Essay on Standing Alone in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Racism is something that most people would claim they do not believe in or support; however, as clearly shown in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, racism is a disease that spreads through a region and worsens as time goes on. Racism is an issue that is still prevalent in the American society today, and Harper Lee’s timeless novel continues to teach the lesson that one needs to look beyond the color of another man’s skin and see them for who they truly are. Mr. Raymond’s conversation with Dill after Tom Robinson’s testimony initially shows that racism is better comprehended with age. He says, “Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry… Cry about the hell white people give to colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too” (Lee, 1960, p. 269). Here, it becomes clear that children can be naive to racism and the evil in the world, but as they continue to grow up in an area that feels so strongly about white supremacy, they become immune to the injustice and prejudice. Further, Mr. Raymond’s words allow the reader to better understand the severity of the racism in Maycomb and the entirety of the country. It also unveils a crucial theme in the novel, namely that one must consider a person of color to be no different from oneself, as all humans are equal. Additionally, racism is repeatedly referred to as a disease in the novel, which is explained when Atticus is talking to Uncle Jack about the trial and he says “‘... I hope and pray I can get

The mentality of the town can wear off on the children. After learning that Scout’s father, Atticus is defending a black man, Cecil Jacobs gets annoyed. While at school Cecil Jacobs says to Scout “My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an’ that nigger oughta hang from the water tank” (Lee 102). This show how one of Scout’s classmates verbally attacked her. This quote gives you a look at how racist Maycomb is that even children portray it. Scout would not have gotten all this hate if the person her father defended was something other than black. Although it may look one sided both sides have racial views against each other.

     In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, through a child's eyes Haper Lee develops a character named Arthur Radley. Arthur is know to the children simply as Boo . The name they have given him, depicts the way the children views him. Throughout the town of Maycomb, people twisted Boo’s personality and character into a terrible person. As the novel unfolds, the children finally discover the true character of Boo. But, because Arthur Radley lived in the shadows of society, the creation of the myth of the monster Boo Radley thrived.

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird perfectly depicts a town succumbed to the racism that existed in the deep south during the time. Lee shows how there are good-hearted people who want change, but there are also ignorant people who will try to do anything to go against it. Some residents of Maycomb hope to push for a change because they understand the way people do things is wrong. Tom Robinson is a man who represents the change people want to pursue due to his false conviction; yet, some people are too scared to be the change, so they hide behind fake problems. Mr. Dolphus Raymond is a perfect representation of those who want change but instead flock and hide since he says “[secretly], Miss Finch, I’m not much of a drinker” (Lee 170). This

To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in small town Maycomb, Alabama, a depression era town where people move slowly and twenty-four hours seems longer.  The narrator of the story is a six-year-old girl named Jean Louise Finch, a tomboy who hates wearing dresses and goes by the nickname "Scout."  Scout's being a tomboy is of no little significance because while we are treated to a sweet and affectionate portrayal of Maycomb at the novel's opening, we will find it is a town where racial prejudice, hostility and ignorance run deep below the surface.  Not only are the majority of the townspeople prejudiced against blacks, maintaining a feeling of superiority to the whole of their race, but

The novel “To kill a mockingbird” demonstrates the theme of racism through the various situations that occur within the book. Atticus’s decision to defend Tom Robinson begins to have a deep effect on the Finch family. This is demonstrated by the Finch family receiving many racist comments from various people. The next example of racism is demonstrated when Calpurnia, Scout, and Jem go to a church where only “black” people attend, and the Finch family gets discriminated. Later, when Calpurnia, Scout and Jem got home, Scout asked Atticus if she could go to Calpurnia’s house, but Scout’s aunt said “no”. This is because Calpurnia’s neighborhood has too many “black people” which is a “bad influence” on Scout. Through these situations, it is clear

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.

In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee talks about the small sleepy town of Maycomb. Most people didn't leave, and most people don't come to stay for long. Macomb is ware Jem, Scout, and Dill spend their long summers days looking for adventure. Jem and Scouts father Atticus was a lawyer. In this time racism was present especially since they lived in the South in Alabama. It was a big deal not only for the Finches but for the town that Atticus was defending an African American man accused of rape. This affected the Finch family greatly, because of what people were saying to Atticus and his children about him and the case. Atticus made it a point not to let these comments bother him or his children.

