More handpicked essays just for you.
Impacts of prejudice/discrimination
How racial discrimination effects people
Impact of racial discrimination on society
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
When prejudice is demonstrated in any situation, it is can easily cloud one’s judgement and influence their actions. In the beginning of the novel, Jem tells Scout about the rumors he had heard about Boo Radley. The rumors consisted of false descriptions that left Scout and Jem believing Boo Radley was ultimately a monster. As kids, they never stopped to think if what they were being told was true and that had caused them to act upon this bias description without waiting to find out. Boo, being an easy target since he never leaves his house and has no other reputation, is being discriminated and inaccurately accused of things that were never proven to be true, like his appearance. Jem hears a rumor about Boo Radley’s lifestyle and looks, in …show more content…
They reenacted events in Boo’s life that they believed were true due to the rumors that were spread throughout Maycomb. This consisted of the time where Boo had bit off his mother’s finger one night when he couldn’t find any cats or squirrels to eat and stabbing his father with scissors for no apparent reason. While doing this, Scout, Jem, and Dill did not stop to think what they were doing was wrong because of all the rumors they had heard. As they reenact “Boo's big scene [where] Dill would walk by, cough at Jem, and Jem would fake a plunge into Dill's thigh”, it shows that the kids really did believe that Boo actually hurt his father, without questioning where the information came from. The cruelty that is being displayed here is not because the kids are generally rude, but because of the prejudice they see throughout town that makes them act this certain way. This shows that because of the prejudice around town, Jem, Scout, and Dill are influenced to act off of it. Another example where people’s minds are being crowded by prejudice is when a mob of men gang up on Atticus and try to harm Tom Robinson because they assume that Tom is guilty of raping Mayella …show more content…
Atticus understood that since African Americans were considered lower class and uncultured, people instantly believed in the unproven rumor without having evidence to back it up. Individuals like Walter Cunningham begin to group up into mobs to kill Tom when he was held in custody, which also meant having to go through Atticus. Since racism and bigotry were considered normal and were shown all throughout society back then, the people who became prejudice to Tom started to threaten him, his family, and even Atticus, thinking it was normal. They were very persistent and blunt on what they wanted to achieve, “In ones and twos, men got out of the cars…‘You know what we want,’ another man said. ‘Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch’” (151). Because of racism and prejudice in society, African Americans are being mistreated and wrongly accused, like shown in the Tom Robinson situation. The men are so fixated on the preconceptions and because of that, their judgements and actions are being clouded. The prejudice and hatred toward all African Americans is very strong, causing it to cloud each and every one of these men to lose their sense of humanity and
It teaches them to not be prejudice and get to know a person before making a judgement. Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley, was frowned upon by many people in the Maycomb community. He was rumoured to have been locked in the basement by his father and older brother after an incident involving scissors. Though never seen stepping outside his house, he intrigues yet also frightens Scout, Jem and their friend Dill. After different events in the novel, the children come to find that Boo Radley is not intimidating, but a man who due to his father, is emotionally damaged. Miss Maudie, a neighbour of the Finch’s, explains to Scout that "Mockingbirds don 't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don 't eat up people 's gardens, don 't 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.” The mockingbird is a symbol for innocent people, who are judged for no reason. Like the mockingbird, Boo Radley has people prejudiced against him when he is an innocent man. By using this metaphor, the reader is able to understand the link between Boo Radley and the innocence and morality. As well as the mockingbird, he also symbolises goodness. By secretly watching over Scout and Jem, he protects them from later being attacked by Bob Ewell, a symbol of evil. When Jem and Scout begin to trust Boo, they are paying the highest tribute they could pay him.
Three students kicked out of a high school for threatening to bring a gun to school. Why would they? Because people were prejudice against them because other students thought they were “losers”. Moral: You shouldn’t not like a person because they aren’t like you. Prejudice was far much worse in the time period of To Kill A Mockingbird. But, Prejudice is the reason for much social injustice. Three characters named Nathan Radley, Atticus Finch, and Aunt Alexandria show us this in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird.
