The Theme of Prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird

The theme of prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird is much more than just a

case of black and white. The entire novel is about prejudice in its' many forms,

the most prominent case of prejudice is the hate between the blacks

and whites. The whole town of Maycomb is based on stereotypes of it's

inhabitants, that are passed down from generation to generation. Rumors run

rampid and very little truth is usually in them.

"So Jem received most of his information from Miss Stephanie Crawford,

a neighbor scold, she said she knew the whole thing. According to

Miss Stephanie, Boo was sitting in the livingroom cutting some

items from The Maycomb Tribune to paste in his scrapbook. His father

entered the room. As Mr.Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors

into his parent's leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants,

and resumed his activities." (Chapter 1, page 11)

I don't see how you can't expect to have prejudice in a small town like

that, after all isolation is a major factor in why prejudice and racism arise.

"Men hate each other because they fear each other,

and they fear each other because

they don't know each other,

and they don't know each other because

they are often separated from each other. "

-Martin Luther King

The stereotypes in this novel are fairly common but the fact that they

are accepted and used so openly in public is what astonishes me. I think people

in the community, even if they do disagree with what is being said or done,

they will say or do nothing because they are afraid of going against the

majority of the community and become a victim of prejudice themselves. Atticus

was one of the few who actually stopped and listened to himself without being

biased by the views and opinions of the rest of the town. He then had the

courage to stand up and take prejudice himself for trying to correct the

prejudice against a black man, and prove his innocence.

"Scout, you aren't old enough to understand some things yet, but

there's been some high talk around town to the effect that I