To Kill a Mockingbird Essay - Discrimination How would you like it if someone walked up to you and berated you based on the color of your skin? A characteristic like that isn’t even something you can control, so an insult of that nature can leave one furious and oppressed. Discrimination is inevitable in any culture, throughout history, in modern times, and even in ancient times. For example, the oppression and murder of 6 million Jewish people during the Holocaust, the African Slave Trade which occurred for multiple centuries, and more recently, the “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya people in Myanmar, brought on by the government of the Asian nation, all of which are tragedies doomed to happen when history repeats itself and people do not learn …show more content…
In the story, Scout describes how Aunt Alexandra exhibits dominance over Scout’s wardrobe, and even berating her for wearing clothes that Alexandra sees fit. In the novel, Lee writes: “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants. Aunt Alexandra’s vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born; furthermore, I should be a ray of sunshine in my father’s lonely life.” (Lee, 81). This piece of evidence shows how Scout feels she should be able to wear whatever she sees fit, but Aunt Alexandra insists that she is not a proper lady if she doesn’t act and wear whatever defines the characteristics of a “lady” in her perception, serving as an insult to her, which implies that she doesn’t act as her gender stereotypically should. This piece of evidence is only one of the plentiful examples of prejudice and discrimination in To Kill A …show more content…
First of all, Bob Ewell shows discrimination against Tom Robinson through the claim of his daughter’s rape committed by Tom, which was proven to not have happened, and the use of the derogatory term “nigger”. Secondly, Miss Maudie shows racism to the African American population by referring to an African-American in Nathan Radley’s collard patch as a “negro”, a derogatory term. Thirdly, Nathan Radley shows discriminatory racism toward the same African-American in his collard patch mentioned in the previous sentence by shooting at him, which was a failed attempt, and referring to him as a “nigger”, an offensive insult directed at African-American people. Finally, Aunt Alexandra shows sexism toward Scout by implying that she isn’t a “proper lady” unless she wears and does whatever Aunt Alexandra perceives as ladylike. In conclusion, there are many, many examples of discrimination towards people of all walks of life in To Kill A Mockingbird, the most prominent of them being racism and sexism. Discrimination is a horrible thing to be inflicted with and the human race should all work together to exterminate it from its source: us. We must keep an open mind to accept people of all races, religions, genders, sexualities, cultures, and personalities to make the world a more welcoming and friendly place for
In the novel, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee some characters suffer in the hands of justice and fairness more than others. Many characters in the novel are discriminated against such as Calpurnia, Dolphus Raymond, Helen Robinson, Burris Ewell and more. However I will be focusing on the discrimination against Tom Robinson for his race, Walter Cunningham for his low socioeconomic status and Boo Radley for the rumors and supposed mental instability he holds. I chose those three because they are the most prominent and I will discuss how the discrimination against the characters therefore leads to their injustice or unfairness.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, many different themes come into view. One major theme that played a big role in the character’s lives is racial prejudice. Racism is an unending problem throughout the book. The song “Message from a Black Man” by The Temptations has many similarities to the theme of racial discrimination. Therefore, both the novel and the song prove that racism was a great obstacle for some people at a point.
Discrimination and Prejudice in Killing A Mocking Bird Discrimination and prejudice were very common acts in the early and middle 1900's. Prejudice in this book is displayed by the acts of hate and misunderstanding because of someone's color. People of color were the majority that were treated unfairly. During this time in the southern states, black people had to use separate bathrooms, drinking fountains, sections in restaurants, churches, and even go to separate schools. Although much of the discrimination was directed towards blacks, there were plenty of accounts towards impoverished families by those that had money.
In today’s advanced society individuals have greater protection against discrimination by race, religion, social status and sexual orientation. To Kill a Mockingbird is based on the 1930’s when prejudice and injustice were in the Southern States of America (Alabama). Firstly, Negro and White societies are distinct and segregated, in that: Negroes and White lived in different neighbourhoods, Negroes worship in their own church and Negro and White children attend separate schools. Scout also reveals that Maycomb’s citizens do not allow women to serve on juries and expect them to look well-mannered (well dressed).In addition, social status is also very important in Maycomb. Ewells lived near the garbage dump. Aunt Alexandra didn’t allow Scout to invite Walter for dinner because he was a Cunningham. In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Scout and Jem discovers that, Maycomb is a community where individuals are discriminated according to their gender, social status and race.
