Racism, a hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. Based on this core foundation, is the book To Kill a Mockingbird. The story of Scout and her exploration of racism in her life is what makes the book a show of what racism is in its purest form. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the theme that racism is a negatively influential factor in everyday life is shown through Scout and the events that take place in Maycomb. We first see Scout experiencing racism in the street when Lafayette Dubose rudely teases her and Jem because her father is a “nigger-lover” for taking the case on the side of Tom Robinson. Jem destroys her flowers, and they both go home, but Atticus knows what they did and tells them the meaning of the phrase. Atticus tells them that it means someone who puts himself or herself above Negros, and that he is indeed a “nigger-lover” because he tries his best to love everybody. He goes on to explain that everybody will be saying that because no one wants the Negro to win in the trial, as the townspeople believe that will lead to worse crimes from Negroes. Therefore, Scout realizes this may happen many more …show more content…
Scout faces racism in the street with Mrs.Dubose who insults Atticus, which makes Scout learn everybody is against them. She also faces racism at home where Aunt Alexandra wants Calpurnia, Scout’s friend and mentor, fired which causes Scout to downgrade her relationship with Aunt Alexandra. In addition to that, she sees unbelievable racism in the courthouse when Tom Robinson was ruled guilty by the court even after the perfect evidence given by Atticus, which showed Scout the world is not the wonderful happy place she expected it to be. Because of Scout’s accounts with racism, in shock she realizes the world is not fair, but people like her father are people who make it
Racism is the most prominent form of discrimination in To Kill a Mockingbird though earlier in the book Scout showed some classist biases. For example she got into trouble with Walter Cunningham because his family acted different from hers so she beat him up, she told Atticus and he said, “Try fighting with your head for a change” (Lee 87). Atticus is attempting to coerce Jem and Scout to not fall prey to societal norms of hate and bias. As another example of Justice is when Atticus tells Scout that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird so she asks Miss Maudie why, she says, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.
Even though Tom Robinson was innocent, Bob Ewell, who was white, still won the case. This hit the Finch’s hard because even though they hated the racial discrimination occurring, there was nothing more that Atticus could do to change the ways of Maycomb. While all of this was going on, Scout’s perspective shifted more to her father's beliefs instead of joining the mainstream cowardness of her
Scout says, “He’s just a negro.” when she’s talking about Tom Robinson. At the very end of the book, Scout finally understands. She is standing on Arthur
Throughout the book there are many different sins that the people of Maycomb show. The whole town is full of everything wrong with society many of the characters represent how we are failing in life while a few others show what we are doing right. From racism to being rude to people who are different this book outs everything that we have done wrong with history and all the mockingbirds that we have killed. Racism is a misdeed that keeps on showing up in the book, Calpurnia keeps on showing Jem and Scout about how the African American society is treated.
Throughout the novel, Scout and Jem are shown how they believe that everyone should be respected no matter the color of their skin. Their innocence makes them question the idea of racism to have a discussion with their father who explains his opinions. In addition to that, Atticus talks to Scout about the events happening in their community/her school, and he told her to consider that people never know a person until they get to
Scout comes home one day after school and Cecil Jacobs tells her that her daddy “defends niggers” Scout comes home and asks Atticus, he then goes on to tell her why and not to let what her people are saying about him get to her. Atticus says “.. The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town, I couldn’t respect this country legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). Atticus knows that if he does not take this case he could not respect himself anymore.
The novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” was written in 1960 by Harper Lee in the point of view of a young innocent girl named Scout. One of the main messages that Lee has (need a new word than – indicated or set out) is racism, it plays an important role which strongly impacts many character’s lives unfairly and changes the relationship between two. Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” shows that it is wrong to hurt someone who does no harm to you, for example, black people are innocent but no way did they have as many rights as white people did. Black people lived hard lives because society was judgemental, irrational and most importantly, racist. As Scout and Jem grow older they learn to cope, take responsibility and are introduced to new aspects of life, one of which is racism.
(Lee 273). Even though Scout and Jem were not supposed to be there, they learn how racism could kill an innocent man, and through that learn why Atticus had constantly reminded them of why equality is so important. With them learning about equality, they also learn about the town’s racism and how it should not be included in their definition of a person, another mini-lesson taught by Atticus to instruct his kids about
Loss of innocence Some may think the world is fair and equal, but in the blink of an eye, society changes drastically by the realization of unfairness in the world that becomes a reality. Scout Finch undergoes various struggles in the book To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. These harsh incidents leave revolving thoughts and confuse Scout, but opens her eyes to realize the world. Scout faces multiple conflicts and incidents that results in her loss of innocence, but with help from her loved ones she learns to cope with the realities of the world.
It tells of how Scout was sometimes ostracized by her brother and Dill for being more feminine since her personality is described as more masculine at the beginning. Moreover, she gets into school fights when someone from her class calls her father “a negro-lover”. Her teacher criticizes her for being able to read and write. The children soon find out exactly why people around them are talking about their father behind his back (even his own family). Arthur Radley was tasked by the judge to
For instance, Scout announces how a boy made fun of her dad when she explains, “He announced in the school yard the day before that Scout’s daddy defended niggers. I denied it, but told Jem,”(85). Atticus is defending an African American named Tom Robinson. Atticus is sensing hostility from others because it was looked down upon for a white man to protect a black man at the time. Atticus is even getting criticized by children.
Synthesis Essay Discrimination is a persistent problem that many face throughout their lifetime. Many don’t know the difference between colorism and racial discrimination. Colorism is the process of discrimination that light skinned people are more privileged than dark skinned people. Racial discrimination is that regardless of the physical appearance, the African Americans of all skin tones are discriminated in some way. These two systems of discrimination are not the same but are connected in some ways.
One of the main themes of the novel is Racism. During the time of depression, racism and poverty were a common issue. People with a dark skin tone, i.e the African- Americans were seen as derogatory and treated like dirt. Harper Lee depicts it in a very realistic way.
During the time near the start of WWII, tensions between whites and blacks were tangible. It wasn 't really tensions between the two as much as tension against the blacks. This was especially true in southern United States. Poverty, oppression, and violence was plaguing the black communities and a lot of it was from the whites. A black man could be shot in broad daylight and the perpetrator, if white, could claim self defense and get off scot free.
Q: Discuss how and why Atticus challenges the dominant attitudes and values of the time. Back in the 1930s, racism was not abnormal in the society. In fact, racism often happened in America in the 1930s. The white people would always rule over the people of colour, known as African Americans.