Prejudice is a one of the most horrible actions that is used by many people throughout the course of the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. At the time, they had just entered the Great Depression, a time that was very bad for everyone throughout the US, especially blacks. It was also very common for white people to treat other black people unfairly, mostly because it was during a time that blacks protested and fought for their rights. Many people still thought that they still should have had control over blacks, even though many people knew they were wrong. Some people would be racist and try to make their way right again, like Bob Ewell, while others tried to defend blacks and their given freedoms, like Atticus. Most people thought it was fine …show more content…
He treated a black man very poorly in front of dozens of people in a court trial as he was trying to prove that Tom Robinson had raped his daughter. He showed this emotion on page 231 when he said, "I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella!" He and his lawyer, Mr. Gilmer, both did as much as they could to break down Tom. They called him names, treated him like dirt, and many other things to prove others that he raped his daughter. They treated him so bad that Dill got sick and had to leave the courtroom because he couldn’t stand listen to them treating Tom like they were. Later in the book, Atticus encountered Mr. Ewell on the street. As he passed by, Mr. Ewell made many horrible remarks and spat on him just because he defended a black man in court. Atticus didn’t do anything back, which made Bob Ewell even more frustrated than he was before. Later in the book, he attacked his children because he embarrassed him in court and because he proved that he raped his own daughter and hurt her, even though the jury voted it was Tom. Bob never forgave him until he accidentally killed himself when he fought Arthur Radley outside of his …show more content…
The main person that does this through the novel is Atticus Finch. He fought for the rights of Tom Robinson and fought with him in a trial that they should have one, as shown page 273 when Atticus said to the jury, “Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire.” He said this right before the of Tom Robinson’s trial, Atticus said this to try to get the attention of the people on the jury and to make them realize that if they chose Tom that it was completely
Atticus Finch is another victim of prejudice in the novel. After accepting to defend Tom Robinson, the town doesn't treat Atticus as an equal. The people of Maycomb believe that Atticus should not present a proper defense for a black person. Atticus doesn't care for this because he believes in equal rights. Atticus does not believe in racism or prejudice. Many people believe that Atticus should not defend a black person in court. This is because many people in Maycomb think a black person is guilty before anything is announced. While Atticus is defending Tom, Atticus makes the jury think differently about Bob Ewell. This makes Bob threaten and disrespect Atticus and his family. Atticus is not bothered by this because he knows he is doing the
In the time that this novel takes places, the black community was seen as lower than the white community. Although Atticus was white, he believed in equality and was the lawyer for a black man accused of rape and abuse named Tom Robinson. Atticus taught Scout and Jem about how it was wrong the kill a mockingbird because they’ve caused no harm. Tom Robinson is a mockingbird to Atticus, so he stands up for what he believes in. It was apparent to Atticus that they would rule Tom guilty. Although the verdict turned out to be guilty, Atticus knew that Judge Taylor and others in the courthouse knew that the Ewell family were lying, and had hope that Tom would be able to get released from jail despite the color of his skin. Another example of when Atticus showed optimism was after the trial when Bob Ewell spat on Atticus. Others were shocked by this occurrence, but Atticus told them that he accepted it. Atticus could’ve easily gotten revenge on Bob, but instead he said, “He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there.” (Lee, 1960, p. 293). Atticus knew the types of things that Bob Ewell did to his children at home, so he let him spit on him in hopes that he wouldn’t harm his children. Atticus’s optimism shows what a caring father and all around person he
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.
The author explains the sinfulness of killing a mockingbird, because of its true innocence. Tom Robinson’s so-called “guilt” was determined, implied by the book, because he was black. Atticus had strong points for his defense and innocence, yet somehow, that factor of evil within human nature overcomes the all-white jury. This is important to acknowledge. This part, and many other situations that occur, captures the racism of the novel.
“Simple hell people give other people without even thinking” is how prejudice is described in this novel. Tom Robinson is a perfect example of how prejudice is shown. Tom was accused of a rape he didn’t do and despite Atticus’s best efforts, Tom was convicted on Mayella's clearly false testimony and because of prejudice against the black race at the time. During Atticus’s closing arguments he states how ignorance and prejudice are blinding people: “ The Witnesses for the state have presented themselves to you gentleman in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on 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”. What Atticus means by this is the jury came up with their verdict not based so much on testimony or actual evidence but on the beliefs that all Negroes lie and are immoral and can’t be trusted basically convicting Tom not on the facts but almost blindly on prejudice. Social prejudice is another theme that exists in the novel. "Every night-sound I heard from my cot on the back porch was magnified threefold; every scratch of feet on gravel was Boo Radley seekin...
Prejudice actions to me, is the main theme for the book to kill a mockingbird. Imagine a world where everyone was separated because the color of their skin. You would also be bullied, hurt, looked down upon, and treated like a alien in your own towns, schools, and even courthouses. Different schools, bathrooms, seating areas, and more. This is th In the story of To Kill a Mockingbird, there is prejudice actions in every chapter. Whether it be people looking down on the black man or they may take it to the extremes and try to hurt or break down a black person.