Many people have experienced racism or prejudice at least once in their lives, but they are not aware of the different ways it could take place. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates how racism and prejudice presents itself in many ways in the town of Maycomb. This is shown in the characters Tom Robinson, Walter Cunningham Jr, and Scout, who are all victims of prejudice or racism. These characters are subjected to all kinds of prejudice and from all kinds of people, sometimes so much it would change their lives.

Scout Finch is a young girl that is interested in many situations throughout the town that are far too mature for her understanding. However, Calpurnia and Atticus still try to explain situations and circumstances on a childhood level for her to understand. Lee uses these examples to show Scout’s character, but to also show the racism and tragedy that occurs in her hometown. Dare in the periodical states, “Her innocence is a crucial aspect of the narration, highlighting the senseless racism and class divisions that rend Maycomb” (96). Scout’s innocent childhood point of view exemplifies Harper Lee’s idea of prejudice actions that occurs in Maycomb.

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee the young protagonist Scout and her brother Jem are presented with tremendous growth between both of their characters. As they go through the struggles of living in south during the great depression, experiencing the epitome of racism, and being extremely misunderstood for their differences, the reader can really see the development of both of these characters patience, endurance, and strong-wills. The first part of this novel is about the strong sense of prejudice in the Maycomb community and how Scout and Jem prevailed through that and matured along the way. That community’s prejudice really helped form Scout’s and Jem’s maturity because it made the both of them realize their views are different

Harper Lee's ‘To kill a Mockingbird’ explores the prejudicial issues which plague over the town Maycomb. Harper Lee uses the trial of Tom Robinson a black man accused of rape on a young white girl, Mayella as a central theme to portray the prominence of racial discrimination in Maycomb. The racial prejudice is also widely shown through the characterisation of Atticus. Having Scout as the narrator allows Harper Lee to highlight the gender inequity through a youthful unbiased perspective. The chauvinistic attitudes and prejudiced views of most of the town’s folk leaves Maycombs social hierarchy in an unfair order, victimising many of the town’s people due to their socially non-conforming habits some ‘socially unaccepted people’ including Boo

Courage is the quality of mind that enables one to face danger with confidence, resolution, and gain a firm control of oneself. Many of the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird showed courage in their own way. Courage can come in many different forms: physical, mental, emotional and moral. Courage is not the only main theme displayed in To Kill a Mockingbird; prejudice and education are also very important themes exhibited throughout the progression of the novel. Through the eyes of Scout Finch, a bright, sensitive and intelligent little girl, these themes of the novel are explored in great depth.

Scout Jem and Dill all have very innocent views of racism as the novel begins, but as they mature and grow older they begin to see the harsh reality of racism in Maycomb County. In the novel Scout will see how racism affects every little thing. One day Calpurnia decides to take the two children to church. While they are there scout realizes that Calpurnia talks different than she does at home with them. As they return home, Scout asks Calpurnia about why she talks differently at a her church than at home. Calpurnia tries to explain and then Scout says "but Cal, you know better". I think this is a major point at which scout realizes how much racism affects every little thing. After this Scout understands that even though Calpurnia knew better she had to act like she didn't, because she would get made fun of if she didn’t. Jem, has a little more understanding about racism. Scout makes a comment about that “ if we came out in the Old Testament it's too long ago to matter”. "That's what i thought ,said jem, but around here once you have a drop of Negro blood that makes you all black." Jem says this when they are trying to explain to

To Kill a Mockingbird explores the different forms of discrimination that are seen throughout Maycombian society. There are four different “kinds of folks in the world…ordinary kind [whites], there’s the kind like Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the [blacks]” (226). The level of status determines one’s respect in society as well as how one is treated and perceived. The higher up one is ranked means that the level of hatred for others is increased; as whites “don’t like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don’t like the Ewells, and the Ewells hate and despise colored folks” (226). Seeing this has made Jem and Scout realize that they are lucky that they “live in a Christian