1930s America's Equality

In the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, racism and social inequality are two central themes. Many different forms of social inequality coexist in the society depicted in the book, as the people of Maycomb are very rigid in their ways. This is because the book takes place in a time at which there was much racism and social inequality. In Maycomb, firstly there is discrimination between rich and poor white people, who do not often interact with each other. There is also racism against blacks by all white people in society, both rich and poor. Black people are denied basic rights and discriminated against in this town. Lastly, there is racism between the lowest classes of the community: poor white people and

Harper Lee highlighted America’s discrimination, prejudices, and social hierarchal issues and created To Kill a Mockingbird, a semi-biographical novel. Even though the novel is set in the fictitious town of Maycomb, Alabama, it addresses some very real issues that are, unfortunately, still present in modern society. America has made many positive strides since 1930 to ensure equality and freedom for all, making the Dream more attainable for citizens, but we still have more improvements to make before the Dream is available to

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a complex literary work exploring several aspects of the human condition. Lee’s story is one based in the 1930’s, shortly before the Civil Rights Movement. Her novel ventures into the societal issues, such as racism and gender stereotyping, in their fictional town, Maycomb. One recurring theme throughout the narrative is the social adjustment of the citizens of Maycomb and the human race as a whole. Lee showcases the progress in social justice matters by using symbolism and motifs.

Racism has the power to change anybody’s life. Jem Finch is a young teen character from To Kill a Mockingbird who longed for the warm summer days when he could just play on the lawn and not care about the future. However, as the novel progresses, it becomes clear that he cannot just play around when he knows what is going on around him and what is happening to the black community of Maycomb, Alabama. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a success in the world of literature. Set in the 1930’s down south where racism was rampant, Harper Lee shows us the challenges of growing up in a community of inequality through the characters Jem and Scout Finch. Jem is older than Scout by 3 years so he understands how serious the nature of racism is and

America: home of the free and land of the brave, a land of hope and prosperity, equality and unity for people. But what if you are colored, do these rules still apply? The United States forgot to mention that this land of prosperity and unity works, but only if you are of the white descendent and fall in the middle to wealthy class system. In the 1950s and 1960s the anger of the past and impractical living of the now made the African Americas break there silence and began to stand up for their freedoms and demand the respect and honor that they felt was deserved. Famous figures and writers such as McKay, Cullen, and Dunbar began writings of the problems that their people faced in pursuit of their efforts of race equality. Many poems and writings

Decades ago, in the 1930s, people of color were not treated fairly. Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird took place in the 1930s in the fictional place of Macomb County, Alabama. It was narrated through a young girl named Scout Finch. Throughout the novel, Scout, her older brother, Jem, and their good friend Dill discover realities of society. Scout and Jem’s father, Atticus, was appointed to be the attorney of a black man. Because of the time period, the case was almost hopeless, but Atticus fought anyway. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird displays universal themes such as racial intolerance and innocence of youth.

Unfair treatment makes discrimination evident. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird takes place when The Great Depression occurred during the 1930’s in an Alabama small town called “Maycomb”. To Kill a Mockingbird is written in the perspective of a little girl by the name of Jean Louise Finch (Scout finch) who is a stubborn, impulsive and outspoken little girl who throughout the novel gains maturity, becomes more observant, and understanding through life alongside her father. Harper Lee’s award winning novel is focused around the social, gender, and racial discrimination and, the affect it has on the people of Maycomb.

In the midst of the most progressive era in the history of the United States, people seem to be choosing to compare their current situation with the one in the 1930’s, where most African Americans were dehumanized. Women and Blacks have had a history of patronization which is displayed throughout To Kill A Mockingbird. Even though there are some disagreements in certain subject matter between the races today, relations and ideals of injustice have evolved.

During the 1960s there was a very strict caste system in the South United States. This caste system was based on race and social inequality. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the main character and narrator is Scout Finch, a naïve but insightful young child. Through the help of her father, Atticus Finch and her brother Jem Finch she learns about human nature and starts to mature to see the world differently while Lee delivers a brutal and thorough social critique on the existence of social inequality, the coexistence of good and evil, the importance of Moral Education, Innocence and Experience and Fear and Courage through the eyes of an innocent child.

As one grows older, he or she will eventually arrive to the same conclusion: life isn’t fair. In the outset of the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, six year old Scout Finch is an innocent girl growing up in the town of Maycomb, unaware of the unfairness within. In the 1930s in Alabama, where racism runs rampant, it is all the more controversial when her father pledges to defend a black man over a white one. She is forced to mature more quickly after his case as the consequences crash down. Throughout a four year span, Scout grows to be more mature and respectful, but less innocent in the harsh realities of her time.

As the United States “progresses” in economic, educational and technological advancements we still are fighting for racial equality. With more than 50 years since the brown vs. board of education case there is still incidents like Ferguson, Baton Rouge, and Phiando Castile where many questions are still unanswered. However, Harper Lee dealt with these same problems in 1960 when she wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee created an emotionally confronting story. Lee writes through the eyes of “Scout” a lawyer’s daughter in a small sleepy town of Maycomb in Alabama during the great depression. Throughout the book “Scout” learns coming of age lessons from Atticus and her own experiences. But when Atticus takes on a case defending a black man (Tom Robinson) convicted for rapping a white woman (Mayella Ewell) and is found guilty. “Scout” her brother Jem begin to understand the effects of the prejudices in society. Therefore, Lee applies the literary concepts of diction and tone to revel the truth that prejudices in society negatively affect the way people treat each other in To Kill a Mocking Bird.

America is the land of the free where everyone has been created equal... or is it? It becomes evident through this book that this idea cannot be true unless prejudice is completely overlooked. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee depicts the prejudice of 1930’s Alabama through racism, sexism, and social status, which plays a major role in how people are treated and expected to act. Through race, gender, and economic status the citizens of Maycomb marginalize certain groups of people making them seem inferior to them.

Equality is a struggle for mankind, we have been this term for hundreds of years whether it’s racism, sexism, or ageism. These problems are diversely affecting many communities. Atticus Finch taking on the Tom Robinson case and getting bashed for it, Jem and Scout learn that killing mockingbirds is a sin; Atticus losing the case, yet still making an impact on Maycomb’s way of life. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Jem and Scout are raised in a small town called Maycomb in the 1930’s. Throughout this novel, Jem and Scout encounter many obstacles revolving around equality. Throughout this book, it is made clear that African Americans are NOT considered people, the whites contain higher authority over them.

In the 1950’s, the role of women around this time was to do what society placed on them to do what they were expected to do. Around this time, women revel to have freedom to do what they want to do and be. They rebelled because they were being judged because they were females. According to Juliet Gardiner’s article, she say’s “Women might have had the vote on the same terms as men since 1929, but for most that was pretty well the limit of their equality: working women were paid much less than men and despite the responsibilities and sheer hard graft many had endured in wartime, were still regarded as submissive and inferior beings. Educational opportunities were limited” (paragraph 3) many reasons why women rebel to have same equality as men.

To Kill a Mockingbird is an immensely popular novel by Harper Lee, which was published in 1960. It went on to become a classic of modern American literature after winning the Pulitzer Prize. Cited as ‘an astonishing phenomenon’ by many critics, this novel is partially autobiographical in nature. The plot and characters are apparently based on Lee’s observations of her own family and neighbors. Although it deals with a number of serious issues like rape, social and racial inequality, readers visit it again and again because of its warmth and humor. To Kill a Mockingbird is considered as the most widely read book dealing with race in America, and Atticus Finch is considered the most enduring fictional image of racial heroism.