Diversity In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Boo is thought to be a monster by the people of Maycomb but ends up being a very caring shy young man not a monster. Throughout the novel Atticus Finch is discriminated by the townspeople of Maycomb for doing what is right and standing up for Tom Robinson who is innocent. Tom Robinson experiences so much racism that by the time he steps in to the courtroom he is a dead man. This classic piece of literature is an epic novel that exemplifies and pints out the horrible effects of prejudice and injustice on people and how these two key matters lead to injustice and in some cases destruction.

“When I pointed to him his palms slipped slightly, leaving greasy sweat streaks on the wall,and he hooked his thumbs in his belt. (pg 362)” This quote illustrates Boo’s utter terror of being noticed. Being the savior of Atticus’s kids would have propelled him into the towns limelight. Everyone would want to speak to him about it and all the town’s ladies would drop off food on his porch step. All this sudden attention would have driven Boo insane.

Jem described him in the first chapter as “...six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks...” and said “...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...” Jem also mentioned Boo had 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.” Scout and Jem also call Boo a “...malevolent phantom...” As if that isn't bad enough, the kids hear and tell horrible stories about Boo. One is of how he stabbed his dad with a pair of scissors; another tells how he was locked up in the courthouse basement. Even with such a grisly initial perception at the beginning of... ... middle of paper ... ...al. Tom is a good example as to why you should try to see things from a new perspective. Everyone in some time or place is misjudged or misunderstood; To Kill a Mockingbird has many examples of this.

The entire town turns against them saying that Atticus is a “nigger-lover.” Even Atticus’ family turned against them, which really hurts Scout, especially when her cousin Francis says “I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I’m here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-” (Harper 91). Racism is a major theme in this story along with growing up. Throughout the story the reader sees how Scout and Jem are afraid of Boo Radley because they think he is a monster and try to tease him. Later in the novel they are no longer afraid of him and no longer interested in teasing him. Another example of their maturity is how they view people.

People have set his image as a horrifying guy who likes to eat dead animals. Unfortunately, their opinion of him has been influenced all the people that live in maycomb to believe he is a cruel man. A few examples of these beliefs are, “People said he went out at night when the moon was down, and peeped in windows. When people’s azaleas froze, it was because he had breathed on them” (10).... ... middle of paper ... ...going after Atticus, Bob Ewell decides to attack Jem and Scout. Fortunately, Arthur Radley interfere and prevents the murder of both children from happening.

Boo Radley was a victim of prejudice because after youthful pranks, his father confined him to their house. As a result, Boo became known as a "malevolent phantom." Later, Boo is revealed to be "a gentle soul through his unseen acts" (Telgen 292). Even though the community hasn't seen or heard from Boo in over 15 years, he is assumed to be a monster. Children of the neighborhood, including the narrator, harass Boo and adults try to avoid the entire family.

Aunt Alexandra tries to coax Scout away from her innocence and toward adulthood. Scout pr... ... middle of paper ... ...cumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run—a sure sign of guilt.” Once Tom runs again after the trial, he walks right into the expectations of Maycomb’s white people, another excuse for his guilt. And sadly, to Maycomb, Tom represents all black people, so the stereotype is perpetuated. Yet Tom was a kind and innocent man, just as the mockingbird. His naive willingness to help others gets him into trouble and his innocence is destroyed by the town’s evil.

You got no call foolin’ aroun’ with other guys, causin’ trouble” (77). In this instance, Steinbeck foreshadows Curley’s wife eventually causing trouble. This shows the cruelty in human nature because Curley’s wife is not innocently talking to the men, she is purposefully causing a row on the ranch. The next example of foreshadowing in the novel is when Candy’s dog is killed. Carlson says to Candy, “Look Candy.

The benign force of racism has disrupted their lives, especially Scouts, through the old fashioned and discriminative opinions of the younger residents of Maycomb. My attitude to racism has developed in the course of the narrative. Mr Dolphus Raymond continues to elaborate on my feelings while he talks to Scout and Dill during the court case. He is a sinful man according to the community as he is has fathered mixed children. To contemplate this felony he pretended to be a drunk: "Secretly, Miss Finch, I'm not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that is the way I want to live.

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.