Examples Of Ignorance In To Kill A Mockingbird

It is without a doubt that Scout was wise beyond her years, yet she was still naïve about many things in the world, which became evident in the first section of the novel from not only her actions but also from the things that she expressed. There were many clues that Harper Lee included throughout the first section of the novel that led to the impression of Scout's naivety. It is critical, though, to keep in mind that Scout was only 6-years-old at the time so she cannot be faulted for still being naïve on some of the ways of the world. Although there were many different instances where Scout's naivety is unmistakable, there were overall 3 major examples that showcased her naivety. The first example was when Scout was troubled over her reading abilities, the second example being when Scout was inquiring what the term "nigger-lover" meant, and the final example was when Scout had

During the 1930’s depression, there was a great divide between black and white America. There were many communities and groups who had been exposed to the same treatment and persecution as the Negroes in To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee has used a small town setting, such as that in To Kill a Mockingbird, to illustrate America’s views on white supremacy and the inferiority of the black race. The author has illustrated view that are expressed world-wide through her characters in Maycomb county.

“The Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. They were people, but they lived like animals.” Although the Cunninghams were close to it, neither families were considered to be part of “the common folk”. Atticus says that Scout is part of the common people, whereas the Ewells are part of their own society, consisting only of themselves. They were allowed to do most of what they wanted and whenever they wanted because everyone has given up on trying to “force people like the Ewells into a new environment.” The Finches are part of the common folk so the Finches are above the Cunninghams and Ewells on the social class hierarchy. Atticus think the Ewells are like animals because he has seen the way they lived. They hunted out of season, which was illegal, skipped school, and wasted money. Mr. Ewell spent their relief checks on green whiskey while his children cried in pain from hunger. Atticus’ opinion of the Cunninghams is better because they are kind people. They always repay for services and never take anything they can’t give back. They are trustworthy. “The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back.” When Mr. Cunningham was one of Atticus’ clients, he made sure he paid him plenty. He sent crops after each harvest until Atticus received more than enough. The finches have no reason to disrespect them only because of their

Prejudice: noun. “Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience” (Dictionary). Prejudice is one of the most relevant things in the lives of two children, Jem and Scout, in a small town, Maycomb, Alabama. It’s the 1930s, the Great Depression has already hit, and racism has already impacted this small, innocent town. Jem and Scout learn what their town is hiding by finding out who their neighbors really are. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, prejudice is like a second language to the people of Maycomb. It is shown by gender, race, and social status.

Racism is the belief that characteristics and abilities can be attributed to people simply based on their race and that some racial groups are superior to others. This has been a problem in our world forever. In to Kill a Mockingbird there are so many racist events and it reflects on the society as a whole till this day. The book setting was the 1930’s in a small county of Maycomb, where most people were racist and discriminatory. People think racism has died off, but it is still a huge problem. People choose to raise their children and teach them that racism is okay and that is how there is still racism today. There are so many statistics out there based on skin color that right there is even racist if everyone is equal why are there polls being taken separating people by the color of their skin?

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is about two children, Jem and Scout, and their relationships with their father, Atticus. The children raise themselves growing up, many people would say they were irresponsible, but they are both appear to be intelligent individuals. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird the novel demonstrates a rigid class structure and social stratification in the County of Maycomb. People should not be judged by their social class, they should be judged on their personality.

In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, characters are used to demonstrate the misjudgement by others in society. Arthur “Boo” Radley is thought of in a very dimensional and untrue way by the children. Dolphus Raymond makes unnoticed compromises in order to live in the community which he does not fit in. Tom Robinson is a kind and humble African American, who is misjudged by society due to the colour of his skin. Lee uses characterisation to show readers how society judges others.

There are many different social classes in “To Kill A Mockingbird.” The factors that separate people into these social classes are their skin color and their occupation. For example, Atticus, Scout, and Jem are part of the highest social class. They are part of this social class because Atticus is a lawyer, which makes him a highly respected person in the community. He is also white, which, at that time was a very important factor that chose who belonged in what social class. Scout and Jem are his children and therefore are also part of this social class.

