Racism proves the most obvious form of discrimination shown in To Kill a Mockingbird
but other types of discrimination exist in the novel. Many people ridicule others for many things
including class and gender. Racism, gender and class serve as major discriminatory subjects to
the people of Maycomb.
Many examples of racism show throughout To Kill a Mockingbird from how the blacks
in Calpurnia’s church talk about the Finch children to how Mayella describes blacks during Tom
Robinson’s trial. When Calpurnia brings Scout and Jem to her church while Atticus traveled to
an urgent session of the state legislature, Lula asked Calpurnia why she “[is] bringin’ white
chillun to [black] church” and when she approaching Calpurnia, Calpurnia says “stop right there,
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[black]” (Lee 119). The way that refers to the Finch children shows how she believes that they should not be allowed to go to a church that blacks go to. Calpurnia tells her to stop right there, then calls her ‘black’ because blacks and whites both referred to blacks by the color of their skin and not by their names, showing that they held a lower place in society. While testifying in the trial for Tom Robinson, Mayella states that she may have asked “[Tom Robinson] to come inside the fence before” but that she “mighta” because “there was several [blacks] around” (Lee 184). This shows that Mayella did not pay enough attention to Tom Robinson because other blacks passed by her house. This shows just how little society viewed blacks, as they did not pay attention to individuals but rather all blacks as a whole. Just as racism caused disturbances among people, gender did as well. Jem treated Scout as if she did not have as much capability as others because of her gender and that she had to act a certain way. Jem stated that “girls always imagined things” and “that’s why other people hated them so” and that if Scout “started behaving like one [she] could just go off and find some to play with” (Lee 41). Jem treated Scout as if she had to act like how other girls acted and that she had to start behaving like one. This shows how Jem believes that things that girls do have no purpose and are bad and that things that boys do are good and actually have purpose. Atticus states that “Miss Maudie can’t serve on a jury because she’s a woman” and that they need to “protect [their] frail ladies from sordid cases like Tom’s” because “the ladies’d be interrupting to ask questions” (Lee 221).
This shows that Atticus believes that all
women need to put their two cents into the case and ask questions. By stating ‘frail ladies’
Atticus shows how men think women think and how they react to difficult decisions in hard
times. Just as gender and race separate people, social class also serves as a discriminatory
subject.
Many classes make their appearance in To Kill a Mockingbird and one of which, those
who live off of the work of others and do not care about how others view them or how they treat
others. The Ewells let “no economic fluctuations [change] their status” and they “lived as guests
of the county in prosperity as well as in the depths of a depression” (Lee 170). The Ewells lived
off the work of other people and they did not put any effort forth to change their state of poverty.
The Ewells earned themselves a view of helpless and incoherent to others or the fact that they
should not live off of the hard work of others. After Miss Maudie offers Walter Cunningham a
quarter, he denies it and Scout tells her “he’s a Cunningham” and that he didn’t forget his lunch,
he didn’t have any” and that “the Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back”
(Lee 20). Because the Cunningham’s work hard for what they do have, they do not take handouts unless they know they can pay it back. The Cunninghams represent the poor people in the community who live honest lives and only take things from others if they can give it back. All forms of discrimination separate communities and put up walls in people's’ lives. Racism holds a prevalent part in To Kill a Mockingbird and separates people of different skin color. The gender discrimination between people in Maycomb holds a large part in society today as well as in most cultures. In almost all cultures, social class can be found. All three types of discrimination are but a few of the many types found in the world, but all discrimination tears people apart.
Outside the jailhouse before the trial began, Scout learned that as a child she could make angry men stand in Atticus’ shoes for a minute. There was a crowd who was made with Atticus, and they wanted to hang Tom Robinson. She talked to Walter Cunningham directly about his own family, which reminded him of what a decent person he really was. He then led the group away. (“Last night you made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. That was enough.”—Atticus (Lee, pg. 157)). Mr. Cunnigham was only in that group of people because he (and most of the other men) were afraid something bad would happen to them if they turned on Atticus’ side.
One of the principal aims of To Kill a Mockingbird is to subject the narrator to a series of
...This is a very powerful article taking his readers into the world of being poor and homeless, and what people experience every day that could never be imagined. Eighner says in one of his last paragraphs that, “many times in our travels I have lost everything but the clothes I was wearing and Lizbeth” (Eighner 724). He also states that he and the wealthy have the same attitudes about knowing there is more where what they came from. Eighner is so powerful and doesn’t care what others think of him. He is just trying to survive like everyone else. To have such a carefree attitude is very moving.