One of the first lessons taught in Mockingbird is the power of understanding other people’s perspectives. Initially, Scout has trouble empathizing with other people, especially her first Grade Teacher, Miss Caroline, whom Scout becomes frustrated at for not understanding Maycomb’s complex social structure. After hearing his daughter complain, Atticus tells Scout that she'll “get along a lot better with all kinds of folks [if she] considers things from [their] point of view” (39). After ‘standing in the shoes of another person’, it is much harder to be prejudiced towards that person. Indeed, this may be because a key tenet of prejudice is disregarding the views of whoever is being judged. Nevertheless, it proves difficult for Scout to grasp this relatively simple concept, who begins to hear rumors of Boo Radley, an enigma who has not been seen outside his home for over 30 years. Thus begins Jem and Scout’s quest to make Boo Radley come outs...
In the case of Scout and Jem, they believed that Boo Radley, who is an outcast of Maycomb, possesses a horrific appearance, and that he is a savage, "he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained." However, as the story progresses, it is revealed that Boo is actually a kind-hearted person who has not done anybody wrong, but unfortunately, he was ruined by the hands of his family. Thus, Boo is an example of a mockingbird, as mentioned by Atticus. The disclosing of the character of Boo demonstrates Scout and Jem's loss of innocence. They can no longer see Boo as a mysterious threat in their life, instead they saw Boo as a person. "...he's crazy..but Atticus I swear to God he ain't ever harmed us, he coulda cut my throat...but he mend my pants instead..." In a way, Boo serves as a symbol of the transition of Scout and Jem's maturity, as the kids exhibit their ability to empathize with
Boo Radley is the next door neighbor of the Finch’s. He is an outsider of the community, because he does not leave the house. He got in some trouble as a teenager, so his father locked him up inside the house. After his father died, his brother moved in with him. While Boo was locked up inside is house, the people of Maycomb County made up stories about him. The legend of Boo Radley was well-known to the people of Maycomb. Jem describes Boo, “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. 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.” (Lee ). Boo is an innocent character because all he does stay inside his own house, and does not bother anybody. Yet the entire town believes that he could be a murderer. Harper Lee is showing that if you do not fit into southern society, they will make you into an outsider and a bad legend. Another example of Boo Radley being an innocent character is when he gives a blanket to Scout. Miss Maudie Atkinson, one of the Finch’s neighbors, had a house fire. Atticus (Scout and Jem’s father) woke up the kids and made them go outside, in case the fire spread to their house. While Scout was not looking someone gave her a blanket, “‘Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up.’ ‘Thank who?’ I asked. ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.’”(Lee ). Boo Radley is an innocent character because he helped warm up Scout in the cold, yet Scout was still scared that Boo had been near here. Harper Lee is showing us that Boo could do a nice thing, and yet Scout would still be scared because of his reputation. Finally, another
When stereotypes of Boo are used, the truth is often obscured. 'You'll get killed if you touch that tree';(pg 38) This quote reveals that the two siblings felt that Boo was a harmful person because of false rumors. Stereotypes are easily picked up, and used to horrible extreme when a large majority of people use them. This was the case with Scout and Jem when they picked up on the stereotypes going around the neighborhood about Boo. 'When I got there, my breeches were all folded and sewn up';(pg 63) When Boo sewed Jem's breeches together, this was a sign from Boo to let the children realize what a kind and pleasant man he really was. Also, Boo was considerate enough to save Jem from a couple of whippings, because after all, if Atticus were to see the torn pants he would have known Jem was the culprit in the Radley's yard. 'You were so busy looking at the fire, you didn't notice Boo behind you';(pg 76) This was also a symbol which Boo shared to let the kids slowly realize the truth about him, that he was an innocuous caring person hiding behind a fading shadow. Boo just wanted to be seen as the real him instead of the horrid stereotypes which deformed his image.