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, prejudice and racism are embedded in the regional psyche of Maycomb, a miniscule town in Alabama. The narrator interpolates injustice and racism in Alabama during the 1930s, largely through the eyes of Scout, who was a child during this time, however, the adult Scout occasionally interjects with some adult observations. Furthermore, the citizens of Maycomb are stereotyped pervasively throughout the book. In Harper Lee’s To Kill Mockingbird, examples of racism, sexism, and social class are used to demonstrate how prejudice can corrupt a community.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, the ignorance seen throughout the novel conveys how expectations set by society affects the important events of life. The trial of Tom Robinson exemplifies how the recurring beliefs on race affected the outcome of the trial. The ideas of social class in Maycomb determined the way the Cunningham's were treated. Aunt Alexandra´s visits to Atticus's house and her gender view towards Scout. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee reveals how society sets expectations of how people should treat others based on race, social class, and gender.

Prejudice is seen throughout the world in many forms even after the Civil Rights Movement. To Kill a Mockingbird shows the extreme prejudice that African Americans were faced with at that time period. This book shows prejudice through character interactions.

The characters in, To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel by Harper Lee, often use prejudice against people of controversial issues. Many of the townspeople of Maycomb use prejudice on the families who are on the less wealthy end of the spectrum. Issues are still displayed because of the racial prejudice used against African Americans and those of other races. Lastly, gender is a clear issue in Maycomb because of women’s and girl’s rights and lack of respect towards them because they are female. All of the types of prejudice show that Maycomb has many problems all throughout the town between other families and townspeople.

The theme of social injustice due to racism is demonstrated by Mr. Gilmer’s actions. Tom is being cross-examined by Mr. Gilmer and Dill becomes upset and exits the courtroom with Scout by his side. “‘Well Mr. Finch didn’t act that way to Mayella or old man Ewell when he cross-examined them. The way that man called him ‘boy’ all the time and sneered at him, an’ looked around at the jury every time he answered-’”(Lee 226). Mr. Gilmer talks down to Tom because he is black, and is considered lower in social class. Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom as if he were in a lower social class; this is what he wants to portray to the jury. The class system in Maycomb is wrong and Dill sees how Tom is being treated unjustly. Tom is seen as trash just because he is black; he has a lot more character than Mr. Ewell, but because he is black, Mr. Gilmer is painting Tom to be lower than the lowest of whites. Because of Tom’s skin color, he is treated like he is less of a man. People in Maycomb cannot see how wrong they are because the citizens are stuck in a mindset where white people act like they are superior. The citizens see no problem with Mr. Gilmer belittling Tom in the way he is speaking to

Life is like a thrill ride; one never knows what will be in store for them. Many characters in the story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee feel the same way about life, having experienced many surprising and unexpected turns of events. This story is about a sleepy southern town filled with prejudice, and a lawyer’s quest, along with his children Scout and Jem, to take steps in ridding the town of its prejudiced attitude. Despite being a white man, a lawyer named Atticus, defends an innocent black man accused of raping a white woman. However, everything does not go as was hoped, and the mindset of the society overpowered Atticus’s fair-minded argument. From this emerges a theme regarding the bigotry and bias overwhelming Maycomb: A

There are a few social classes in Maycomb. “There’s four kinds of folks in the world. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.” (Lee 230) If you analyzed this quote very carefully, the Ewells are a higher class that the people of color. This quote comes to life when Mayella Ewell falsely accuses Tom Robinson, a colored man, of rape. IN the trial Atticus was constantly dominating, but lost because of one word, racism. Keep in mind that the year is 1930 and Blacks were constantly getting discriminated. Atticus was prepared to lose the trial and he said to Jem with these words, “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.”. (Lee 224) Mr. Ewell must have had a brain to know this and he made Mayella falsely accuse Tom of rape. Mr. Ewell did this because he wanted