Webster dictionary defines prejudice as a feeling of dislike for a group because of sex, race, and religion. It’s when a person doesn’t like another person because of something beyond their control. “A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” said Edward B. Hurrow, American Journalist and Broadcaster. People will base their opinions off of other people's opinions. They think they’re forming their own opinions when in reality they’re following other people’s prejudices. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many instances of prejudice such as Black vs. White, judgement of Boo Radley, and criticisms made by Mrs. Dubose.
’To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee covers the period in the lives of a sister, Jean-Louise(Scout) and her older brother,Jem, as they mature while they learn about the prejudice in their community and developing empathy with people who appear different. Scout learns to respect Walter Cunningham how to act like a lady while Jem realizes the injustice in the justice system.
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
At the time To Kill a Mockingbird was published, the Civil Rights era was in full swing. Brown v. Board of Education had legally ended de jure segregation, segregation by law, in schools, but de facto segregation, segregation by fact/circumstance, still ran rampant in the South. Although all were supposed to be created equal in the court, juries were still primarily made up of white men whose racist biases often impeded their impartiality ("Historical Context: To Kill a Mockingbird."). Atticus brings out the truth to his community; whether or not they admit to it, everybody knows that Tom Robinson is innocent. He destroys whatever little is left of Bob Ewell's reputation and pride. He reminds all that they, too, should pursue
How would you react if someone said something racist to you or one of your friends? Prejudice is a common theme throughout not only the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, but in today's society as well. Although the novel is a Fiction story, made up by the author, Harper Lee. The story is based on a real life trial between nine black men, that were being accused of raping a two white woman near Scottsboro Alabama in 1931. The black men in this trial ended up serving time in jail for a crime they didn't commit. This trial was called the Scottsboro Trials. Racism is a major topic throughout our world today. The Prejudice problems of 1935 are the same as now in 2017.
People of all ages, and genders experience prejudice in their everyday lives, either as victims or being guilty themselves of using it towards others due to differences in between them. Prejudice is a presumption of a person based on stereotypes, rumors, the area they are situated in, and hearsay, without any solid facts. Inequity based on gender, sexuality, nationality, and skin colour also highly affects one’s opinions. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee denotes the evils of prejudice and the negative consequences of prejudice that lie in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. By taking the reader, page by page, through various current life situations, and
First, Tom, formally known as Thomas Robinson was a black man who worked for a man named Link Deas. Tom was 25 years old, had three children and a wife named Helen. When he was 11 years old Tom’s left arm was caught in a cotton gin and he lost feeling in his left arm. Tom was accused of rape by a white woman named Mayella. Everyone hated him because it didn’t look good for a black man to be accused of raping a white woman. During his trial he had a white lawyer named Atticus, who did his best to prove that Tom was innocent and Mayella and her dad Bob Ewell were lying. Atticus says,”Did you resist her advances?, Mr.Finch, I tried to ‘thout bein ugly to her. I didn’t wanta push her or nothin.” stated Tom(Lee 195). Tom did not want to kiss her but he didn’t
In life, people sometimes disrespect the actions of others, whether they have done right or wrong. The conflict between Atticus and Mr. Bob Ewell is an example of this. Atticus is a victim of violence, and unfair treatment from his family and the community. Atticus stands up firmly for equality, and justice. Atticus is a victim of physical violence from another character. “ It was Ms. Stephanie’s pleasure to tell us: this morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him” (Lee 217). This violence that occurs shows that Atticus is a victim of unfair actions. Mr. Ewell was upset at Atticus because he fought for equality in Tom Robinson’s court trial. This makes Atticus a mockingbird, because he did nothing wrong. All he did was fight for his rights and the rights for Tom Robinson. Atticus was also accustomed to unfair treatment from his family. A family member states, “I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger lover besides, b...
He simply tries to help the young girl do things, such as cut and carry wood, but he is slammed with the charge of raping and beating her. On the other hand we have Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell, who is nothing but evil. Bob is actually guilty, but no one ever tries to point that out. It never even says it straight forward in the book, but there is clearly enough evidence to show Mr. Ewell was the guilty one. “Robinson made the mistake of saying he felt sorry for a white person — Mayella” (Gandy). Tom has sympathy for Mayella because he also knows her father was the guilty one. Tom showing sympathy is just another good characteristic of his personality. At the end of the novel, the evil is really shown when Mr. Ewell attacks Atticus’s children, Scout and Jem. Bob Ewell is killed by Boo Radley that night or one could say he “fell on his knife.” Tom is also killed for trying to escape from jail – he is shot by the guards. Not only does a good, innocent man get killed in the novel for no reason at all, but the evil one gets his justice as