Prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

743 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays on how tom robinson considered a mockingbird

Prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird

Prejudice is a strong word. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, a black man, Tom Robinson, was accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, and was brought to trial. There were distinct views concerning Tom Robinson's innocence – views influenced by prejudice. The townspeople of Maycomb believed in Tom's guilt while Atticus and the children believed in Tom's innocence.

The townspeople, from day one, knew what the verdict was going to be even though some of them knew deep down that Tom did not rape Mayella. "The older citizens, the present generation of people who had lived side by side for years and years, were utterly predictable to one another: they took for granted attitudes, character shadings, even gestures, as having been repeated in each generation and refined by time" (Lee page #). The townspeople didn't like black people at all. They were two different kinds of people according to them, and the fact that a white man would stand up for a black man in that town got them very upset. "Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That's what I don't like about it" (Lee page #). The townspeople viewed this case as a circus. "It was a gala occasion. There was no room at the public hitching trail for another animal, mules and wagons were parked under every available tree. The courthouse square was covered with picnic parties sitting on newspapers, washing down biscuit and syrup with warm milk from fruit jars" (Lee page #). This was more like entertainment for the townspeople. This was fun for them, talking with friends, having lunch, and joking. It was really sad that they were so prejudiced against the black people.

Atticus was unable to bring about a just verdict because he was in a very prejudiced court and, regardless of the proof, the outcome would still be the same. Atticus knew that Tom Robinson would be found guilty. The victim, Mayella, had been beaten, but not by Tom. Tom Robinson would still be convicted because of the all-white jury. Tom didn't help by saying, "Yes suh. I felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em--" (Lee page #). After all, black people were not supposed to care about white people. It would have been impossible for Tom to do to Mayella what she said he did: "Tom Robinson's powerful shoulders rippled with his right hand on the back of his chair.

Show More
Related

  • Bob Ewell Prejudice

    789 Words  | 2 Pages

    They had seating arrangements too where the white sat downstairs and the black people sat upstairs which was not as nice, which makes the courtroom prejudiced. Before the trial started, the jury and the judge presumed that Tom Robinson was guilty. Atticus had enough evidence to prove to the jury that Tom’s right arm did not work and that would mean that Tom could not have pulled Mayella to the ground and bruised her, as the policeman described. The crowd was surprised, but the Jury and the Judge did not believe Atticus’s evidence. They were prejudiced and if Atticus came up with the best possible explanation, the Judge still believed the Ewell family and they did not come up with a reasonable explanation about Tom.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Ethos Analysis

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the things that Atticus says to the people of the court is that “ she tried to put away her evidence of her offence away for her but in this case, she was no child hiding stolen contraband: she struck out her victim of necessity she put him away from her -he must be removed from the presence of the world.” What Atticus is trying to say here is that if Tom was not a black man then this case would not be going on but because he is black there is a case on to prove he really did rape Mayella Ewell. Another thing that Atticus said is that “her father saw it”. What Atticus is trying to say here is that if Bob Ewell saw the rape then why would he not chase after Tom Robinson or call the doctor before he even called the cops. If she had been raped the first thing that Bob should have done would be to call the doctor for the bruises she got during the attack. This case should not even be going on here because both of the people that say that Tom Robinson raped Mayella Ewell where both racist so you can’t really tell if they are really telling the truth about if Tom Robison really do this horrible crime

    Read More

  • Registered Nurse versus. Physical Therapy

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    Healthcare has become a popular choice for many individuals as a career choice due to the demand. Have you ever thought about a career in healthcare? If so, what interest you more helping people or the pay? Due to the wide range of careers offered in healthcare, proper research should be conducted. Sadly enough, most people when considering a career in healthcare don't take the time to do the proper research to discover which career would fit or benefit them the most. In fact, if the proper research is done individuals may discover there are multitudes of healthcare jobs out there to be discovered. Among the list done in a US New article, registered nurses and physical therapy are listed as one of the 10 best jobs in the United States (Graves, 2012). So, what are the differences in these two promising careers; how much education is required, what are the average cost, job outlooks and overall benefits and what exactly does each of these healthcare professionals do.

    Read More

  • Themes of Prejudice and Tolerance in To Kill a Mockingbird

    816 Words  | 2 Pages

    Racial prejudice is widespread in the county of Maycomb, and a prime example is the Tom Robinson case. Tom, a black man, was accused of raping Mayella, a white woman. Atticus puts forward all evidence from his witnesses that clearly proves Tom was innocent, Jem even says, ?and we?re gonna win Scout. I don?t see how we can?t? (pg 206), but Tom still received a ?Guilty? verdict. Atticus tried removing the prejudiced thoughts of the jurors by saying, ??the assumption - the evil assumption - that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings??. (pg 208). Atticus? saying insinuated the point that all of God?s children were created equal. To the jury, the only important thing was that Tom was black and the accuser was white, he never stood a chance under those conditions. These racial tensions between blacks and whites had made their way into the courtroom, a place where everyone should receive a fair trial no matter what race or colour, but an unjust verdict was reached. The prejudice that was felt towards Tom made him lose all hope of freedom, and as a result, he died upon an escape attempt. Tom was victim of racial prejudice and loss of hope.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1298 Words  | 3 Pages

    This man is unfortunately victimized since his society does not believe he is innocent due to the color of his skin. Being the black man that Tom is, it is clear that “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed” (241). There is no way that a black man’s words would override the voice of a white person. No testimony, evidence or speech can help Tom prove he is not guilty. Atticus understands that Tom is victimized by racism, so he explains: “When it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (220).

