Examples Of Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

The Prejudice of Maycomb County Prejudice has plagued the United States of America for decades, and still plays an important role in the lives of everyday people today. Moreover, it can be in the form of racism, sexism, classism, or one of many other countless methods of presumption towards others. Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, chooses to illustrate the prejudice of Maycomb County through the use of characters’ actions and dialogue.

Aunt Alexandra may be full of pride, but she is prejudice nonetheless. Her actions towards others of a lower class can be categorized as rude or impudent. For example, “‘I’ll tell you why,’ she said. ‘Because-he-is-trash, that’s why you can’t play with him,’” (Lee 256). Aunt Alexandra’s prejudice can clearly be understood when she prevents Scout from playing with Walter, a poor child, through the use of dialogue. On the other hand, her actions towards blacks can be seen in a

In court, Tom attempts to argue that he ran away out of fear of being convicted, not guilt of rape. He states, “‘No suh, I’s scared I’d be in court, just like I am now,’” (Lee 225). The fact that Tom chose to run away from that situation clearly conveys to the reader that he would most likely lose in court. Therefore, this action is important in showing that Maycomb’s racist society would defeat the word of a black man, event without evidence present. Later on, after Tom is defeated and shot and killed attempting escape, the town’s reaction helps to further prove the prejudice of the majority people. As Scout recalls others’ words, “Typical of a of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw,” (Lee 275). These words from Scout show that the average view of a black man was as an irrational, wild beast. Understandably, the actions and words taken against Tom Robinson help add to the theme of prejudice in the