Racism, stereotypes, and prejudice can all cause people to feel dehumanized, and this humiliation often leads to desperation and hopelessness.

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, a character named Boo Radley is humiliated by the citizens of Maycomb, Alabama. Boo Radley has stayed inside in his home for most of his life due to a violent incident that occurred with his father when he was a teenager (Lee 13). The novel states: “According to Miss Stephanie, Boo was sitting in the livingroom cutting some items from The Maycomb Tribune to paste in his scrapbook. His father entered the room. As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s

leg, pulled them out, and resumed his activities (Lee 13).” Because of this devastating event, almost all of the people of Maycomb created a stereotype that Boo Radley and his home were dangerous (Lee 13-14). This stereotype humiliated Boo Radley, which caused him to feel like an outsider in his town.

While dehumanization is one of the major themes in the fictional novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, it is also common in real-world situations today.

According to the article, “Study: Even for college-educated blacks, road to full-time work is rocky,” many African Americans are unemployed, even if they have a college degree (Bowean). Some African Americans cannot pass the interview process because of racism, stereotypes, and prejudice (Bowean). A common perception of African Americans is that they are not smart enough to work at a job or own a business (Bowean). “Among recent black graduates ages 22 to 27, the jobless rate in 2013, the last year for which data are available, was 12.4 percent compared with 5.6 percent for whites (Bowean).” In fact, some of these African Americans do not have the finances to support their families’ needs. Eventually, many of these families become homeless with no money, food, clothing, or shelter (Bowean). Homelessness can then cause these poor people to feel desperate and hopeless about their

future.

Prisons are another place where dehumanization frequently occurs. Sometimes, prisoners are not given basic human rights in jail. For example, at the Passaic County Jail, the prisoners are constantly monitored (inmate). They have no privacy, even when they go to the bathroom (inmate). This is degrading for any human being. Also, police officers do not allow the inmates to speak to visitors or outsiders as they walk through the jail. The prisoners are forced to turn their backs and not speak or make eye contact with any guest (inmate). Prisoners are, therefore, are denied the right to interact with other human beings.

Also, racism against African Americans is prevalent in many prisons, since most inmates are black (inmate). When inmates are released, it is difficult for them to find a job because of their criminal records (inmate). The prejudice against released prisoners can cause them to lose hope in their future. Many of them became so desperate that they commit another crime or suicide (inmate).

Dehumanization can come in many forms: racism, stereotypes, and prejudice. These causes of dehumanization can make people feel like outcasts in society. This rejection often leads people to do desperate things out of hopelessness and despair. Jesus himself recognized those who were being dehumanized by others, and he offered forgiveness, healing, and hope to them.