...To Kill a Mockingbird: Prejudice Essay Prejudices are all around. Race, gender, religion. There really is no way of making this stop, but there are ways of making them more obvious, so the people can see how bad they can be. One way is through literature. Harper Lee did this very well in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird which is told by Scout, a six-year-old girl, and her life through a few years when racism was at its peak. Scout's father is a lawyer who supports most everyone and causes much controversy when he accepts a case where he must defend a black man. Racism is the most emphasized prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird because of the time that this book was set in. That was the norm. Some examples are when Aunt Alexandra wouldn't let Scout visit her housekeeper's house only because she was black. Another example is when Tom Robinson, the black man Atticus is defending, is in the Maycomb City jail. There was an angry mob of white men outside of his cell wanting to kill him. Some may say that gender is the most emphasized prejudice in this novel. While it is brought up a lot,...
Words: 827 - Pages: 4
...groups and individuals, humankind still finds it difficult to trust based on the soul of a person; | |we are more comfortable making judgements based on skin colour.” | Prejudice, courage and unity… TEXT COMPARISON Are we always champions of tolerance, courage and receptiveness to others? By the very definition of humanity, we must be. Humanity: benevolence, understanding and kindness towards other people. It is, arguably, our very human nature to feel compassion, courage, understanding, unity and empathy towards our fellow man. Unfortunately, prejudice and judgement also cling to the human condition like tumorous stains – traits which society still finds hard to surmount. Despite the efforts of governments, groups and individuals, humankind still finds it difficult to trust based on the soul of a person; we are more comfortable making judgements based on skin colour. Nelle Harper Lee through her 1960 novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ and Boaz Yakin through his 2000 film, ‘Remember the Titans,’ are text composers who tackle the ill-defined paradigms of ‘prejudice, courage and unity’ by painting a picture of the confronting face of racism. Prejudice, courage and unity are notions that are dealt with differently by both composers and, through their use of structural and linguistic features, each composer presents this concept in a manner which connects (or weakens a connection)...
Words: 3544 - Pages: 15
...Aboakesii Racial Prejudice in the 1960’s How would you feel if you went to a store and the cashier made you pay more than normal, only because either you were from a different country, a different skin color, or had a mental illness? Wouldn’t you feel that you didn’t really belong to that society? That’s how African-Americans felt during the 1960’s. That’s how they were treated in the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”, in the trial of Emmett Till, and that of Scottsboro trial. In the book, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, the trials of Emmett Till and Scottsboro, prejudice is displayed by the acts of hate and misunderstanding because of someone’s color. In the book, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, people of color (blacks) were the majority that were treated unfairly. During those time period, black people had to use separate bathrooms, drinking fountains, sections in restaurants and even in the courtroom. One good example of discrimination in the book was how Tom Robinson a young African American was accused of raping a white girl and was found guilty of the charges against him. In the book, it was quoted, “I'd rather you shoot at tin cans, in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit them, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat gardens or nest in corncribs they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us that's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”...
Words: 718 - Pages: 3
...Similarities between Harper Lee’s Childhood Life and Scout Finch’s Childhood Life The To Kill a Mockingbird novel written by Harper Lee is commonly considered one of the twentieth century's most widely read American novels. The vast majority of people that have read the novel are of the belief that the events contained within the novel are based on Harper Lee’s childhood experiences growing up in the South. However, absent of Harper Lee actually confirming the inspirational source for her novel; it’s still an assumption made by the masses. Nonetheless, we all have to agree that there are some very distinct similarities between Harper Lee’s childhood life and the childhood life of Scout Finch’s in the novel. Similarities that exist between Harper Lee’s childhood life and that of Scout Finch in the To Kill a Mockingbird novel were the facts that they were both raised in small rural towns, both of them were tomboys during their childhood years, and they both lived through times of racial prejudice. The first similarity between Harper Lee’s childhood life and Scout Finch’s childhood life is that they were both raised in small rural towns in Alabama. Harper Lee grew up in the small rural town of Monroeville, Alabama that. The town has a small closely knit population where everyone knew their neighbors and knew their neighbor’s business. Aside from this the town of Monroeville is riddled with poverty and racial segregation issues. The pace of life in Monroeville is slow and the townspeople...