They have many misconceptions of people, places, and concerts in Maycomb county. However as they are young and don't really have opinions themselves. They abide by those presented them. At the start of the novel Scout and Jem see Mr. Arthur Radley or "Boo", as a dangerous, crazy, and rather isolated man. Although never being in his presence or in association with him they always make assumptions about him. They constantly pestered his household and played games that mocked him, "..time to play Boo's big scene...steal the scissors...Jem would fake plunge into Dill's thigh..."(LEE40).They also had the misconception that Boo was kept inside forcefully by his family. Boo was also blamed for unresolved events. As time goes by they mature and start to develop more of an understanding of Boo, "..I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in his house all this time...he wants to stay inside"(LEE227). Jem develops an understanding as to why Boo Radley stays inside. It's not because his family forces him to stay inside. He realizes that when living in a town like Maycomb, there is an incredible amount of judgement and labeling that occurs. It becomes evident to him that Boo has no place and isn't welcomed into the society. Especially with having a stereotype "glued" to his identity. Scout then has an
Prejudice is arguably the most prominent theme of the novel. It is directed towards groups and individuals in the Maycomb community. Prejudice is linked with ideas of fear superstition and injustice.
Prejudice is a real life problem in the world. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee describes the prejudices found in a small American town in the 1930's. Race, social class, and gender are examples of prejudice.
... statement you must understand that as Jem and Scout matured they learned why Boo would not come out. Jem and Scout learn more about the community and realize that the prejudice about Boo is as deeply rooted into society as is racism. Scout’s understanding that revealing to the community that Boo is actually a good person would be like ‘shootin’ a mockingbird’ (370 Scout). She realizes that Boo is emotionally fragile because of the way that the community treats him, and that revealing his part in the death of Bob Ewell would be like ‘shootin’ a mockingbird’ (370 Scout). Scout realizes that Boo is shy and quiet and that forcing him into the spotlight would only harm him. Furthermore, it is also revealed that Boo is a kind person because he saves Jem’s life, although Jem mocked him throughout the novel and though that he ‘dined on squirrels’ (16 Scout/Jem)
As Scout and Jem Finch’s summer began, they started to suspect that Boo Radley was a monster. They started playing games about him and making fun of him, and acting as if he was unlike them. For example,
The beginning of the book focuses on Scout, Jem, and Dill, trying to bring Boo Radley out. Throughout this period of time, they come up with many bizarre stories about him. Jem described Boo Radley to Dill saying “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall… he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained…what teeth he had were yellow and rotten...” (pg16). They also are terrified of getting near the Radley house, as they are scared of what Boo Radley might do to them. The only
On the way home from the trial, Scout narrates “it was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. “It ain’t right,” he muttered.”(284) Understandably Jem was upset about losing the trial; the trial was a rude awakening for Jem, as the true prejudice nature of Maycomb as a whole is shown to him. The harsh shock of the verdict was an undeserved act on Jem’s innocence; as before the trial, Jem is aware of the racism, but he was never forced to face it head on, and when this happens he couldn’t handle it. Furthermore, Jem is also portrayed as a mockingbird when the children wanted to find a new scene to act out, in the words of Jem, “I know what we are going to play," he announced. "Something new, something different. […] Boo Radley."(51) The children then acted out what they thought of the Radley’s life; and even though it was not their intent, the children’s antics provided entertainment for Boo. Although it was portraying him in a bad way, this was a great source of joy to Boo. Lastly, Jem’s mockingbird traits shined during the attack made on Scout and himself by Mr. Ewell; he didn’t do any harm to his attacker, as Officer Tate stated, “your boy never stabbed Bob Ewell, .., didn’t come near a mile of it… All he wanted was to get him and his sister safely home.”(369). Whether he meant to or not, Jem was attacked and didn’t do a
Lee exemplifies the ignorant people in a society and their effect on others using the people in Maycomb County. At the light pole on the corner, Dill asks Jem what Boo Radley looks like, and Jem responds with the rumors that have been formed over the years. The narrator says, “Jem gave a reasonable description of Boo: Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that 's why his hands were bloodstained - if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. 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” (Lee 13). The
They both mature and realize the importance of understanding others views as the novel continues. Both Scout and Jem struggle to understand why everyone in the town is extremely racist. This is because they were taught that everyone is equal by their father, Atticus, who is one of the few people in the town who believes in equality. Through the experience with Mrs.Dubose, Boo Radley choosing to always stay in his house, and Atticus’s teachings about point of view, To Kill a Mockingbird presents the theme that people who understand others are more tolerable. The importance of understanding others points of view is shown clearly during Scout and Jems experience with Mrs. Dubose.