In Harper Lee's book, To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many examples of racism. During this time in history racism was acceptable; as a matter of fact if you were not racist to blacks they would call you names such as "nigger lover" so in a way people were forced to do whatever society did or you would be socially shunned. But Atticus pushed past the boundaries and supported a black man in the court of law, and you could say he was shunned but in reality he made a big step for Macomb. Racism is a key theme in To Kill a Mocking Bird.
Maycomb has both a black and white community; both sides have racial views against the other. When Jem and Scout go to the black church a woman comes out and says, "You Ain't got no business bringin" white chillun here - they got their church, we out ours." (Pg. 119) Both communities are hostile towards each other. And the blacks are just as discriminative as the whites sometimes. When a black man is accused of a crime he didn't commit, he is still found guilty because of his skin color. "In our courts, when its white man's word against a black man's, the white always wins. They"re ugly, but those are the facts of life." (Pg. 220) However not all of the white people agree with this. Most of them think that Tom Robinson is guilty just because of the color of his skin because society has taught them that. When both races are fighting neither can then see the bad, and thus becomes discrimination.
Since Atticus is defending this man, he has also had men try to jump him many times and got in an altercation with a mob. But Atticus makes a very interesting point in his final statement; "The witnesses for the state have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted. Confident that you gentlemen, would go along with them on one assumption, the evil assumption, that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are immoral beings, that all Negroes are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that of one mind of their caliber.
To Kill a Mockingbird deals with Southern life during the 1930 "s. The book exposes a great deal of stereotyping, racism and prejudice. ... That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."... Throughout Harper Lee's, To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus is the voice of reason. ... Atticus kills the dog, like he kills the racism and prejudice, not letting it spread to his children. ...
The world's worst kind of prejudice is racism, and as illustrated in "To Kill a Mockingbird," it ruins the lives of those who suffer from it. During the time this book was written, racism was acceptable, but "To Kill a Mockingbird" shows the world a whole different side of the time. ... The benign force of racism puts a stamp on every part of "To Kill a Mockingbird," but the most apparent victim would be Tom Robinson. ... In "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus says, "But do you think I could face my children otherwise? ... All of this is evident in "To Kill a Mockingbird," during the lives o...
To Kill a Mockingbird - Analytical Essay Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird we are presented with two things, a happy little southern town and the ugly face of racism. ... To Kill a Mockingbird is set in a small, southern town in 1930's America. ... Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird we see through the characters how entrenched the racism present actually is and how it is such a way of life that even the townsfolk themselves don't realize their racist actions. ... Mr Dolphus Raymond is seen as one of the "good" characters of To Kill a Mockingbird because we are told that h...
Racism in "To Kill A Mockingbird" is very common, and it is an important part in the story. ... Innocence in "To Kill A Mockingbird" is shown throughout the book various times. ... Courage in "To Kill A Mockingbird" is shown by various characters like Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Tom Robinson. Courage in "To Kill A Mockingbird" is very hard to come by because of all the prejudice remarks and racist comments to the local African-Americans in the story, Atticus although puts aside the differences between white and black people and decides to help a black man in court. ... Racism, innocence, and cour...
Racism caused many problems for black people in the South during the depression. ... In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows how prejudice and racism affected black people. ... That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird... - 90 Tom Robinson shouldn't die for being a mockingbird, but racists can't look past the color of his skin to see the harmless and innocent mockingbird. Prejudice and racism made it hard for many blacks to live a normal life during the depression. ...
A major theme in To Kill A Mockingbird is racism. ... The setting of To Kill A Mockingbird is a small, southern town in the 1930's. This setting is the most important fictional element that affected the theme of racism in To Kill A Mockingbird. ... There were many reasons why Maycomb County's people were filled with racism. ... The theme of racism in To Kill A Mockingbird was most affected by the old, small, southern town called Maycomb County. ...
Racism was an influential part of society in the 1930s' as seen in To Kill a Mockingbird. ... The largest demonstration of this in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is Tom Robinson, he was guilty the moment that Bob Ewell reported him to the Sheriff Heck Tate. ... A large step in the fight against racism. The racism in To Kill a Mockingbird was ridiculous, not in the fact that there was so much of it and it was so strong, but in the fact that a community would take the word of a trashy white man over that of a clearly innocent black man; that is what makes it so ridiculous. ... Racism was a...
Atticus Finch is a complicated character in "To Kill A Mockingbird." ... "He doesn't believe in killing just to kill. He says that killing mockingbirds is a "sin"" because they don't hurt anyone in any way. ... Atticus's fair-mindedness makes racism something he hates. ... Atticus doesn't understand racism - "Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don't pretend to understand"" (117). ...
Essay: To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee expertly incorporates a variety of themes into To Kill a Mockingbird. ... Among the themes presented, racism, education, and bravery stand out as the fundamental themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. Racism is the most prominently significant theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. ... Education is also a key theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. ... The themes of racism, education, and bravery all play an important role in shaping To Kill a Mockingbird into the literary success it has become. ...