Words: 1053 - Pages: 5
...Unjust Prejudice It is a sin to kill a mockingbird because all they do is good for others. This is a very important metaphor used because it explains the prejudice that happens to some characters even though, all they are doing is trying to help others. Prejudice is shown to them through many people in the novel. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, she uses Boo Radley, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson to reveal the prejudice that even happens against innocent men through the mockingbird metaphor. Many people spread rumors of Boo and all the awful things he did. Scout explains, “Jem and I decided that Boo had got her at last, but when Atticus returned from the Radley house he said she died of natural causes, to our disappointment”...
Words: 896 - Pages: 4
...To Kill a Mockingbird, by Nelle Haper Lee was published in 1960, after the 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education and during a time of increasing civil rights unrest (Johnson). It was also a time of great social change in the United States, and a novel about the racial injustices of 1930s Alabama carried a powerful message to its readers. After the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, literature and literacy were used to expose and educate on racial injustice (Prendergrast 2). The dominant theme of the novel is prejudice and ultimately the courage needed to overcome prejudice. There are three main types of prejudice that are explored in the novel; racial prejudice, social prejudice and fear of the unknown. Racial prejudice is present throughout the novel in the people of Maycomb’s everyday life, as it is a novel set in the ‘deep south’ of America in the 1930’s. This period is not so long after the American civil war, so slavery’s abolishment had occurred not all that long ago, and the horror of slavery was still on the mind of many black people at the time (Brundage 86). Because of this, most people’s attitudes towards black people had not changed very much. The situation that shows the best examples of racial prejudice is the trial of Tom Robinson. In his trial, Tom Robinson is misjudged and mistreated because he is black. One of the clearest examples of this is the way in which Mr. Gilmer, Tom’s prosecutor, calls Tom “boy.” He uses a tone of voice towards...
Words: 1526 - Pages: 7
...To Kill A Mockingbird Out of the Radleys, Boo enhances the story To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee the most. He’s very easily judged by most people who see him, because he appears scary and so different to everyone. To Kill A Mockingbird is set in a town called Maycomb, Alabama, where prejudice is very common. Prejudice is shown by how people treat Boo Radley so horribly. The kids although, are extremely facinated with him. This lets readers know his story is important throughout the whole book. Rumors about the Radleys are always flying through town, mostly they’re all about Boo. He’s described as a monster, “There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten, his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time” (Harper Lee 13). When Boo was younger, he killed his dad. Before this happened, Boo was an intelligent kid. His dad though was very cruel and caused Boo to be emotionally damaged. This makes Boo Radley one of the mockingbirds in the story, also making readers understand as to why...
Words: 678 - Pages: 3
...Our world is shaped by our actions and views and what we choose to do with our lives and it is ever changing. Literature helps to express different versions of our world and the author’s views on certain inevitable events, which in some cases are still ingrained into society today. Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960, which had a different context to our present time, and due to this context of the novel, it gives us an insight of the events that shaped our world. This fictional novel conveys both social and cultural context as the main ideas and morals that are portrayed throughout the book are similar to these ideas and morals of a small American country town in the 1930s. To Kill a Mockingbird explores the themes of racial discrimination...
Words: 279 - Pages: 2
...other various events in the 1930’s inspired Harper Lee’s world renown novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. Three events that profoundly correspond to the novel are the Jim Crow laws, mob mentality, and the Scottsboro trials. The first influence on Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird are the Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws are a set of anti-Black laws in order to keep whites on the top of the racial caste system (Pilgrim). The Jim Crow laws vary from ordering Blacks to let White motorists go first at intersections...