Accused of raping a poor white girl, innocent Tom Robinson is now faced with a desperate trial. “The evil assumption-that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber.” (Lee 273). Atticus delivers a powerful speech to the courthouse audience highlighting the disturbing truth of the unfair society. Although there was substantial evidence proving Tom’s innocence against Mayella Ewell, Tom was convicted for the rape the Ewell’s made up to disguise their guilty faults. The stereotypical accusation of the unjustifiable verdict costed Tom his life, when he grew “tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own.” (Lee 315). There are always two sides to a story and specifically someone from the black community had their strong opinion on those of the white community. When Calpurnia brought Jem and Scout to her church, they were interrogated by an angered Lula. “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here-they got their church, we got our’n.” (Lee 158). Lula makes a stereotypical judgement, after seeing Jem and Scout she immediately labels them white, and we can infer her thoughts are pulled from her prior knowledge of the stereotypical racist white community. She has never met Jem and Scout yet is quick to group
This suggests that the Ewells live of the town?s dump which isn?t a very hygienic way of living, but then again Mr Ewell is an unemployed alcoholic. As we are told earlier,
In conclusion, racial discrimination is evident within To Kill a Mockingbird through many of the characters. Examples of this form of discrimination are Scout Finch getting stabbed by Bob Ewell, Atticus almost being attacked by a lynch mob, and Tom Robinson being shot seventeen times. One trial brought an innocent man to his premature death, a child to being assaulted by a grown man, and a father merely doing the right thing. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson were affected by racial discrimination throughout the entire novel.
Discrimination is prevalent when people that are different are called names. Some people thought blacks were automatically dumb because of their color. They weren't allowed to do anything but menial tasks (such as chopping wood) and hard labor because they were thought too dumb. The novel TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee has numerous accounts of racism and prejudice throughout the entire piece. The novel is set in the 1930's, a time when racism was very prevalent.
thought. People began to judge other people based on the rumors they hear from numerous of people. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the townspeople often overlook a class or a person based on their skin color which is a form of judgement. This is relevant in today's society. Many social class view another group or a person as not important. In both cases, our society today and the novel show examples of judgment that occurs both in social class and racism.
One Sunday, while their father is away, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church. The reverend says, “‘The collection taken up today and for the next three Sundays will go to Helen-his wife, to help her out at home’” (160). This reveals that the entire black community is involved in the Tom Robinson case, and they are all working together to help him and his family. During the trail, Scout, Jem, and Dill sit in the balcony with the reverend they met at church. After Tom is declared guilty, Scout says, “I looked around. They were standing. All around us and in the balcony on the opposite wall, the Negroes were getting to their feet” (283). The fact that they all stand shows their respect for Tom and Atticus, and is another example of the black community uniting. In the twenty fourth chapter, Atticus comes home with the news that Tom was shot and killed. He says “‘Cal, I want you to come out with me and help me tell Helen.’”(315). Calpurnia does go with him, to aid him. This is another example of blacks helping blacks.. The unity of the black community throughout the novel was only seen through Calpurnia.
Thus, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley are all victims of rumour, humiliation, and prejudice. Firstly, Atticus is humiliated by his family and his neighbourhood because he has stood up to an African American man, and then, is nicknamed “nigger-lover” for his decision. By strong evidence, Tom Robinson is proven innocent of rapping a young white woman, but is still convicted, and then shot to death because he is black. Finally, Arthur Radley is greatly misunderstood because of his mysterious background and is forced to isolate from society to escape the awful and untruthful rumours about him in Maycomb. Through the storytelling of Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley, the reader understands how the mockingbird symbol is used to represent those who are innocent, and have good intentions at heart.
One form of prejudice is rumors, it can cause harm to that individual who is being targeted and affect their future based on the rumor actually is and whether people would actually believe it or not. Rumors can easily hide the truth about that person’s personality because they are basically lies, opinions, and made up stories about that individual. Some people might start passing around judgments based on that rumor and that can a lot of trouble and conflict between the people. That person might not even be able to show their face to other people because they are so ashamed of themselves. This can also caused them to take a wrong step and end their live there. Rumors have destroyed many homes. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley is an example of whom has been through prejudice for almost his entire life. As young children, Jem and Scout Finch are led to believe that Boo Radley is a horrifying man. People have set his image as a horrifying guy who likes to eat dead animals and is cruel. Unfortunately, their opinion of him has been influenced all the people that live in maycomb to believe he is a cruel man and he is nothing but scary. A examples of these...
...childhood idealism and enters a state of disillusionment. He is forced to confront evil and incorporate it into a more adult understanding of the world. Boo lives as a recluse, avoiding the harsh judgmental community he was once apart of. Dolphus Raymond similarly avoids contact, and turns into a bitter man with little faith in the world. In contrast, Atticus maintains a positive outlook on Maycomb and society in general, despite having seen and experienced more than his fair share of evil. The author encourages readers to follow Atticus’s moral compass - to see past the often black and white portrayal of good versus evil and recognize that everyone has potential for both. This is the first step in creating a less prejudiced society where individuals are not victimized for their race or beliefs; a place where mockingbirds would be left alone to sing their hearts out.
As a society, individuals often revert to the financial status of a person in order to judge their character and potential. However, looking solely at social class, the perception of the individual is primarily based on material possessions or lack thereof.
It is difficult to decide what is worse, the work done in the mines or the housing to which the miners returned to at night. The especially cruel truth. is the fact that the rent of a family of six living in two barren rooms, two hundred yards from an outdoor privy, extorted most of the household wages. Orwell 's urgent prose does not let anyone turn a blind eye to the facts. Although Orwell wrote from the perspective of a “participant observer” it still resonates today 's concerns about the effects of poverty on people 's everyday lives and dreams.
The economic problems that James and Emely’s family traverse become a barrier to them, because