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Hypocrisy In To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis

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“Hypocrisy is the mother of all evil and racial prejudice is her favorite child” (Don King). In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, a young girl named Scout is receiving a first hand experience of racism and its brutality. In Chapter 26, during school, Scout’s teacher, Mrs. Gates explains what a democracy is and how it differs from the events taking place in Germany with Hitler and the Jews. Using her biased opinion, Mrs. Gates shows Scout that the world can be a cruel place in more ways than one. During the scene, “Mrs. Gates,” Scout learns that hypocrisy exists in the most trusted through the character of Mrs. Gates, the internal conflict of Mrs. Gates and racism, and the settings of both the school and the Finch home. The character of Mrs. Gates shows Scout that hypocrisy is present within by demonstrating her hate for others. To begin, whilst learning about world events, Mrs. Gates states, “Over here we …show more content…

During school, Mrs. Gates “went to the black board” and wrote on it in large white letters (Lee 328). The blackboard in the school represents Tom Robinson in the courthouse being covered by the white because the school house is supposed to be an unbiased place similar to court, however in both of these situations, they were not. The school house is also behind the Radley House which represents racism which means that the school is a prejudice pace where Scout feels judged for sharing her ideas against racism. Also, when in the Finch home, Scout “crept from Jem’s room” (Lee 331). The Finch home is the most non racist place in the county of Maycomb, so this allows Scout to go home and feel safe to share her ideas. The fact that Scout is coming out of Jem’s room in the back of the house,, tells the reader that she was deep into the house where she was accepted. The setting of the school yard and the Finch home helps Scout learn about racial

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