Racism proves the most obvious form of discrimination shown in To Kill a Mockingbird but other types of discrimination exist in the novel. Many people ridicule others for many things including class and gender. Racism, gender and class serve as major discriminatory subjects to the people of Maycomb.
Many examples of racism show throughout To Kill a Mockingbird from how the blacks in Calpurnia’s church talk about the Finch children to how Mayella describes blacks during Tom
Robinson’s trial. When Calpurnia brings Scout and Jem to her church while Atticus traveled to an urgent session of the state legislature, Lula asked Calpurnia why she “[is] bringin’ white chillun to [black] church” and when she approaching Calpurnia, Calpurnia says “stop right there,
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This shows that Atticus believes that all women need to put their two cents into the case and ask questions. By stating ‘frail ladies’
Atticus shows how men think women think and how they react to difficult decisions in hard times. Just as gender and race separate people, social class also serves as a discriminatory subject. Many classes make their appearance in To Kill a Mockingbird and one of which, those who live off of the work of others and do not care about how others view them or how they treat others. The Ewells let “no economic fluctuations [change] their status” and they “lived as guests of the county in prosperity as well as in the depths of a depression” (Lee 170). The Ewells lived off the work of other people and they did not put any effort forth to change their state of poverty.
The Ewells earned themselves a view of helpless and incoherent to others or the fact that they should not live off of the hard work of others. After Miss Maudie offers Walter Cunningham a quarter, he denies it and Scout tells her “he’s a Cunningham” and that he didn’t forget his lunch, he didn’t have any” and that “the Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back”
Tom Robinson is a hard-working African American in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. However, his life takes a tragic turn when he is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, daughter of the town’s least respected citizen, Tom Ewell. When he goes to court , even with the very capable Atticus Finch as his lawyer, his future looks grim. Regardless of the information that Tom Robinson and Atticus had provided that proved Tom as innocent, he was still found guilty. The reader can then conclude that the only explanation for this is that Tom Robinson was guilty not of rape, but of his being black. During the trial, Atticus states that, “She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old uncle, but a strong young Negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it comes crashing down on her afterwards.” Atticus also states that, "Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a
This suggests that the Ewells live of the town?s dump which isn?t a very hygienic way of living, but then again Mr Ewell is an unemployed alcoholic. As we are told earlier,
One Sunday, while their father is away, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church. The reverend says, “‘The collection taken up today and for the next three Sundays will go to Helen-his wife, to help her out at home’” (160). This reveals that the entire black community is involved in the Tom Robinson case, and they are all working together to help him and his family. During the trail, Scout, Jem, and Dill sit in the balcony with the reverend they met at church. After Tom is declared guilty, Scout says, “I looked around. They were standing. All around us and in the balcony on the opposite wall, the Negroes were getting to their feet” (283). The fact that they all stand shows their respect for Tom and Atticus, and is another example of the black community uniting. In the twenty fourth chapter, Atticus comes home with the news that Tom was shot and killed. He says “‘Cal, I want you to come out with me and help me tell Helen.’”(315). Calpurnia does go with him, to aid him. This is another example of blacks helping blacks.. The unity of the black community throughout the novel was only seen through Calpurnia.
Thus, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley are all victims of rumour, humiliation, and prejudice. Firstly, Atticus is humiliated by his family and his neighbourhood because he has stood up to an African American man, and then, is nicknamed “nigger-lover” for his decision. By strong evidence, Tom Robinson is proven innocent of rapping a young white woman, but is still convicted, and then shot to death because he is black. Finally, Arthur Radley is greatly misunderstood because of his mysterious background and is forced to isolate from society to escape the awful and untruthful rumours about him in Maycomb. Through the storytelling of Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley, the reader understands how the mockingbird symbol is used to represent those who are innocent, and have good intentions at heart.
The most apparent theme of discrimination in To Kill A Mockingbird is racism, however there is more than just that. Other types of discrimination exist in To Kill A Mockingbird such as prejudice towards women, sexism. For example, Scout says, “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 anything that required pants” (Lee 59).
