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Hypocrisy In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Thesis: Lee’s philosophies of hypocrisy, the difference between right and wrong, and the symbolism of the mockingbird is shown by the use of dialogue, and characterization.

In the novel, Lee expresses hypocrisy within the Society through the use of three characters. Lee shows hypocrisy with the use of Miss Gates, Scout’s third grade teacher. Miss Gates teaches the class about all the evil things Hitler does to the Jews in Germany. Showing her students why she disagrees with Hitler, Miss Gates tells the class that “over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced” (208-209). However, while at the Missionary Society meeting Scout overhears Miss Gates talking about how Tom Robinson's conviction …show more content…
Lee also uses Mrs. Merriweather, Aunt Alexandra’s friend, to show hypocrisy. While at the Missionary Society meeting Mrs. Merriweather tells Scout all about the missionary work of J. Grimes Everett among African Americans, yet when it comes to Blacks in Maycomb she complains that they are still upset after Tom’s trial. As Mrs. Merriweather talks to Gertrude, Scout overhears her saying, “there’s nothing more distracting than a sulky darky” (1970). Mrs. Merriweather’s attitude comes off as very condescending. Because she tells the women that she fully supports Everett in his fight to help African Americans, but when it comes to the African Americans in Maycomb she cannot seem to see them as anything but slaves. Lastly, Scout’s first grade teacher, Miss. Caroline, also shows the characteristics of a hypocrite. On the first day of school Miss Caroline unfairly punishes Scout for already knowing how to read and write. It seems that Miss Caroline feels as if she has more knowledge than the rest of Maycomb. While in an argument with Scout, Miss Caroline yells out “Your father does not know how to teach” showing that she feels superior to Atticus (12). However, her superiority seems to be diminished as she is …show more content…
Throughout the novel Jem, Dill, and Scout become very curious with the “mysterious” Boo Radley because he has not been seen outside of his house since he was a little boy. The children actually become really afraid of him after hearing that he drove scissors into his father’s “pants leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities” (7). However, stories like this were based on gossip, no one really knew anything about Boo Radley. At the end of the novel, Scout finally meets Boo and learns that all the gossip she heard turns out to be not true. Boo is actaully just the outcast of the neighborhood, he is characterized only by what others say about him. Like Boo Radley, Tom is characterized as an outcast within Maycomb. The normal mentality of most Americans is that “when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s word, the white man always wins” (187). Throughout the trial Atticus has substantial proof that Tom was an innocent man, but since he is a black man the jury still found him guilty, ignoring what Atticus has said. Maycomb finds Tom to be an outcast, and they only see him for who they wanted to see him as and not for the real Tom Robinson. Tom and Boo represent outcasts throughout the Country, but in reality there are outcasts in every community. When Atticus tells Jem and Scout to “remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” he refers to the actions directed

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