Discrimination: Not To Be Used In Societies

The most glaring example of racism in the novel is when Tom Robinson is convicted of raping Mayella Ewell just because he dared to feel sorry for her. The result of this racial prejudice leads the people of Maycomb to be very hypocritical and have double standards. They say they have sympathy for other races in other countries but then they treat the ethnic minority in their town with great disrespect. The prejudice of the town is produced from fear, historical context and their social conditioning. They are afraid because of ignorance and not being able to understand new and different things.

During the Great Depression, racism was a common practice in the southern states of the US. Negros and those who opposed the intolerance were often discriminated by the rest of the bias and ignorant society, who believed in white supremacy and superiority over the other races. Maycomb, a racist town, exemplify this discrimination, imperiously judging others they view as being dissimilar from themselves. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, the author, weaves a brilliant story of prejudice, discrimination, and racism shown through the novel’s several characters and events, producing a mirror reflection of America’s racist society in the 1930’s. Mrs. Lafayette Dubose, a timeworn morphine addict, is one of the several characters who believe in white citizens’ superiority to the blacks living in the Quarters.

Every town has problems and the town of Maycomb from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is no different. Maycomb citizens are put forth with social problems created from racism. As a result of racism, physical abuse was plentiful in the town of Maycomb. The citizens of Maycomb were caught up in a cycle of racial discrimination, proving that racism does not benefit anyone. The citizens of Maycomb deal with many social issues due to the conflict of racism.

Mrs. Dubose shouts rude comments to Scout and Jem about Atticus, “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for.” This should not have been said because Atticus is trying to be a good person. Back then even talking to an African American can lead you into terrible trouble. In the book after a rude comment Mrs. Dubose had made Jem had cut all of her flowers with a baton that he had got for Scout. After this happe... ... middle of paper ... ...Walter is trash. Walter just got labeled trash because of his social class.

Harper Lee's ‘To kill a Mockingbird’ explores the prejudicial issues which plague over the town Maycomb. Harper Lee uses the trial of Tom Robinson a black man accused of rape on a young white girl, Mayella as a central theme to portray the prominence of racial discrimination in Maycomb. The racial prejudice is also widely shown through the characterisation of Atticus. Having Scout as the narrator allows Harper Lee to highlight the gender inequity through a youthful unbiased perspective. The chauvinistic attitudes and prejudiced views of most of the town’s folk leaves Maycombs social hierarchy in an unfair order, victimising many of the town’s people due to their socially non-conforming habits some ‘socially unaccepted people’ including Boo Radely and the Cunninghams.

Through the characters of Atticus, Tom Robinson, and Arthur Radley, Harper Lee demonstrates that discrimination destroys those who are innocent, which leads to character judgement, loss of life and isolation. Those who stand up for what is right are always being judged which has a negative effect on their lives. People always encourage others to stand up for their beliefs, but when someone does take a stand, they are judged. Individuals are often called harsh names, and judged even though they are innocent, just like Atticus. Mrs. Dubose is Atticus, Jem and Scout’s neighbour, who is very sick and is always insulting Atticus, who is supporting Tom Robinson in the court case.

The characters keep on colliding into each other intensely and wildly. Clearly, the dominance of the white culture influence the behavioral pattern of certain characters , racism and institutional racism lead to prejudice, fear and struggle, people interact uncomfortable and with no trust or respect . Feeling of resentment and prejudice lead to false portrayal of the other person`s character as the assumptive thoughts of Sandra relating to the locksmith as she thought he was a gang member while he was just a decent family man. The emotional reactions lead to fear, anger which contribute in discrimination and hatred. As evil prevails agony arises and the language of racism dominates.

The negative stereotypes are black people blames every discriminated against them due to race. TV shows also depict them as lazy and stupid (Rome, 2004). Effects of stereotypes on people with African-American background The effects of stereotype behaviors and beliefs against black people have both good and bad influence. However, the adverse impact has outweighed the positive results. For example, the stereotype belief that all black people are thieves or associated with all the social evils in the society has led to police brutality (Couillard, 2013).

She is continually defending him but the racist remarks do not stop. These remarks just show how cruel children can be to other children. She feels the need to defend her father to Francis, her cousin. He was also taunting her with accusations: "At a safe distance her called, `He's nothin' but a nigger-lover'." The benign force of racism has disrupted their lives, especially Scouts, through the old fashioned and discriminative opinions of the younger residents of Maycomb.

Maya feels left out in her own hometowns and her self-image of herself makes her want to be someone that she is not. It also makes her feel inferior and lesser than the whites. It reveals how awful racism made Maya feel about herself. Stamps is so intensely racist that a saying in the town goes, “People in Stamps used to say that the whites in our town were so prejudiced that a Negro couldn’t buy vanilla ice cream” (49). This saying makes Maya feel like an outcast and outsider in Stamps.