Social Injustice in Famous Literature
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee draws many parallels to real life, but one of the most relevant themes is social injustice. Social injustice has been society’s disease for as long as mankind has existed, from the cavemen, to the indigenous people of America, to today in modern society. Communities tend to turn a blind eye to the hateful words that are weapons in disguise, and literature is one of the only places where the raw and uncensored truth is revealed. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail display a theme of social injustice which reveals that the world is not as equitable as many people think. The theme of social injustice in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird carries through to other literature, such as Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird”. She eloquently writes that “a free bird leaps on the back of the wind, [...] but [a caged bird] stalks down his narrow cage [and] can seldom see through the bars of his rage [...] his wings are clipped and his feet are tied” (Angelou). Angelou’s poem indirectly describes the divide in every society, with the bars of the cage being a metaphor for the inevitable isolation that occurs between the types of people, and the ominous words like “rage” and “stalks” are disturbing compared with the joyful ease of the free bird. Her poem connects to Harper Lee's novel in a way that only literature can. A
Social inequality is an uncivilized ranking scale which was created by simple minded people who held the fear being surpassed. The argument made by Harper Lee in her work To Kill a Mockingbird is that social inequality is a hierarchy that is complex and affects everyone. More specifically, the author argues that the racial boundaries put between the black and white during the 1930’s caused great stress. This is proven in the novel multiple times. The people of Maycomb judge one another based on the background and wealth of their families. Not only do they judge each other within the community, they discriminate against anyone different than them. Social inequality does not only exist in the form of racism, there are many forms; some of the major ones appear in this book. Social inequality based purely on family background, social inequality based on the wealth of the individual and family, and racism. These are three of the major forms of social inequality that appear numerous times in the book.
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
To Kill a Mockingbird, a classic novel by Harper Lee, is a quintessential example of a novel that brings to light the social injustice that occurred throughout history. This social injustice is not only experienced by people of color, but also people that aren’t perceived as high class in society. Some people that face social injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird are the following: Tom Robinson, the Cunninghams, and Arthur Radley.
Social inequality based entirely on race affects people who don’t deserve it. To Kill a Mockingbird original publication was in 1960, it is a classic novel written by Harper Lee, the book is set in 1933 to 1935. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in a small town called Maycomb, Alabama and follows two years in the life of 7-year old Scout Finch, her brother Jem, and their father Atticus, an attorney who hopelessly strives to prove the innocence of a black man accused of rape. The book also talks about Boo Radley, a mysterious neighbour who saves Scout and her brother Jem from being killed. The definition of social and legal codes are social codes made up of rules and standards, and a legal system is a code of laws made by a state or nation. Throughout the book, social and legal codes are exploited by people to help maintain their social status. In Maycomb County, social and legal laws harm black people to protect white people, such as Atticus Finch, Bob Ewell, and Tom Robinson.
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.
Our nation is supposed to symbolize freedom, happiness and social equality . However, manny still fall victim to the social injustice brought upon our society. The novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird”. Portrays these social injustices despite being published many years ago.
Social injustice has flooded the world and will continue to flood the world until someone stops all this evil. In Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, there is poverty and racism ruling over the South. Scout Finch has yet to realize all the evil surrounding her and her family. The evil that takes over Maycomb is the racism that lives in the hearts of its citizens. In To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, readers see a view of social injustices caused by racism through the Maycomb citizens who see the world through a veil of hypocrisy, which is shown by their actions in the way they talk down to Tom, and the truths of Maycomb’s society.
There are many examples of injustice that exist in our world. Harper Lee in her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird reveals injustice in her novel. Through the novel there are three main ideas about how the main characters deal with injustice that are, One must use their own conscience regardless of social norms, represent those who don't have a voice or one that is a minority, and that change does not come easily. The author develops the idea that the individual must stand up to injustice to demonstrate awareness of their own morals and values that can transcend conformity.
In the book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” there are many instances of injustice. Injustice is defined as a lack of fairness and justice. Throughout the story, many people are judged unfairly. People are judged by the color of their skin, their gender, and even by their clothes. Reading other articles about injustice in our world has offered a better understanding of how much injustice can affect all kinds of people.
Moral cowardice is when someone is a bystander, and witnesses something unfair. They don’t do anything to stop it and stick up for what is right, even if they have intentions too. A Social Injustice is something unfair that happens because someone or something is different. Whether it be race, gender, opinions, personal beliefs, or someone simply don’t fit in. These two ideas go hand in hand, and how people choose to respond to a situation can show their true purpose. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Calpurnia is an example of someone who is both a moral coward and someone who stands up against social injustice. This book takes place during the depression in Maycomb, Alabama. In this small town people have strong opinions about almost everything around them; most of which are racist and just plain cruel. Calpurnia is a black woman who works for the finch family as a maid and acts as a mom towards the two kids; Jem and Scout.
In today’s society, people are not treated equally. Many people push for equality, but the problem is still occurring today. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she uses racism to prove how people’s views on African American’s have not changed. Through the use of symbolism and diction, Harper Lee shows the idea of social injustice against blacks. Lee uses symbolism to show how innocent people are sometimes treated unfairly.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee argues that justice can be corrupted when people are prejudiced. In the novel the author describes several justice issues that affects people in the book. The main justice issue in the book is racism against black people. Readers can see that the main victim of this injustice is Tom Robinson. Tom and the black community are victims of injustice simply because they are black. There are also black people that discriminates white people which is also not good because people should not judge others because of their race.
Since the birth of the United States racism and sexism are leading issues in American values. The unfairness or injustice that happened during this time period affected one’s life from child to senior. The real meaning of injustice; the violation of the rights of others, unjust or unfair action or treatment. This is exactly how the U.S was in the 1930’s, and what Harper Lee focuses on during the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The characters they focus on the most are Tom Robinson an African American accused of rape. Mayella Ewell a white woman beaten by her father because of relations with a black man. Lastly a boy, Jem Finch the son of a lawyer. He is petrified of the thought of his father being in danger defending black men. The worst is fearing her little sister be treated unfairly in society because she’s female. All these
Society isn’t perfect, neither is it vile, it has its social ups and downs, and its effects on people. People as we know come from a variety of backgrounds, places and societies. Each person has their own bias of a concept and they defend it. Maycomb’s youth is the beginning of a new generation, a generation that can change what is societies morals. In the book, there is a strong significance of social hierarchy, the people in Maycomb judge a person by their color, income and the way they dress.
Harper Less’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird has the ability to expose many injustices in the Southern American states by examining the racial injustice of the courts and the social prejudice encountered by Boo Radley in this novel. Her examination of the prejudice faced in the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement is explored in the 1930’s American Society which her book is set in. Lee’s utilises the mockingbird as a symbol throughout her novel and stresses the unjust cruelty of killing one.