Perspective and Racism: An Analysis of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has a large number of themes that help expand on the story and provide life lessons to the characters and reader. Perspective is one of the major themes in the novel and repeatedly shown through the dialogue and actions of the characters. The book is set during the Great Depression in the small town of Maycomb County. The author majorly focuses on racism and how it affects a trial that occurs in the story. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch is a girl who’s life the reader follows over a period of three years in which she learns about the “real world” from experiences such as the trial. In those years, Scout and her brother, Jem, speculate over a man named Boo Radley and in the end realize that their perspective

and perception of him was been based off of rumors they were hearing. The concept of perspective is shown many times in this novel.
To Kill a Mockingbird is told from the view of Scout and the reader gets to see first hand her reaction to situations in the book. As a child, the reader sees her view doubted multiple times by those around her such as when she hits Francis, her cousin. Francis was provoking her and called Atticus, Scout’s father, rude names. At the time, Scout did not even know the meaning of what Francis really said, but it was because of how she has heard others talking about that specified word and how Francis says it that she thought it to be bad. Atticus was representing a man in court and white people in Maycomb County began to think lower of him because he was protecting a black man, Francis was one of those people. Scout, when she was yelled at for attacking Francis, believed that no one heard her side of the story. Scout says “Well in the first place you never stopped to gimmie a chance to tell you my side of it---you just lit right into me.” (113) Scout is referring to Jack, her uncle, who was not listening to her side of the story and as Scout put it, “lit right into me”. This suggests that Scout felt personally attacked by Uncle Jack. Scout’s family are the people who she relies on to believe and acknowledge her, but Uncle Jack immediately tosses away here perspective on the situation. This example is just one of many that show Scout's perspective is overlooked and not taken either seriously or heard at all. Another time Scout’s perspective was important was when she chose to look at a dangerous situation and try to fix the problem by being calm and kind. Such as when Jem and Scout go to find Atticus “guarding” Tom. A group of white men appear and they intend to kill Tom Robinson, a black man who was to go on trial for raping and beating Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Walter Cunningham is one of these men and was the one Scout focused on. Instead of falling into the fear of what may occur, Scout began a conversation about his son with him (204-205). It settled the conflict and the group of men went home after Cunningham called them off. Scouts view of the situation allowed her to deal with the problem. Scout is able to assess the situation and make a quick judgement how how she should act. Because of Scout’s experiences with Walter Cunningham Jr., and he young age, she was able to talk to a part of Cunningham that Atticus and Jem wouldn’t have been able to.
Boo Radley’s perspective in the novel also provides insight into topics such as loneliness and how he looked at the world. Arthur “Boo” Radley was a man who locked himself up inside his
home and never came out, Scout and Jem had been scared to go near his home and it soon became a challenge to see who could touch it or see him. He looked after them though, and as they grew older they began to realize how he looked at the world and why he stayed in his home. And towards the end of the book, when both Scout and Jem were finally exposed to what the world truly was Jem said, “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside” (304). Boo Radley sees the world as an evil place and would rather have isolation than to face the horrors of it. Boo’s perspective shows the extremes and how awful the world can be. (REPETITIVE) The phrase “stayed shut up” demonstrates how the people around Boo view him as a recluse. Lee chose to write “shut up” instead of “shut in”. This may represent how Boo has to stay quiet, it may be his choice to view his opinion. This demonstrated when Scout says “Atticus, he was real nice,” and Atticus replies with “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them” (376). Boo Radley helps save Scout and Jem, he saw the good in both of them and in the end when the rumors and false givings fall
away, you see the true person inside.
During the three years at which To Kill a Mockingbird was set in, a huge part of the book was the trial of Tom Robinson.

Atticus Finch was appointed the defense of Robinson and fought for him unlike many other white lawyers, who would not have if they been chosen for this position. During the trial, racism played a key part and it was that factor which led to the outcome. While it is not explicitly stated in the book, Mayella Ewell lies on the stand about Tom Robinson’s actions. Atticus says, when he is defending Robinson, “She did something every child has done--she tried to put the evidence of her offense away from her” (272). Mayella was trying to close off what was happening, she knew what she saw and did but her perspective on the world and how her family and such would react to it made her accuse Tom Robinson. The trial was a showing of how people limited their perspective. Judge Taylor says “People generally see what the look for, and hear what they listen for” (??) Racism, Sexism and all forms of hatred lead to the clouding of judgement and hiding what they actu.ally may see or feel. A person’s perspective is important in cases like this because they may not see the full story, such as the jurors, or they may hide the story, such as

Mayella.
In conclusion, perspective is a key theme in the book To Kill a Mockingbird and appears multiple times throughout it. The theme is shown through characters such as Scout Finch and Boo Radley. The trial against Tom Robinson was based on perspective, racism and what people tended to avoid for the better of themselves. People’s perspectives each differ, even if it’s based on the same situation and in this novel, it’s shown just that.

Boo Radley has helped save Scout and Jem, he has seen the good in both of them and in the end when the rumors and false givings fall away, you see the true person inside. Lee writes, “finally see them” which suggests a deeper meaning, not just that Jem and Scout can’t see Boo’s face. ( add more lmao )