Discrimination Is A Dominant Theme Within The Film Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

The act of prejudice is one that everyone experiences. Whether it be, a person who is distributing hate, or a person who is receiving hate, everyone has contact with it. Although it is present all over the globe, it is prominent in the United States. Both in the present and the past, endless acts of discrimination have taken place and left a monumental impact on the country. The effect that it leaves can be seen in the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. In this story, sexism, racism, and isolation, are demonstrated in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930’s. As the story progresses, Lee compares these concepts to one another and uses them to make a statement about the problematic nature in America.

Prejudice is one of the world’s greatest struggles. It does not only hold society back, but is harmful to the people who do good .In Harper Lee’s book To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout and Jem live through and witness prejudice and racism in the small town of Maycomb. They see someone wrongly accused of a crime because of his race. Scout and Jem also witness and take part in prejudice against a man no one knows anything about. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee uses characterization to show the negative effects of prejudice and racism.

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, injustice is a main theme that is reflected towards many characters. To Kill a Mockingbird, is a novel written by Harper Lee and published in the nineteen-sixties. Many characters in the story are treated unfairly in society due to racial or prejudicial attitudes. Overall these characters are innocent victims of injustice. Atticus, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson are considered to be mockingbirds in the novel. A mockingbird was defined as a bird that did nothing wrong, but sang beautiful music for us to hear. These characters did nothing wrong and were treated unfairly in their town. In this different society, there are many factors that have had an influence on people’s perceptions towards others.

Atticus said, “They’ve done it befor and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it-seems that only children weep”(Lee 285). To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee. It is about two siblings , Jem and Scout, who live in a small town called Maycomb. Their father Atticus, is a well known lawyer, who is defending an African American that was accused of raping a white women. Throughout the novel, Jem and Scout are introduced to discrimination and learn that it’s an everlasting problem. Prejudice and discrimination are important themes in To Kill a Mockingbird because of racism, sexism, and ageism.

Discrimination, it has been part of human nature for a long time, especially relevant subject in literature such as To Kill a Mockingbird. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the main character of Scout Finch was exposed to different types of discrimination as she grows up. Discrimination affected the lives of characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird because of society’s prejudicial views of race, gender, and class.

Scout also faces prejudice among the people she knows very well, but Jem, her brother also has to face prejudices from the community as well, some of these people being their neighbors. ”But Mrs. Dubose held us: “Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers!” Jem stiffened. Mrs. Dubose’s shot had gone home and she knew it: “Yes indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I’ll tell you!” She put her hand to her mouth. When she drew it away, it trailed a long silver thread of saliva. “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for”(lee 135). Mrs. Dubose, being the neighbor of Scout and Jem harasses them

Inequality is a theme that runs throughout all of history. Harper Lee uses the theme of inequality in her book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson must deal with inequality when he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit because no one will trust a black man over a white man. The Cunningham family must face discrimination because of their lack of money. Scout even faces inequality when she tries to play with Jem and Dill. The theme of inequality is a strong one in Lee’s book, and her use of inequality doesn’t only define racism, but also discrimination based on wealth and gender.

During the Great Depression, racism and prejudice were the cause of suffering for many people who were greatly affected by discriminating thoughts. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Maycomb County is a town also filled with the evils of racism of prejudice, but that immorality is often hidden by certain of acts of courage and goodness enacted by the citizens of Maycomb. In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays the importance of courage through characters Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, who all persevere through the path of rightness in the face of prejudiced and disapproving opinions, without worrying about the consequences of their actions. Atticus’ decision to defend Tom Robinson brings many disapprovals from others but he still continues to fight for him, although he knows that there is a high chance of Tom Robinson being doomed because of his race. Mrs. Dubose exemplifies courage because even though it costs her life and invited bad thoughts from others, she stays determined to get free of her addiction. Scout, an innocent, young girl, shows courage by defending what she thinks is right, although the consequences may not be good for her.

The prejudice seen in the fictional novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee corresponds with the real narrow-mindedness during this time period. A fair trial would be unlikely during this time period between a white and a black man. Tom Robinson was presumed guilty because of his race.

We see this in the separation of the classes, the expectations of the lower classes and the expectations of the higher classes. Firstly, Scout is not allowed to play with Walter after the trial because aunt Alexandra believes he is below the finch family standing. When Scout asks to play with him she said “I’ll tell you why she said. Because-he-is-trash, that’s why you can’t play with him. I’ll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what”(Lee,301). Who is family is and where they stand on the social chain causes Alexandra doesn’t see the as equals. They are viewed as a step below the townspeople. They are thought to be dirty and uncivilized. The prejudice tied to wealth has always been a large issue in society and even today will sometimes put barriers between two people. We seem to associate wealth with power and this creates negative prejudice to those who don’t have a lot. The lower class citizens of Maycomb such as the Ewells and Cunninghams don’t have the same expectations as the rest of the town's residents. For example the Ewells never showing up after the first day of school. Scout explains this to Miss Caroline when she

In Maycomb County, the acceptance of the Cunningham family is directly tied to their social status, or lack of. Atticus tells Scout, “. . . Mr. Cunningham is basically a good man, he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us.” This adamant declaration of Mr. Cunningham’s character, partially due to the loyalty of his business dealings with Atticus Finch, portrays character traits of an honest and trustworthy

Why is it that we still live in a world where after so many years, racism is still present? The novel To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee is set in the 1930’s where discrimination and racism were very prevalent. This essay will portrays the overarching theme that discrimination and racism exist in settings we assume safe. The suppositious is being at school and home is safe, however Harper Lee contrasts this idea by utilizing the discrimination of characters.

How peaceful is Maycomb County? To a kid, it's the best place in the world. But two kids decipher the truth of their home town. The fictional novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee displayed a wide variety of characters and their characteristics. It was filled with discrimination and at the same time, kindness. Jean Louise Finch, (Scout), was just a girl starting 1st grade when this story began. Her older brother, Jem, and her best friend, Dill, experience many things together. Atticus, Scout's dad, has a court case between a African American, his defendant, named Tom Robinson and a Mayella Ewell. Harper Lee takes you on all of Scout’s adventures. But not all is fine and dandy. This book discriminates blacks because it took place in the 1930’s where racial segregation was normal and accepted. But that wasn’t the only type of people that were discriminated

The theme of Racial Violence has been prevalent in The United States since the beginning of the age of exploration. White Skin, dominating as the superior race has been a driving force in the development of racist attitudes, which are eloquently portrayed in Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. To Kill a Mockingbird, is Harper Lee’s take on racial injustice in the United States, during the Great Depression, from the perspective of a white family that is pro-equality. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Sherman Alexie explores the concept of identity crisis through separation from one’s roots, as a result of seeking racial justice, and the implications it has on the individual

To Kill a Mocking Bird is a novel that addresses various ideas surrounding the 1930s, including discrimination. As the novel develops, Scout reveals the different types of discrimination that are present in Maycomb. The information that she obtains is through observations, inferences, experiences, and dialogues with other characters from the book. Various forms of discrimination are present in To Kill A Mockingbird and add tension, develop the plot, and contribute to themes in the novel. Disabilities, social economic status, gender, religious, and racial discrimination can be observed throughout the novel.