The story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee portrays many different scenarios of racial discrimination. Discrimination occurs in the book and many people are affected by the racial slurs and other occurrences. In the story, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson are all people that are discriminated against or are affected by discrimination. Racial discrimination is a major part of To Kill a Mockingbird.
to be a city girl and thus none of the country folk can understand her
Racism is a huge problem around the world. It ruins lives and makes people not want to live because of all the disgusting effects that come with it. The worst thing about racism is that people can’t control what color skin they have and how they look but people still judge them and don’t respect them. Racism discriminates characters because discriminates characters because it prevents, equal respect, equal laws / rights, and equal fairness.
In a desperate attempt to save his client, Tom Robinson, from death, Atticus Finch boldly declares, “To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 271). The gross amounts of lurid racial inequality in the early 20th century South is unfathomable to the everyday modern person. African-Americans received absolutely no equality anywhere, especially not in American court rooms. After reading accounts of the trials of nine young men accused of raping two white women, novelist Harper Lee took up her pen and wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, a blistering exposition of tragic inequalities suffered by African Americans told from the point of view of a young girl. Though there are a few trivial differences between the events of the Scottsboro trials and the trial of Tom Robinson portrayed in To Kill a Mockingbird, such as the accusers’ attitudes towards attention, the two cases share a superabundance of similarities. Among these are the preservation of idealist views regarding southern womanhood and excessive brutality utilized by police.
Discrimination based on religion was targeted by the Radley family. According to To Kill A Mockingbird, “Foot-washers believe anything that’s pleasure is a sin… sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of—oh, of your father.” (Lee 59). Miss Maudie explains to Scout through the comparison of an alcoholic to a religious extremist that Mrs. Radley takes the bible too literally and targets others for not following the same religious views as her. Miss Maudie describes her as a foot-washer Baptist because Mrs. Radley sees people that enjoy being outdoors and women being independent like Miss Maudie. Discrimination against the Radley’s is also present in the novel. The Radley’s don’t attend church on Sundays
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, we see several forms of discrimination. For most people, when they hear of the word discrimination, they think of racism, ageism, or something else similar. These are all some of the most common forms of discrimination, but they are not the only forms of it that exists. The types of discrimination I will mostly be talking about are sexism, racism, and classism. The first form of discrimination I will talk about is about how people tell Scout that she has to wear dresses all of the time, and that she has to have perfect manners. Not only is this a form of discrimination against Scout, it is discrimination against women who behave in similar
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
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows how prejudice in the south affects men, women, children, blacks, and whites through the thoughts of racism, social class, and sexism. She makes it possible to understand what prejudice was like and how harmful it can be, but also that despite all the tensions in the south that there are always people who are willing to help when others are in need. There are many examples of prejudice throughout the book and it is still happening in real life.
Prejudice affects the entirety of the world today. Hundreds of thousands of people flee prejudiced governments all around the world. A current example of this inhumanity is the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya people in Myanmar. According to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, “Today, there are an estimated 720,000 Rohingya children in Bangladesh and Myanmar, in dire need of humanitarian assistance and protection – and looking to the outside world for help.” (United Nations Children's Emergency Fund). As reported by the New York Post, the Myanmar military is committing crimes against humanity. Children are being murdered and women are being raped. (NY Post). The military of Myanmar has been dehumanized because of their prejudice
Racism, sexism, discrimination, and prejudice of many kinds are still a major dilemma even in modern culture and society. For example, salary differences between men, women, and people of all ethnic backgrounds vary drastically. Racism is also present, as well as frequent hate crimes we often hear about in the news. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, prejudice is ever present in Maycomb. Lee tells the story of a young girl, Scout, and how she sees the world through a child’s perspective. Scout witnesses prejudice in the trial of an innocent black man, the rumors spread about a man who hasn’t been seen in many years, and the harsh words spoken about racially mixed children. Scout, her brother, and their friends, however, cannot understand
There are diseases that inhabit all and cannot be cured: Racism and prejudice. These diseases possess all, except for a select few. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee most characters are infected, damaging society irreversibly. To Kill a Mockingbird is told from the perspective of Scout Finch, a girl learning to exist in southern society. During the book, a colored man, Tom Robinson, is accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell. Scout’s father Atticus acts Tom’s lawyer. Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, is the “white trash” of Maycomb who uses racism and prejudice to help convict Tom Robinson for the rape of Mayella Ewell. When the trial unfolds, there are many clear examples of racism and prejudice. Through the false accusation of Mayella