Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

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The Power of Prejudice A mockingbird is a harmless bird that creates music for the enjoyment of people, thereby symbolizing innocence. Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, an attorney for the state of Alabama, teaches his children, Jem and Scout many valuable lessons, such as how it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, which symbolizes destroying innocence. He also teaches his children to step into the shoes of another person before passing judgement, which helps his children to get a grasp of the destructive nature of prejudice. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the symbol of a mockingbird to demonstrate how even the most harmless and selfless people, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are faced …show more content…

Atticus Finch resembles the symbol of a mockingbird through his selfless and humble personality. Because of his personality, he is bound determined to help free Tom Robinson but is faced with prejudice for standing up for a black man by the surrounding inhabitants of the racist community in which he lives. While talking with his children, Atticus Finch is asked why he must defend Tom Robinson. Without hesitation, Atticus Finch answers, "For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't, I couldn't hold up my head in town. I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). Through his reasoning, Atticus shows how deeply affected he is by Tom Robinson’s trial and how much he cares about it. From the good of his heart, Atticus helps Tom Robinson because he wants to be the best, most honest person and father he …show more content…

Tom Robinson faces racial prejudice when he is accused by Bob Ewell, as well as throughout the entirety of the trial, including the outcome. In Tom Robinson’s testimony, he describes his interactions with Mayella to the jury, explaining, “‘She’d call me in, suh. Seemed like every time I passed by yonder she’d have some little somethin’ for me to do-- choppin’, kindlin’, totin’ water for her. She watered them red flowers every

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