One form of prejudice is rumors, it can cause harm to that individual who is being targeted and affect their future based on the rumor actually is and whether people would actually believe it or not. Rumors can easily hide the truth about that person’s personality because they are basically lies, opinions, and made up stories about that individual. Some people might start passing around judgments based on that rumor and that can a lot of trouble and conflict between the people. That person might not even be able to show their face to other people because they are so ashamed of themselves. This can also caused them to take a wrong step and end their live there. Rumors have destroyed many homes. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley is an example of whom has been through prejudice for almost his entire life. As young children, Jem and Scout Finch are led to believe that Boo Radley is a horrifying man. People have set his image as a horrifying guy who likes to eat dead animals and is cruel. Unfortunately, their opinion of him has been influenced all the people that live in maycomb to believe he is a cruel man and he is nothing but scary. A examples of these...
The differences in social class and distaste between the blacks and the whites are clear in the small town of Maycomb. So clear that most of the town’s children are quickly catching on. This racial discrimination is also known as ‘Maycomb’s disease.’ When the news had gone around town about Atticus fighting for Tom Robinson, the disease got even worse. Children at school were taunting Scout telling her Atticus is a “nigger lover”. It wasn’t until Atticus said “It's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you.” (Lee, 108) that Scout realized how discriminatory those people were. She also experiences this at Calpurnia’s church when Lula tells Calpurnia "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here—they got their church, we got our'n. It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal?" (119) This is where Scout’s shift of view begins as an adult problem begins disrupting her little happy world and she realizes she can’t do much about it.
...childhood idealism and enters a state of disillusionment. He is forced to confront evil and incorporate it into a more adult understanding of the world. Boo lives as a recluse, avoiding the harsh judgmental community he was once apart of. Dolphus Raymond similarly avoids contact, and turns into a bitter man with little faith in the world. In contrast, Atticus maintains a positive outlook on Maycomb and society in general, despite having seen and experienced more than his fair share of evil. The author encourages readers to follow Atticus’s moral compass - to see past the often black and white portrayal of good versus evil and recognize that everyone has potential for both. This is the first step in creating a less prejudiced society where individuals are not victimized for their race or beliefs; a place where mockingbirds would be left alone to sing their hearts out.
One of the principal aims of To Kill a Mockingbird is to subject the narrator to a series of
Outside the jailhouse before the trial began, Scout learned that as a child she could make angry men stand in Atticus’ shoes for a minute. There was a crowd who was made with Atticus, and they wanted to hang Tom Robinson. She talked to Walter Cunningham directly about his own family, which reminded him of what a decent person he really was. He then led the group away. (“Last night you made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. That was enough.”—Atticus (Lee, pg. 157)). Mr. Cunnigham was only in that group of people because he (and most of the other men) were afraid something bad would happen to them if they turned on Atticus’ side.
...This is a very powerful article taking his readers into the world of being poor and homeless, and what people experience every day that could never be imagined. Eighner says in one of his last paragraphs that, “many times in our travels I have lost everything but the clothes I was wearing and Lizbeth” (Eighner 724). He also states that he and the wealthy have the same attitudes about knowing there is more where what they came from. Eighner is so powerful and doesn’t care what others think of him. He is just trying to survive like everyone else. To have such a carefree attitude is very moving.
One subtle example of discrimination the reader sees is the treatment of Calpurnia, a black woman, the housekeeper/nanny for the Finch family. Although she is treated fairly, it is obvious that she is considered to be on a lower social level than the Finches. She calls Scout ma'am and Jem sir, although these are titles usually reserved for elders.
thought. People began to judge other people based on the rumors they hear from numerous of people. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the townspeople often overlook a class or a person based on their skin color which is a form of judgement. This is relevant in today's society. Many social class view another group or a person as not important. In both cases, our society today and the novel show examples of judgment that occurs both in social class and racism.
It is difficult to decide what is worse, the work done in the mines or the housing to which the miners returned to at night. The especially cruel truth. is the fact that the rent of a family of six living in two barren rooms, two hundred yards from an outdoor privy, extorted most of the household wages. Orwell 's urgent prose does not let anyone turn a blind eye to the facts. Although Orwell wrote from the perspective of a “participant observer” it still resonates today 's concerns about the effects of poverty on people 's everyday lives and dreams.
The economic problems that James and Emely’s family traverse become a barrier to them, because