Words: 1052 - Pages: 5
...To Kill A Mockingbird: Overview Vanessa Vigneau English 400 March 20, 2015 Cultural and Literary Significance To Kill A Mockingbird was written during the most critical time periods of racial discrimination, the 1930s. During this time racial prejudice was already an issue, especially in the southern states, but during the Great Depression it escalated even more and the imagery in To Kill A Mockingbird allows the reader to fully understand the impact prejudice had on children and adults. To further explore the cultural significance it is important to also realize that the story time period closely related to the time period in which it was published, 1960. During this time, many were trying to fight Jim Crow laws of segregation and were in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. (2007) This story would seem obvious to some as a coming of age story involving the main character and narrator, Scout, but it was much more involved than a little girl growing up and learning to see things from another’s point of view. This story involves the cultural significance of how people lived in the south in the 1930s and how children and adults were affected by the on-going, ugly, violent prejudice. In the story Scout and Jem are taught by their father lessons about courage and tolerance as it is becoming clear to Atticus, he can no longer shield his children from what is happening in their town. He teaches them to stand in someone else’s shoes and consider the world from that perspective...
Words: 1798 - Pages: 8
...In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, justice is demonstrated throughout Atticus’ actions. His strive for equality can be represented by the scales of justice. Atticus believes that everyone should be treated fairly regardless of race, socio-economic or familial background. Having such an honorable and just character, propels Atticus to defend the wronged individual, Tom Robinson. Atticus believes that Tom Robinson is innocent of the crime accused against him and he believes Robinson should not receive the death penalty. Atticus knows Tom might lose this case due to the racial attitudes and prejudices prevalent in the community. When an African-American is accused of a crime, the person is undoubtedly presumed guilty. Atticus still persists in...
Words: 1570 - Pages: 7
...and prejudice. With Americans they always try chase the future forgetting that history does repeat itself. The quote,” It was the worst of times, it was the best time,” from the novel A Tale of Two Cities describes America history superbly. We might have met the impossible in terms of technological but we have not fully changed how we the American people see each other as different in each other's...
Words: 606 - Pages: 3
...story. When Scout finally sees Arthur Radly, Scout’s superstitions disappear, and she finally comes to peace with her curiosity. Through this quote, the author reminds the reader of the main themes of the book, such as prejudice and the innocence of children. In current times, the world is full of prejudices and...
Words: 363 - Pages: 2
...Maya Angelou once said, "Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible." Angelou warns about the negative affects of prejudice. The excerpt of Elizabeth Eckfords story, "She Walked Alone" and the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" written by Harper Lee both share the common theme of prejudice, specifically racial prejudice. Throughout both texts the authors purposefully discuss the issues regarding racial prejudice. They share a similar over meaning and central idea. The central idea shared is that the color of someone skin can affect the mount of respect they receive and how the person is treated. Sadly, people would assume mostly negative things about a person if they were colored, and...
Words: 683 - Pages: 3
...life as a young child. The protagonist of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, is the daughter of a lawyer, a single father who raises both her and her brother, Jem. Nelle Harper Lee was also the daughter of a lawyer, Amasa Coleman Lee, who raised her, two sisters, and a brother, while their mother was suffering from a bipolar disorder. By just describing their immediate family situations, there is already a few similarities between both families. Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is not an autobiography, but there is no doubt there is a strong sense of relativity between Harper Lee and the young Scout Finch. One of the similarities between Scout and Lee is their early exposure to racism as young children. Lee has a very strong experience with racism or segregation, due to the fact of her father being a lawyer who represented all kinds of black clients, and the developing chaos of discrimination, riots, and racism. On March 25, 1931, nine young men were accused and arrested for rape of two white women, which means that Lee would have been around at that time. Both women denied having been raped by any of the men. After a period of five trials, five of the men were sentenced to long prison sentences and many lawyers thought the sentences were motivated by racial prejudice. Harper Lee addresses this in her novel by saying, “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for (To Kill a Mockingbird.) Another time when Harper was exposed to...
Words: 1062 - Pages: 5