    Read More

  • Young and Selfish

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...o. Yet another example of how Daisy easily influenced by her surroundings, is like a feather in the wind.

    Read More

  • Mood Disorders

    1416 Words  | 3 Pages

    Depression is one of the most common conditions encountered in medical practice in fact 16% of the U.S population is diagnosed with a depression mood, at heist risks are adolescents with 20%. However it is less common in children, but when it happens it determines the long-terms psychological health of the child. Women have twice the risk as men for developing depression because puberty is a particular high-risk period for females. More then 70% of people with unipolar depression have another disorder such as: substance abuse, anxiety disorder or eating disorder.

    Read More

  • Radiation Essay

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are ways to better understand how radiation affects the body when compared to other every day activities. If an occupational worker receives 1 rem per year then is it possible that 51 days is expected to be lost. A person that smokes 20 cigarettes a day takes about 6 years off of their life. People that are overweight by 15% take about 2 years off of their life. In actuality radiation would seem as though it is not any more harmful than other everyday activities people decide to do such as smoke, chew tobacco, or sky dive. The risk of taking days, weeks, years off of ones lives will always be present depending on the activity they choose to be part of. However, radiation exposure in the healthcare field is used to extend the patient’s life by helping them find out what is going on in their body. A patient that comes in with RLQ pain, nausea, and vomiting then an abdomen x-r...

    Read More

  • Free Essays - To Kill a Mockingbird - What is a Classic?

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nearly the whole last half of the book is about racism.  The attitude of the whole town is that Tom Robinson, because he is black and,"…all Negroes lie,…all Negroes are basically immoral beings,…all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women…"(Lee 207), will be found guilty regardless of how good a case Atticus makes for him.  There was substantial amount of evidence that suggests his innocence.  Even the prosecution's two witnesses' stories contradicted each other.  The jury did not give a guilty verdict it gave a racist verdict.  Not a verdict based on fact, but a verdict based on the color of a man's skin.  This is important because the author was not making this racism up; it was what it was like in those times.  She is trying to show how ignorant and blind people can be just because of differences between them, as well as how society treats racial minorities.

    Read More

  • Just War Theory Essay

    763 Words  | 2 Pages

    The just war theory can be broken down into three components: jus ad bellum, jus en bello, and jus post bellum. Translated from Latin, these mean “justice before war, justice in war, and justice after war.” In this way, the Catholic Church is able to reconcile Jesus’s lofty teachings about loving your neighbor and causing no harm with protecting the innocent (Massaro 104).

    Read More

  • Racial Prejudice and Oppression in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

    2110 Words  | 5 Pages

    'Democracy,' she said. 'Does anybody have a definition?' ... 'Equal rights for all, special privileges for none' (Lee 248).

    Read More

  • essay

    1786 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...erfect atmosphere to convey speed, efficiency, and technology of the time. This open floor plan not only functions as an efficient visual element but also incorporates the idea of communal work. Customers, store leaders, associates, tech gurus etc. are all free to wander and work together without office walls or boundaries to separate them. The change in the use of light began during the Bauhaus era when lampshades which used to block light and create harsh separations were replaced with broad flood lights evenly spaced to create equal lighting throughout. The use of pure white walls and metal trim also make direct reference to the Bauhaus ideals. Likewise there is an egalitarian principle evoked in the designs. Built to human scale and made clearly for use by people rather than large monumental or overly scaled buildings that often promote power and authority.

    Read More

  • The IMF’s Role in Financial Crisis

    2219 Words  | 5 Pages

    In this age of change, the international financial is progressing promptly on various fronts, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) play a pivotal role in international financial system. Yet at the same time, many criticisms point out that IMF are not efficient enough to react to settle the problems that have accompanied with this trend. This issue has drawn widespread attention in recent decades. This essay will give an overview about what the IMF it is first, and then put forward by some examples that what kind of role the IMF has done to address financial issues, good or bad. Finally, this essay will propose some solutions about the IMF how could it be more useful to solve the financial crisis.

    Read More

  • How are different versions of the American Dream portrayed in Of Mice and Men and The Great Gatsby?

    1689 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’, the two central characters Lennie and George are itinerant workers who share an extraordinary friendship. They travel from town to town trying to accomplish their dream of having their own land by working hard, during the harsh depression time of 1930’s America. This was known as ‘The Great Depression’. Whereas, the other novel ‘The Great Gatsby’, the central character Gatsby’s and his desire is to pretend being from the upper class, in order to win the affection of his first love.

    Read More

  • Radiation Essay

    652 Words  | 2 Pages

    Radiation is a frightening concept. It has lead to many an untimely death in the past 70 years, ranging from victims of atomic bombs in Japan to physiologists experimenting without taking proper safety precautions. The most dangerous form of radiation can be devastating to the body, weakening or eliminating the immune system and tearing the very DNA in one’s cells apart. This form is referred to as ionizing radiation, and even the least harmful potencies - such as x-rays and UV light - can increase the risk of cancer and other health problems. It has enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms in a process called ionization.

    Read More

More about Prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Open Document