Atticus Finch Segregation

The novel “To Kill a Mocking Bird” is based in the fictional small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. When slavery and the Civil War were still present in the people’s way of living and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s are far from close. The novel focuses on the Finches: Scout, her brother Jem, and their father Atticus, and the trial of Tom Robinson and how it affected them and the town. Witnessing the injustice of Tom Robinson’s trial changed Scout Finch in many ways. Scout learns that there is more than one type of courage, she learns about race and its complexity, and she also changes how she views the people around her by putting herself

Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a realistic story that deeply discusses issues involved with the 1930’s that still resonate today. The struggles of life are evident within the believable characters of Maycomb County which is a microcosm, reflective of universal issues. Along with the authentic characters, setting and style also helps to convey Lee’s controversial notions of racial and gender prejudice, and persecution of the innocent, discussing many other ideas within.

Because of this prejudice, Tom’s ideas, actions, and life is affected. In Chapter 23, when Atticus and Jem talks about how the jury chose Tom’s sentence, Atticus explains why Tom had gotten such a harsh sentence and relates it to how Ewell used Robinson and knew how it would work in his favor. In addition, Lee writes, “ ...they couldn’t be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life” (295). In this quote, it is seen that Ewell knew the jury would see Robinson as inferior and subordinate compared to him because of this color, which means the jury send would send Tom Robinson to jail. This is unfair because Robinson has a better character and personality than Ewell, but society will prefer Ewell over Robinson because of his skin color. This prejudice against African Americans like Tom Robinson affects them in many ways and in Tom Robinson’s case, sends him to jail and death. The prejudice against Robinson makes him desperate to a point where he sees no future to himself and tries to escapes, but dies. This quote also shows how the white men in this story and this time period can be as fair as they can, but they can’t truly fair. This is because racism and its ideals are rooted into them from a young age and it can be hard, or even impossible to get rid of these ways. Next, in Chapter 6, Atticus explains in the same conversation to Jem that how white men cheat others out of things and that they are trash. To support this, Atticus says, “As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a multi-faceted novel which explores the principles and morals of people in the South during the 1930s. Mockingbirds are symbolic of the people that society abuse. Lee narrates the events of the novel using Scout’s voice and uses this technique to add emotional context and develop themes. Themes of racial and classist prejudice are developed by Lee to challenge the reader. These techniques are all powerful ways to alter the views of the reader.

Furthermore, defending Tom Robinson shows how being prejudice can hurt someone. The jury is all Caucasian men who do not agree with Atticus’s decision in defending an African American. Even though the actual truth about the case came out, the jury found Tom Robinson guilty and sent him to prison based on prejudice.

“: "Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal." This quote shows how Atticus is defending Tom Robinson, a black man accused of a crime that he didn’t commit but due to the culture of the setting, Maycomb Alabama, was not receiving a fair trial because of his skin color. This quote shows Atticus not caring about his color and loving him just because of who he is and wants to defend him from what he knows is an unfair trial.

Just as Atticus Finch and James Donovan defend a minority when no one else would, both of the lawyer’s defendants were highly discriminated at the time. “It couldn’t be worse, Jack. The only thing we’ve got is a black man’s word against the Ewells’,” Atticus admitted. Atticus already knows that he will loose the trial, but he knows that if he doesn't defend Tom Robinson, no one will. In the same manner, Atticus also wants to break the constant code of society which is discriminating African Americans. Just as Atticus defends the minority of his time, James Donovan also defends the minority of his time. “I would be serving my country and my profession… We agree; all the guilty should be tried,” acknowledged Donovan. In a way Donovan looks at

Regardless of the lack of evidence, the jury and town are reluctant to take the word of a black man over two white accusers. Atticus strongly pleads for the jury to look past race and stereotypes and serve true justice, "They were confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption- the evil assumption- that all Negro's lie, and that all Negros are basically immoral beings.” … “I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty." (1).

Despite the hostile, racist environment, Atticus tries his best to raise his children in a less racist, tolerant manner: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee 30) By

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.

“In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (Lee 220). This quote by Atticus Finch paints a perfect picture of segregation in the 1930s. Truth did not matter back then because everything relied on skin color. Throughout the novel racial segregation plays a major role in the setting, conflict, and theme.

In the novel, when Tom Robinson’s trial is being held, it is evident to Atticus, and everyone else, that there is a bias in the corrupt jury towards white people. In Atticus’ testimony, he feels the need to say some wise words to them instead of reading off his evidence again to support his claim. He said, “I’m no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system-that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality”(Lee 205). When Atticus says these words, he implies that the way the jury is selected is not quite as fair as it should be, and that it needs some work done. He’s also secretly implying, too, that the court system is strongly white biased, and that people who have no opinion on whites, blacks, or the crime should be in the jury instead.

I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee, 75). It was important for Atticus to stay true in himself and what he believed in. He needed to be a good role model for his children in hopes of them doing the same in the future. It was as if all the terrible comments motivated him more to prove everyone wrong and to convince the jury of Tom Robinson’s innocence. Atticus was beyond committed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, which was very rare in the society at that

This is only the case because “Maycomb's usual disease” and prejudices were brought into the jury box. The corruption in this court was the miscarriages of justice caused by the members of the jury rather than the system itself. Lee uses this damaged system to state her opinion on the justice of the 1960s. Jurys in the novel were all white and in this case located in the south which also added racism. When the novel was published, the Supreme court began passing laws to create more equality yet there was still inequality in the jurys.

Segregation teaches the people the idea that blacks and whites must be separated in order for society to work, but when the people see that it is possible for the two groups to mix, in this case by seeing the mixed children, they get fearful. Atticus, the Finch kids’ father, is a lawyer who defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. At the end of the trial, Atticus explains to his son, Jem, the injustice of the trial and how, even though there was more evidence in favor of Tom, he would have still been found guilty due to the fact that “the white man always wins” (Lee 252). No matter what the reality is, Tom Robinson’s conviction is mainly due to the color of his skin, not the crime he supposedly committed. The prejudice of the society made Tom guilty the minute he stepped into the courthouse. It is a white man’s word against a black’s because that is what is taught by the society and the racism living amongst it. If it were no for the racism and segregation in Maycomb, the idea of prejudice would not be shown in the same