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To Kill A Mockingbird Racist Language Analysis

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Scout’s use of racist language demonstrates the corruptive influence society has had on her. Her use of the racist slur “nigger” is an indication that she thinks the idea of a black snowman is appalling, “I ain’t ever hear of a nigger snowman.” (89) The casual and almost automatic way the slur is used makes it clear that Scout doesn’t recognize how extremely offensive the word is. Scout explains to Atticus that nigger is “what everybody at school says.” Atticus wants Scout to think for herself rather than be influenced by the kids at school, so he tells her that, “From now on it’ll be everybody less one [that uses the word]” (99) Scout demonstrates the degrading impact society has had on her when she says, “Well, Dill, after all he’s just a

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